The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-18
LtAtLY PRESS.
Tuesday Morning December Is, 1856
How 10 Build Railroads.
PORTLAND

How 10 Build Railroads.
II is twenty-four years this very month
since the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth rail-
road met the Boston and Maine at South Ber-
wick. and the first locomotive came kissing
and putting along the track and stopped at the
base of Bramhalls hill. A short line mad
previously been opened between Bangor ana
Oldtown, and retains 10 this day some oi the
curious carriages then in use. Within the
,malter of century which has since elapsed.
railway communication has been established
between Portland and Montreal, and two long
lines have been built across the State, the one
to Bangor and the other through Augusta to
Skowhegan. At the present moment a road
is in contemplation and will undoubtedly be
built, connecting the lower Kennebec 18th
Fenobscot Bay, and sure to follow the Penob-
scot ultimately to Bangor. A branch of the
Maine Central win before long be pushing It's
way up into Piscataquis county. The Maine
Central itself is seeking an independent route
from DanvillS junction to this city The
Buckfield branch of the Grand Trunk ought
to be extended to Canton. Aroostook county
needs and will have an outlet for its produc-
tions. On opposite sides of the State two
great undertakings are on foot After dis
cpura ing delays work has been actually be-
gun on the European and North American
railway, a work as important to the State at
large as the Atlantic and st. Lawrence, and
for precisely similar reasons. On the other
hand the Portland and Rochester road lacks
only few miles of completion, and promises
the advantages OF a more direct communion
ton with New York, and of a new avenue for
Western products, to say nothing of the trade
which will be attracted in this direction from
New Hampshire and Vermont. ai
That all these enterprises are justified on
principles of sound economy, is proposition
which at this day hardly needs demonstra-
ton. The advantages of rapid and cheap
communication have been too often and too
clearly set forth. Whatever tends to diminish
the cost of transportation, relieves alike the
producer and consumer, and the railroad with
its steam winds and iron tides offers the best
substitute for water carriage, and the cheap
est even at the present exorbitant tariff The
only important question now is, how shall
these roads be built? Shall they be built on
credit, or for cash? by private subscription or
by public aid? The experiment of building
railroads on credit has been thoroughly tried
in this State, and has resulted-wel, unfay-
orably. Maine Central stock is now quoted
at II or IL cents ON the dollar, and Andres
coggin stock is worthless All the rest are
like these. People taking stock in roads to be
built, even in part, on credit, now understand
that they are simply contributing to that ex-
tent for the public good. But why should
not the public pay for what is for the public
good? That brings us to the consideration
of law which has been for more than two
years in operation in New Hampshire, which
has been found very useful there, and to which
we respectfully invite the attention of the
Maine Legislature at its approaching session.
1t runs as follows: 1t!U % IS ae s ifcI
SECTION l. Any town or city in this State
may at any legal meeting duly notified and
holden for that purpose, raise by tax or loan
such sums OF money as they shall deem expe-
dent, not exceeding five per cent. of the valu-
alton of such town or city, as made by the as
SCISSORS thereof for the year in which said meet
ing shall be held, and may appropriate the
same to aid in the construction of any railroad
in this State, in such manner as they shall deem
proper, provided that two-thirds of the legal
voters present and voting at such meeting shall
vote therefor.
SEC.2 Any town or city may make such
contracts with any person or any railroad COR
poration, now or hereafter existing under the
laws of this State, for the purpose mentioned
in the preceding section, as they may think me-
cessary, and may raise money by tax or loan to
carry the same into effect, not exceeding the
amount of said five per cent
SECT. g. Any town or city raising money by
loan under the provisions of this act, shall raise
in each year, commencing the third year after
such loan shall be effected, a sum not less than
three per cent. of the amount of such loan, to
be applied to the liquidation of the principal
of such loan in addition to the interest.
SEC. 4. No town or city shall be liable for the
debts OF any such person or railroad corpora
ton, beyond the amount appropriated or con-
tracted for by such town or city.
SEC. g. Whenever any town or city shall hold
any stock in any railroad, the seectmen are
authorized to vote thereon at all meetings OF
such corporation, and may appoint an agent
for that purpose by writing under their hands,
Sec. 6. This act shall take effect on it's pas
sage. f 46 r.f.e,t, Fl -
If our roads must be built for cash, as is
now certain; ifimmediate returns are to be
expected not merely in the form of dividends,
but mainly in an increased volume of bust
ness beneftting the entire community; if it is
desirable furthermore that the public should
have voice in the management of the roads,
what more prudent or equitable method of
raising the necessary funds can be devised
than a contribution from the towns and
cities which are to be mainly benefited?
The Importance to the community of retain
ing some control over interests so weighty, is
daily becoming more obvious The time may
come when a railroad owned by private cor
poration and managed solely for its advan-
tage will be as obsolete as toll-bridge.