The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-11-18
The Railroad System of Maine.

The present railroad system ot this state Is
ANYTHING but conducive 70 the best interests OF
our towns and cities. but everything that seems
20 be required for the advantage OF Boston and
the other cities beyond tho limits OF our own
STATE.
In MASSACHUSETTS, and other States, the vsri.
Gus railroads are mansged 10 accommodate the
public. upon whom such corporations are de,
pendent for support. What state, we wouiI
ask. with the same number of miles OF raiiroau
M Maine, but has better facilities for more ire
ouent communication Under present arrange
Incp,s there are no means by which roronhn'
the metropolis of the State, can sfori eoun n,
nicstion with the Capital, only sixty mlles us
tnnt, but once day--morc than thar: ne eah-
not 90 and return the same day "hen ,ne
I.ssisiature /, In session, il gentleman OF tnis
CITY wishes 70 appear before any OF the Legisls.
tive Committees, be Is obliged 70 spena ms
days In order TO do soil he goes IA tne uis.
train Of to-day. he arrives only IN tune 70 NJ.
roo late 10 return that day, and he Is obliged TO
return the following day. About The same ana
M better facilities are afforded upon all the
road, diyergiug from Portland. Under present
arrangements Of the various trains departing
for the interior, Boston papers OF the same ua'e
As those published in our city reach the citizens
OF our own State rs early as those published IN
Portland, after having Travelled one hundred
and eight miles or some eight or nine hours
aster publici,ion-whch Is just about q air es-
tiulte of the facilities afforded our interior
trade 10 20 10 Boston and other markets out OF
the State in preference TO coming here 10 pur-
chase their supplies.
How il Il ON the Boston and Maine and r. :.
APR R., Passengers purchasing tickets
under recent arrangements, are now allowed to
atom over with through tickets, at any OF the
towns after leaving Portland or this State,
while messengers nj the eastward OF Portland
purchasing through tickets are no, allowed, rs
we are informed. to stop over IN Portland,
comprehend is an admirable arrangement for
Boston.
No facilities for dispatch are afforded to pass
enrers going over this road, Notwithstanding
the constantly increasing dow OF passengers, rs
A matter Of economy on the part OF this corpo-
ra,,an passengers are obliged to submit to the
long and tedious passage OF Ave and a half To
seven hours going from Portland to Boston,
one hundred and eight miles, which should be
easily made in four hours time, " the trains
were properly divided to accommodate the pub
lie, IL the trains are SD much oyerburdened ms
10 be unable to carry through passengers with
di,patch on time, third or even fourth train
should be made up daily, sufficient tn accommo-
date the increasing travel. Why should n cor
poration be so regardless Of the public welfare
AS 70 adhere to such niggardly policy and
cram three or four trains into two ms q matte,
OF economy on their part! The dollars and
cents should not be always the hrst considera-
tion In arranging for public patronage. A lib
ernl policy In such matters in the end proves Il
be the most remunerstive. and the public wht
require liberal policy to accommodate the
Great increase OF travel must and will have Il.
II Is no credit to railroad Company like the
p. 8. & r. X. X. In these times OF railroads and
steamboats, that the public are forced to support
a daily stage between this city and Saco and
Biddeford in order to come to this city before
afternoon and return again after three o'clock
or that tho Boston and Portland steamers
should be so crowded with passengers at all
seasons for the simple reason that business men
can better afford 10 spend oil higt going by
the boat, than To consume most vt the day by
rail.
VIC are pleased tn admit, are AS "a general thing
conducted upon liberal scale. The Boston
Steam Navigation Co., conduct their business
in a manner highly satisfactory to the public
and their enterprise and spirit Is appreciated,
aul the success of the l,pc Is in n great measure
Commensurate Herewith. The same may also
be sail ~ the international Steamboat Co.
We cannot hope tor further deyelOpement
OF our national resources, or 10 secure the trade
of our State until better railrold communica.
,ion il openel M not only 10 Portland, but TO
the important, towns in our immediate vicinity
Bangor. Bath. Hsllowol', Gardiner, Augusta,
Lewiston, Wa,crvillc, Rocslaud. Thomaston,
Belfast, Bucksport, Brunswick, Damariscot'a,
and host OF other towns east, AS well rs stco.
Bilieford, kennebunk. ScarbOro, &c., should
be so accommodated as 10 afford merchants and
business men an opportunity 10 come and return
from our city 10 their homes on the same day.
Al presen, we have but little better facilities
than we had ten, fifteen, or twenty years ago I;
AMI what wa. our city or State Mt that time
compared with what Il is now! Why cannot
our railroad companies keep up with the tmes!
Why should they require the people to keep
stirring them with a Ion pole in order to keep
them alive 10 their duties! II is high time that
we should look about and no, slumber. The
people Of Maine are generally up To the times
in everything else. and why should we remain
idle and allow our trade to go from US just tor
the want Of q corresponding enterprise on the
mart of our railroad corporations! Let ths
people take the necessary steps In the right d.
rcction.
The remarks Of tho Price Current which
wc quote above are well deserved, and We
hope the subject will be KEEP, before the peo'
ple, until the result shall be an improvement
in tho railroad system in Maine; for we do
no. believe there 10 another State in the Un-
ion. possesing the number of miles OF inter
nal railroads, whose people arc not better
accomo lated than our own.
Tho p. 8. & p. r. X. does all the carrying
in rreishts for State Of 600 900 population
to or from the west, and, II properly man
aged, We cannot sos why il should not DO N
good railroad stock rs any in New England
since a. oil times il has business equal to its
capacity. being the only road leading frou
the State westward. Its western terminus
isSouth Berwick where connection is made
with tho Eastern and the Boston & Maine,
Although only 81 miles from Boston IL 70
quirss two whole days for our citizens to 60
toiBoston and back, giving them about four
hours time for business in business hours,
This arrangement does not show enterprise
or disposition to accommodate the public.
Can any ono toll why tho trips to Boston
should require five hours time? And why Is
it that tor the last six months the trains
have been almost tho entire time from one Il
two hours late! IL requires Eve hours fo'
tho round trip, because the trains stop al
every dag station and pigeon hole Oh tho
route. This is satisfactory for an accommo
dation train, but by no means meets the
wants Of tina, largo and responsible portion