The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-12-09
The StOningtOn Rail Road.

The StOnington Rail Road.
From the report Of Ike Engineer and Agent
of this road, Maj. Mcneil, recently submitted
to the Stockholders, We make the following ex-
tract, showing the present condition, resources,
aud propecIs Of the road II will be seen ths,
the present contract between the steamboats, and
that road expires on The lst proxmo. aod that
Maj. Mcneil recommends The Rail Road Com
pauy to stand out for better terms than is now
imposed upon them. He also recommends, a
connection by steamboat between this place aud
the depot al Providence, which is very dcsira-
bic.
After giving comparative view of the differ
cnt routes To New York, and showing, pretty
conclusively, that the SlOningron route is the
shortest Of any now in operation, Maj Mcneil
saws:
What then is now the interest Of the Boston
aud Providence Rail Road Company Why,
to continue i link. as heretofore, in the shortest
line Of communication between Boston and
New York which can Ouly be effected, rs we
have clearly showu, by means OF a connection
in the trade and travel over 1t with the Ston-
ineton railroad, verifying at length, that depen-
dence on the Stonington railroad, which was
foreseen when the Boston and Taunton rail
road was abandoned, and having with il hereat-
ter but a common interest. With this depen-
dence on the Stonngton railroad, we can now
claim our due--an equitable OF whatever may
be the established fare by the route over the
Stonlngton, and thence over the Boston and
Providence TO Boston which, It will surely
be conceded, IS al least us much on our road Of
45 miles in length. rs on theirs Of ~. | have
perceived no disposition on the part Of any one
of late to contest this point. The Norwich
road is daily eloquent IN behalf of lis rival {;
and the truth is, each in degree is necessary
to The protection OF the other
Rich as the Boston and Providence Railroad
Co. is--uninc umbered with debt, and always
producing adequate returns to the stockholders.
they are in the position to require even handed
Justice from steamboat proprIetors; and so, at
last, are tcC. II, rs heretofore told, they can
not afford US better terms than they have as
yet conceded, we are no longer so situated as
to be constrained to submit to them. Expc-
ricnce has developed the worth of our enter
prlse, and no longer dispirited, we have the
means and the will to assert independence ;
and if we had not, that common interest, to
which have alluded, on the part OF the Boston
and Providence Railroad Company would be
a sure resource. They are not used to the
tax under which the StOniugton railroad has,
~ Tar as income is involved. been little better
th1n mere appcndage to the steamers which
connect with II they never bargained for such
cxactions. nor could they afford to submit TO
them. But rs it forms no part of our calcu-
la,op for the future. ii did not in The past,
(when the Boston and Providence railroad was
the general receptacle Of the trade and travel
between New York and Boston,) to rely on ex-
traneous aid, let us next state what in our pin
ion we are surely competent to, and which we
mean shall be founded in Justice 10 all parties.
Steamboats,. and OF the first class too, (aud
such those are which now run in connection
with us,) being indispensable TO the route,
should of course DC paid such portion of the
throughfare as will not only remuneratc their
proprietors; whether they be owned now
by an independent company, or by the Ston-
ington. or by tho Boston aud Providence Rail
road Company. or by the two latter Jointly,
does not affect the question. Ii is easy 10 de-
termine what that fair portion is; and if (as
heretofore, and under our existing contract }
more be exhcted by present cspariners in the
route, we must leok elsewhere, TO the proprie-
tors of other steamboatS--or connect steamers
of our own with the route. Nor is the latter
alternative proposed in an exclusive or mouop-
olizinc spirit. For SO secondary do | regard
the cost OF The necessary number OF steamers
in comparison with that of both, or even either
Of the railroads between Stonnston aud Bos-
ton, that even were we (Ihe Rail Road Com
pany) the proprieIors OF the steamers, II is pro.
hIematical it II would not be better merely To
keep them in readiness rs \ security against
cxtoriion, rather than run them in opposition
to, or the exclusion of, suitable Steamers
by whonsocver owued--whch could be CON
ncctcd with the route on equitable terms
That Of course (cguiidblc tcrmS) is all that any
party viii admit they claim; but such surely
must be admitted are not The terms TO which
We have been compelled to submit aud TO
which, till the expiration Of the coming lst
January, OF our existing contract with the
steamboat company, must Yet submit
Briefy-by the existing coniracts-o of the cros,
receiptS, via the railroad aud steamboats,, Sercn-
ieHthS are pad 10 The steamboat company who
exclusively receive all the passage money kenc,
Tor from Ncw York or Prori9ence) 10 NGCrOrt
and all the outside freight between this and
Providence. provided one half the whole lreig h
transported does rot pass owe, the Sionngiot
railroad IN whish case the railroad company
receives ihree-tonihs of one half OF the ouIsld,
freight. The steamers which run in counec
tuu with the Norwich railroad, (which road
doubt not will be adequately sustained by ~
participation in the scneral trade between New
York and Boston, but manly by the local traNe
OF the populouS country through which II pass
cs) receive. and understood are adequatel,
compensated at two dollars per passenger Al
their proportion on that route between New
York aud Norwich. Steamers generally, OF
the northern aud eastern waters OF our country
are compensated in about similar ratis OF less
and at any rate, as the routes from New lorI
to Norwich aud from New York 10 SIoningtor
are alike rs is also the character OF the trade. i
is fair to presume steaVers can run as rheaPl,
to one place as the other at least as cheapl,
to us as to them. Nor is it material TO furthe
calculations. that the proprieiors Of steamer