RAILROADS: Big Stick, Big Carrot

To live up to his promises to rehabilitate the New York Central, Robert R. Young has chopped costs, closed down maintenance shops, and ruthlessly cut the payroll on his railroad. Result: a net profit of $1,100,000 for September. Last week Bob Young laid aside the stick in favor of the carrot. To the Central's $100,000-a-year President Alfred Perlman, Chairman Young offered a stock option deal. Under the ten-year deal, President Perlman will be able to buy 32,000 shares of Central stock at $19.87½ per share, 75¢ above the current market price;...