Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-01-15
Taft's Recommendation as to Stock
Ownership important.
PENNSY'S HOLD VERY BAD
The Pennsylvania Railroad May Re-
lease Its Grip as a Result of the
Message-Propedty Has Suffered
Since II Has Been in the Hands Of
the Rival Corporation.

Baltimore, Md, Jan. 10--President
Taft's recommendation in his special
message to Congress that railroads
owning less than 81 percent. OF the
stock of other roads increase their
holdings to that amount or sell what
they already have may pave the way
for breaking the shackles which the
Pennsylvania Railroad is accused of
having put on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and giving shippers along
the lines of the latter adequate SER
vice. The Pennsylvania Railroad and
the Union Pacific system, jointly own
40 per cent of the common and pre-
ferTed shares Of the Baltimore and
Ohio.
So far as the interests of Baltimore
and the other territory served by the
Baltimore and Ohio are concerned, 1t
would be preferable for the Union
Pacific interests to dominate the Bal
timore and Ohio, for with those inter-
ests in control the section traversed
by the local system would have two
independent roads, while, on the other
hand, if the Pennsylvania should di-
rect the destinies of the Baltimore and
Ohio the former would be supreme in
the transportation field in one of the
most populous sections of the coun-
try,and shippers know what it means
to be dependent upon corporation
which would have it in its power to
do almost as it pleased.
There seems to be no doubt that the
Baltimore and Ohio has not been
abreast with the times since the Penn
sylvania Railroad fastened its clutch
es upon it. II the possibilities OF the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were ag-
gressively followed up, there would
be no more important trunk line in
the country. Yet the Baltimore and
Ohio has been practically at stand
still, while the other roads of the
East have been spending millions of
dollars in betterment. That these bet
terments give advantages to the cities
they serve is evidenced by he won
derful growth in manufacturing i'm
portance along those lines.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany has practically rebuilt IT'S lines,
taking out curves, cutting down
grades, building extensions and
branches, following progressive
policy that has made it one of the
greatest corporations of its kind in
the world.
The Pennsylvania Railroad was APP
parently aware of the possibilities OF
the Baltimore and Ohio, as well as
those who were directly interested in
that property and laid plans at once
to eliminate the local company as a
competing factor.
President Cassatt of the Pennsyl-
vania settled the matter in securing
40 per cent. of the stock of the Balti-
more and Ohio, which, in such a
large corporation, where the stock is
scattered, means absolute control.
From that time to the present day
the Baltimore and Ohio has taken up
no big improvement and has embar-
raised the shippers who do business
over it by lack of equipment. At this
very time the coal fields Ct the Balti-
more and Ohio territory are seriously
behind in their orders because of the
lack of transportation facilities.
Shippers viii Meet.
The mass meetings of shippers to be
held at Fairmont, W. Va on Tues
day next win start the movement
which patrons CT the Baltimore and
Ohio generally hope will result in
breaking Pennsylvania railroad dom
ination of the Baltimore and Ohio. At
this meeting a strong resolution will
be introduced.