86 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



per annum. It is far from impossible that this combi- 

 nation may, from its very magnitude, lead to its own 

 downfall." 



The Erie Kailway properly extends from Jersey 

 City to Dunkirk, New York, a distance of 451 miles, 

 but with its various branches it now operates a total 

 length of 1032 miles. Until July, 1871, it was the 

 lessee of the Atlantic and Great Western road, which. 

 connecting with the track of the Erie at Salamanca, 

 New York, carried the line to Cincinnati, a distance 

 of 447 miles. Though the lease has been surrendered, 

 the two roads are practically one as regards the ques- 

 tion of transportation. The Erie Company own pro- 

 perty to the amount of $118,295,979, and, in 1872, 

 the gross earnings were $18,371,887. 



The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad extends properly 

 from Baltimore to the City of Wheeling, on the Ohio 

 River, a distance of 379 miles, but, with its branches 

 and leased roads, it controls and operates a total of 

 10G7 miles of road. It already touches Lake Erie at 

 Sandusky, and has now in construction a branch road 

 extending from a point 90 miles north of Newark, 

 Ohio, on the Lake Erie Division, to Chicago. The 

 Company own property to the amount of $56,014,481, 

 and, in 1872, the gross earnings were $13,626,677. 



Here we have four corporations representing a total 

 ownership of nearly $600,000,000, and an aggregate 

 annual income of over $100,000,000. 



It would be impossible to mention in detail all the 

 various attempts at consolidation, successful and un- 

 successful, that have been made in this country. What 

 we have given will sufficiently illustrate this part of 

 our subject. All such efforts have a common object, 



