The Portland daily press., 1870-07-23
tn fdo PeoDIe of Maine.


ton OF the railroads of our State, thereby to
control the business relations of its different
towns and cities, the attention of Portland
was aroused
1t was generally supposed that the decisive
negative given by your Legislature last win
ter, upon their application for consolidation
and monopoly, was sufficient protection to
the rights of our citizens throughout the
| State.
| About the latter part of May last, rumors
were afioat that secret treaty had been en-
tered into between the managers of the Cen
trail and the Portland & Kennebec Railroad
Companies, to make such consolidation, and
create monopoly, vested in themselves at an
immense loss to the original stockholders in
both roads.
at once an investigation was entered upon
by those who felt that the honor and interest
of the State, and particularly of Portland,
were involved. After repeated efforts were
made, the whole intrigue was brought TO light,
and the naked features of great intended
monopoly fully exposed. Portlauders were
disturbed at the idea that few men should
| interrupt and trammel the free; equal and
amicable intercourse of our Eastern and West
ern country, as we'll as that with Canada and
the Lower Provinces. They felt the honor of
the State, as well as that of the city of Port
land, would be furnished by this move for in
divilual profit, and they met 10 devise means
to prevent such stain upon our escutcleen
4 will n mr. ifaI,I til ~,l L.
gin of railroads in our State, five and twenty
years ago. In the beginning (1S45) of rail-
road enterprise in Maine, by the charter grant
ed the Atlantic & st. Lawrence road to be
connected with the Canadian charter of the
st. Lawrence and Atlantic road, and which
was dovetailed to our road, general, fair and
generous policy was adopted to benefit the
State at large,
Though Portland was the immediate point
to draw the business of Canada and of our
| Western cities, the extension of central
line, some thirty miles short of Portland, was
deemed matter of great consequence to the
whole State. Accordingly charter for the
Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad (now
part of the Central) was obtained at the same
session OF the Legislature, to be connected on
the easterly side of the Atlantic, at Danville.
After much discussion and investigation, the
medium, or five and half feet gauge, was
adopted, as the best, and the three roads thus
linked together by charter were constructed
upon that gauge, and they must remain so.
The same gauge was established for the
Canadas and the Provinces af New Bruns-
WICK AID Nova Scotia. The next movement
extendad the roadtothe city of Bangor, being
the residue of the present Central road.
subsequently the European and North
American Road was entered upon from Ban
gor to the British Lower Provinces. and is
nearly completed, and on the same gauge.
Inc State generously and with full belief in
the benefits our citizens would derive from its
construction, contributed largely the means
lor It's completion. Why did the government
10 so7 Because it was carrying out the great
original plan of INSTRUMENTATION between
Europe and the Pacific coast, through the
Lower Provinces, the centre of our own State,
and onward to the far West. We "Down-
casters saw and felt we hal an interest in
helping forward the conveniencies, the trade
and intercourse of the Eastern with the
Western Hemisphere.
The charter for the Androscoggin 6 Kenne-
Dec was obtained by Portland men in accord
ance with their views and of our Canadian
friends, of passing into and through Maine
the emigration, the products, and business of
1he British Provinces. Had it not been so,
the Androscoggin and Kennebec would not
have been built. It was bolt mainly nv
PORTLAND funds, though we had at that time a
heavy undertaking in pushing forward the
road to Canada, we put our shoulders 10 the
other portion of the great project and carried
IL to Waterville. Portland stockholders need
not to be reminded of their loss in SO doing,
but their enterprise was fully inaugurated-
and carried to the waters of the Kennebec, in
furtherance of the interests of the State.
After more than twenty years, during
which every effort in the power of Maine and
Canada as well as of the Lower Provinces has
been exerted for the accomplishment of this
great ENTERPRISE few far seeing gentlemen
have been induced to the attempt of making
the whole subject to their veto, unless their
dictation as to fares of passengers and freight
be submitted to by the community. Connie
dore Steckton's Camden and AmEoy policy
was to be re enacted on our soil. Every man
knows or ought to know, the disgust and in
cignatlon OF the whole travelling public when
compelled to pass through New Jersey. We
trust that such state of things cannot be
brought about in our State.
The experienced men of Portland saw the
initials OF such course and met to prevent
its execution. They organized large COM
mlttee OF its citizens for that purpose. That
committee have been at work, and they now
appeal to the interests of the State, to the
honor of the State, involved in the early
movements of our railroads, to aid them in
their EFFORTS to restrain these gentlemen in
their selfish designs.
1t is high time that our State government
should establish and clearly define by general
law, the privileges intended to be granted by
railroad charters. When a grant has been
conferred upon few individuals under color
OF law to lay out public highways for the ex-
elusive benefit of stockholders but not of the
pubic at large, unless under the control of
these corporations, just limit should be
made of their power. When line of high
way is thus located, irrespective OF private
rights, the power granted is expended in the
laying of tracks of iron and of establishing de-
pots for public use and convenience. The
nelghboring country towns adapt their town
and county roads to meet at the most con-
venient points the line of such railroad, A
transformation of road-lines is thus compelled
to be made, at heavy expense. Shall the
power OF altering or changing either the gauge
terminus or depot stations be vested in these
corporations? Is it unreasonable that they
should when contemplating such change be
required to apply to the original source of
their existence for special authority to do so
Notice to be given the public and all parties
affected thereby, in season to be heard? A
fair investigation to be had, or shall such
power be exercised at the will or the pleasure
or interest of the few?
In view of the great importance of a settle
ment of these questions by the State Legisla-
ture, we ask your cooperation in calling up
on cur State Government to act without delay.
Inc movements by secret compact recently
Ne'e'opeo, require action from those whose
power Is alone sufficient to guard the public
interest and honor.
An appeal has been n, ado .r