Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-05-21

The project for the consolidation Of the Rail-
roads forming the 0gdensburgh and Vermont
Central line, is a very important one, and would
seem on the face of it to be very feasible
scheme. The six roads, the Lowell, Nashua,
Concord, Northern New Hampshire, Vermont
Central and Ogiensburgh, are interested in the
plan These roads have no antagonistic inter
est and very heavy Joint interests. In the mat
ter Of through freight the line has been for some
time under one management Now it Is pro-
posed to merge all these corporations into one,
to be called the Great Northern Railroad. The
| persons named as corporators in the bill which
Is before the Railroad Committee Of the Massachu-
sets Legislature, are Francis B. Crowninshield,
Benjamin P. Cheney, Josiah G. Abbott, John
! c Pratt, William Minot. Jr., Francis NJ Weld
Henry Clark. John f Lyon, George W Lyman.
Daniel : Richardson, Josiah B. French, Hocum
Horsord William E. Livingstone John W. P.
Abbott, Isaac Spalding. George Stark. Edward
Spaldiug, Ezekiel A. Straw, Onslow Stearns.
Josiah Minot, John H. George, Henry Keyes.
John G. Smith, Robert F. Tyler, William c.
Brown. The bill authorizes the purchase Of all
the above named roads, and limits the capital
stock Of the new corporation to the capital stock
and amount Of Indebtedness Of the several roads
mentioned above, with the railroads and steam
boat lines now leased by them, which the corpor-
alton is also empowered to buy; the whole pur-
chase to be upon terms mutually TO be agreed
upon, and to be ratified by a majority Of the
stockholders Of each road at a meeting called for
the purpose 1t is understood that all the roads
mentioned are in favor Of consolidation, and the
only opposition Will come from competing lines.
Mr.. Hamilton A. Hill, secretary Of the Boston
Board Of Trade, at hearing on Wednesday,
said that there was no doubt that the Board
would endorse the enterprise The bill, Il pass
el, viii have to be endorsed by the legislatures
of New Hampshire, Vermont and New York
That the line could be run with more economy
and certainty Of through connection, as one I
road. cannot be doubted On the other hand, /
i, the danger to public interests from the ire I
meulou. power Of such immense corporations. /
bu, Of this there is the less fear in this be-
cause the line lies through four states. all of (
whose legislatures could hardly be controlled, as
The New York Central controls the New York
legislature We suppose that one consequence
If such consolidation would be likely to be a
similar consolidation of roads forming the Rut-
and * Fitchburg line between Boston and
Montreal
DELAYS IN FRuGHrNG.-The subject Of
prompt transportation Of freight was before the
ailroai committee Of the Massachusetts, Le-isa-
ure on Wednesday morning. Daniel l. Harris
nd c. VI. Chaplin Of Springfield, j. 7. Eliriice
zen. Stark, ez-Gov. Smith Of Vermont and the
Northern Pacific Railroad, G.nery Twitcheli,
'harles Francis Adams Jr., and other promi-
tent railroad men and citizens were present
hamilton 4 Hill. Secretary Of the Boston Board
& Trade stated that he had il his possession q
.reat number Of facts showing the deficiency Of
be roads in dis, respect The specific instances
r shortening were So numerous as to make Il
yiient tina, seniers Of freight were entitled {.
.ter accommodation. The time had arrived
hen merchant should know. when he dis
.tches freight, the exact time when it vii reach
, destination as certainly as a passenger knows
he time Of his arrival The bill proposed 10y the
lston board Of trade compels every railroad 20 /
-4nsp0rt all freight between stations less than q
100 miles apart within - hours Of its delivery.
e. Converse of Boston spoke earnestly in favor !
certainty Of time in the transportation Of J
eight. In his own case, II had sometimes taken e
zht daysto get package from Brilgeva,er
T.. 10 Boston over the Fitchhurg railroad Col. y
Gorge, counsel for the Boston and Lowell road. b
skei if the law did not give a man damages for
.y unreasonable detention Of freight Nlr. %.
inverse spiritedly replied that it WAS Of 20 II
nd Of use to sue "a railroad under The present q.
". Itwouli be years before the sui, would be d.
ciei, and if the plaintiff gained IT, 5; would "
st more than il came o.. To the remark, III
"eLl, the lawyers must be supported he re- 81
ed. D." Let EN- be peusioned, then" y
Col George closed the hearing by presenting b.
l.l for the consolidation Of the roads forming I'D
Vernon, Central line, from osieus5ars TO LEI
ston.