The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-21
LOCAL EvILs.-THEIR REMEDY.

On the FIRST day Of the present month, tn,
fares Of the p. S. and p. Railroad, were ad
vanced ',reaty per cent, or rather 1t would b
strictly more accordant with the facts to say
that at the time referred to, the fares wer,
raised ttrcpiy per cent, to all persons whc
have the misfortune to live in Portland or il
'iplaccs on the line Of the road. The fare
from this place was raised from $500 tC
/ 50 40, to Boston. Passengers coming ovei
the roads east of Portland, Lewiston, Bath
&C., or by the Bangor boats, from Belfast
Rockland &C., are passed over the road al
old rates. In point Of fact, by system o
refunding which VIC saw advertised in the
Depot Of the Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston, a passage between Boston, Lew
iston, Rockland. Bath and other places, some
Of them near hundred miles east Of us, doe:
not actually cost as much as from Boston
here, or here to Boston. In the notice al
luded 10, the price ola ticket to Rockland j:
stated to be $500. refunded, 100; to Bath
SO, 50.refunded SO cents; to Lewiston. s.. so
refunded, 90 cents. SC.
Ever since the p. s. and P. road was
opened, this system Of taxing the travel
for the benefit Of the East, along the
line Of the road, for the course adopt.
ed amounts substantially to this, has
been prae,iced-and this, too, notwithstand
ing the charter of the road declares ,ha,
the fares shall be Pro rata. The course OF
the managers Of the railroad In this par.
ticular has been the suhject OF much, and
and deserved complaint, even when the
fares were lower than at present. There
has been good deal Of fault finding, but
no concerted effort TO induce healthy COM
petition with the railroad company. So
long rs the rates charged from here were
the same as from places Eas, Of Us, the In.
equality has been submitted to, but there is
now discrimination against US, and one
which bears severely against the business
interests and wants ofour place. The right
Of tho railroad Company to make this dis
elimination considering the provisions Of its
charter is doubtful, bat We do not propose
TO 60 into this, but to suggest to the people
the consideration Of some remedy for the
state Of things which exists. Notwith.
standing the very great increase of travel
over the road, the rates Of fares have in.
creased instead Of diminished, and the com.
pany are more rigorous than ever with re-
spect to any privileges to persons passing
over the road Tickets are endorsed "good
for this trip only" and no checks ore given
which will allow person taking the cars
here, bound to Boston, to stop by the way
for few hours and get into train subse'
quen, to the one for which the ticket was
purchased. II isinOt our purpose to speak,
except by these mere illusions 10 the evils
which exist, connected with the railroad
/ Our citizens here, are all familiar with the
course adopted by the Company, and do not
need TO be told Of the evils they suffer
though they may need to be told, that a
place Of sixteen or seventeen thousand in
habitants should have enterprise and public
spirit enough to take steps to coun,eract these
evils, if such steps are within their reach.
We know some years ago, project for
putting Steam Boat on the route between
this place and Boston, to run three times a
week was talked Of, and seemed to be re-
ceived with favor. We so in for revivins
the project and carrying it actually into ef'
feet. Were there no fault to be found
reasonably with the Railroad company, the
running OF q good substantial boat, in the
manner indicated. would tend to increase The
prosperity OF The place. Connected, as it
would be. with tho lines OF stages running
into the country, it would materially aid the
business Of the place, besides aGording nc.
commOdStion for the cheap transportation
Of freight which does not now exist. Pos.
sibly such steam communication, would, by
inducing healthy competition, be advan,a-
geous, and do as much for the citizens OF this
place, as steam boat communication does for
the people Of Rockland, Bath, and places
East. A suitable boat might be purchased
for fifteen or twenty thousand dollars, per
haps less, and il the fares were put a, one
half the railroad fares, it would command Q
large share Of the irayel-the stock in tn,
Company could hardly fail to pay hand
:. some dividend. II has been suggested Il
combine an interest In its favor, that tn
movement be made a popular one. and thu
0 our business men, and all who would be bene
sttOd thereby, generally ohould tahu share
in the Company stock, and thus mako it 70
the general interest TO support the boat
We conceive that an enterprise Of this kin
; would be Of great benefit to the place, IN
, we are glad TO learn that it has been mad
+ the subject Of consideration and talk f.
: several weeks past. 1t would furnish a rem
D cdy for one evil, q, least, under which we ID
Dor.
> Now that We are upon the subject Of evil
!, perhaps we may rs well make clean breas
k Of it, and speak Of another matter which ha
D furnished cause for complaint with our bus
: ness men. We sllude 10 tho prices charge