The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-13
Belfast & NIoosehead Lake Railroad.
BELFAST, Dec 10, 1869,


To the Editor Of the Press: -l-'
Having noticed, in a recent issue of your
paper, illusions to the fact that j. Y McClin
took, of this city, has put forth circular de-
claring his intention not to pay his subscrip-
ton to the stock of the Belfast and Moosehead
Lake Railroad, I ask the justice, in behalf of
my associate Directors, of briefly replying
thereto.
Mr.. McClintoek declares that the change of
the terminus from Newport to Burnham is IL
legal and releases his subscription. But he
conceals the fact that before making the
change, the Directors procured the written
opinions of Ex-Gov. Crosby and of Hon. Wood
bury Davis late Judge of the Supreme Court,
sustaining the legality of the change. And
the road was not located to Burnham, until it
had been leased to the Maine Central for fifty
years, and then at the express desire of the
leasing corporation. In fact the road now
runs to Newport via Burnham, at saving Of
$3.50, 900 in its construction, using 10 miles of
the Maine Central track-that corporation
STIMULATING that the rates of freight and fare to
and from Newport shall be the same as though
it went direct to that place. What more could
a fair-minded subscriber to the stock desire?
So broad and general are the powers conferred
upon the Directors by the charter and terms
of subscription, that Judge Rice and General
Shepley, after examining both, expressed the
opinion tina they allowed a connection to be
made at Kendall's Mills, some twelve miles
further to the west than Burnham.
A little more than year ago Mr.. MeClin-
took made application to the Supreme Court
for an injunction to forbid the city of Belfast
from issuing bonds to the road because it acas
to be built to Newport. That petition having
been denied, he now declares he will not pay
his subscription because the road is not to be
built to Newport!
If the animus of the circular alluded to be
sought for, it may be found in the fact that
twenty years ago Mr.. McClintock had per-
sonal disagreement with Axel Hayford, Presi-
dent of the road. As untiring in his enmity
as he is reliable in his friendships, he has new
er forgotten or forgiven a quarrel which has
now outlived generation. He tods friend
Of the railroad until Mr.. HaUord was elected
President-since that time he has been dead
ly enemy No one who knows him doubts
that be will continue to be. Could he succeed
in inducing the withholding of payments or
the sale of bonds enough to embarrass the en-
terprise, he believes that his old-time enemy
would fall with it, and thus he could "feed fat
his ancient grudge." There is no more nor
less of the whole bu mess than this. But the
friends of the road and the people of Bel
fast will never consent that it be !sacri-
man. They stand by the constituted
authorities of the corporation, whoever
they may be. Sustained by the decision of
the Supreme Court in their action of last year,
and guided by the highest legal opinions since
| that time, the Directors are confident that they
enterprise through the scattering of circular
letters, SO palpably weak and pointless that
they are excluded from the columns of both
papers published in Belfast,
The road is leased at six per cent to the
Maine Central, and is to be success from
facts in the case knows. There is no embar-
rassment in its affairs. The road is entirely
graded, and next spring the laying of the iron
will commence. rs WILLIAM II. SIMPSON.