The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-02-20
The Consolidation Monopoly.

We copy the subjoined article from thu
State of Maine Of the 18th inst. 1t relates
to proposition before the Legislaturewhicb,
US We conceive, is of vital interest to the
people OF the State. The policy of tn.
State to give no exclusive advantages to any
railroad, which would by any means injure
other and competing lines, and to compel
all railroads seeking rights by legislative en-.
actment to give the people equal facilities
for travel over all routes was early establish
ed and should not be departed from. Year,
ago, perceiving tho tendency to monopoly
which was cropping out in some directions
we lifted a warning voice against 1t, and We
again admonish the Legislature to be care
full not to heed opportunities, which however
loud and however speciously presented, orig
mate simply from desire to build up one
interest at the expense of another, and which
if granted, will be prcjudicial to the in
terest of the people Of the State. Whatever
is done in this matter, let the public right
be strictly cared for, and no action takcr
that will aid one road ut the expense Of
another We thank the State Of Maine fol
speaking out thus undisguiscdly on this
subject
There is matter pending before the Leg
islature gilmore Importance to tho State, than
any one that has arisen for u long time, and
one that should not be allowed 10 lass with.
outa full discussion. 1t is proposed to con.
solidatc the lines Of railway from Danville
junction to Bangor, without providing for
a connection by the way Of Augusta.
Two lines extend from Portland to Ken.
dall's Mills; and from thence there Is ono
line TO Bangor. The law of last winter al.
lowed n consolidation Of the Androscoggin
4 Kennebec and the Penobscot Il Keunebec
lines, but stipulated for such q connection
with the line to Augusta, SO as to give
through passengers a choice Of routes. The
same principle was adopted, as that establish.
ed by the law Of March !, 1870, in reference
to the two routes from South Berwick juno
ton to Boston. The lower route refused to
allow through passengers to take their
choice of routes, and the Legislature stepped
in and enforced compulsory connection,
and passengers from Portland to Boston took
either route at their pleasure.
Such is the law ut this time in regard 70
the through travel from Portland to Bangor
The attempt is now made to get rid Of this
stipulation, and allow the united companies
to force the travel over their line.
There can be no objection to an amalgama.
ton Of the two lines provided the rights Of
the public are suitably guarded; but we
should esteem it step backward for the
Legislature to favor so monstrous monopo.
ly as that proposed. Trade and travel should
be left free to take its choice Of routes, and
we cannot believe, that the people Of the
eastern part of Maine can be 10 blind as no,
to see their danger. Yho stockholders on
the "back route" will be benefited by this
monopoly, and We naturally expect them to
work to accomplish their own personal and
selfish ends; but the State at large must sce
the injustice Of the measure proposed.
But it is said, that the united company is
not to be relieved from any obligation pre-
viously imposed upon either company. This
is no answer whatever; because, in the
granting of the several charters, independ-
ent of each other, the Legislature did not
contemplate any such thing as consolida.
ton OF lines inconsistent with the equal
rights of oil other parties, The line from
Waterville to Bangor connected two i'm
portant termini where other lines were like.
ly to be intersected, and the equal conncc-
ton Of oil other lines ut these points was
clearly contemplated. To give to one line
from Danyille Junction to Bangor the right
to exclude other connecting roads from par.
ticipating in the rough travel, on equal
terms, would be to place the public ut the
mercy Of II single corporation.