Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-25
PROGRESS IN RAIL
MERGER REPORTED
Eastern Trunk Line Officials
TO Hold Further Con-
ferences.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


NEW YORK, December aS.-Further
progress has been made at conferences
on consolidation between representatives
Of the Eastern trunk lines. While addi-
tional meetings will be necessary to adj
just q number Of involved problems
facing the conferees, agreement Is un-
derstood to have been reached on several
angles of the situatlon.
Prices to be paid have not been dis
cuSsed. The present discussions have
centered about the ALLEGATION of the
strategic lines under controversy. The
conference Is going on in "give-and-
take" mood. 1t Is supposed to have been
definitely decided that the Pennsylvania
releases its shares In the Lehigh Valley
to the Van Swerinkens' Chesapeake d
Ohio-Nickel Plate system. In return
the Pennsylvania Is expected to get
trackage rights over the Nickel Plate
along the south shore of Lake Erie,
which it has sought for years. The
New York Central iS not pleased with
this arrangement, but in view Of the
fact that the Van Swerlngens are not
opposing the Central'S getting the Della
ware, Lackawanna 81 Western, which
was assigned to the Nickel Plate sys-
MISSIONS so-called final consolidation
plan, it is believed they would be will
ing to allow the Pennsylvania to COM
pete with them on traffic along Lake
Erie.
Disposition Of Virginian.
1t is understood the conferees are
should be jointly owned by the Chesa-
peake & Ohio and the Norfolk &
Western. The Pennsylvania would
gain through this alignment, Ns it
is one Of the large holders Of Norfolk
&c Western stock. The Virginian YVES
assigned to the Central in the COM
missions plan, but the Central has
road. This Is surprising, in that the
Virginian would give the Central an
outlet to the sea at Hampton Roads, Va.
The Pennsylvania is practically GER
tain Of getting the approval Of the
other trunk lines to retain the De-
troit, Toledo d Ironton and the
Wabash. Although the B. g. o. could
very well use the Wabash, the needs
for the Wabash by the b. g. o. passed
to considerable extent when the lat
ter purchased the Chicago 81 Alton,
which carries its lines Is far west as
Kansas City.
EuFtHOE H1ccSIThBS K1auue0s
There are three solutions as to the
disposition of the Wheeling 81 Lake
Erie Western Maryland and the Pitts
gether, form direct line from Lake
Erie to tidewater st Baltimore. One
plan calls for the Baltimore 81 Ohio
retaining the Western Maryland, the
Van Sweringens retaining the Wheel
ing q Lake Erie and for the Pittsburgh
g. West Virginia being held jointly by
the four large systems; Another plan
jointly by the trunk. lines and the third
Is for them to so to the Van Swerin-
gems. The latter solution seems more
likely Of materializing. although IL the
Baltimore 81 Ohio loses the Western
Maryland 1t will have to build an ad-
ditional line. The commission Is In
favor Of keeping the three lines to-
gether.
It is taken for granted that the
Reading and the Central Railroad of
New Jersey viii become part of the
Baltimore g. Ohio system.
The price the Van Sweringens viii
pay for the Pennsylvania holding Of
Lehigh Valley will be q difficult matter
to solve. In case no agreement could
be reached on this, it has been sug-
gested that the Lehigh be operated
jointly by the trunk lines. The latter
solution Is understood not to have come
up at the recent series Of conferences
List of ConHerees.
The meeting held Tuesday lasted
three and one-half hours. The follow
ing announcement was given the press:
The conference adjourned without
reaching any flnAl conclusions. Fur
Their meetings will be held"
Attending the conference were J. J.
Bernet and o. P. and M. j. Van Swer-
ingen OF the Nickel Plate system, w. w.
Atterbury, Elisha Lee and A. j. County
OF the Pennsylvania, Patrick j. Crow
ley and A. H. Harris Of the New York
Central and Daniel Willard and George
M. Shriver Of the Baltimore q Ohio.