Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-11

We expect to get considerable travel from
Halifax to New York before many years, and
when there is a through line. There is now
large travel from Halifax in the summer
time by water.
Consolidation either contempates a change
OF gauge or some arrangement by which the
cars can go through to Boston. Rail carriage
of certain kinds of freight is preferable to
water transportation, for the reason that it is
done quicker, surer, and without cost of in
surancc.
Monopoly is n word which has a very bad
name. Get it well agoing and it is pretty eff
fectual. But is it applicable to railroad con-
solidation, that is in its odous sense? A rail
road is monopoly if you mean that it takes
all the business of the country through which
it runs. The monopoly Of railroad is that it
carries freight cheaper than it can otherwise
be transported.
If the credit of one or two railroads in the
State is touched it effects the whole. The
public have an interest in having the credit of
the railroads in the State sustained. We
want railroads all over the State.
The European & N. A. r. r. is 10 miles
long and cost about $4,000 per mile. Have
received from the government 100000.
Mr.. VIM. Atkinson of Embden, spoke in
opposition to consolidation. Consolidation is
calculated to be monopoly. The question
arises whether if consolidation is effected the
inclination may not be to put the rate at the
highest practicable point. Consolidate Sl6,
600, 900 of railroads in Maine and they can
kill and drive out all transportation by water
in the State.
Will not the lands be just as valuable on
the roads separately as if they are Joined to-
gether? There is no danger of these roads
failing and their bonds are good security. No
doubt but these companies could better their
condition by uniting their interests, but there
is danger of putting power into the hands Of
the company. 1t cannot be done without
jeopardizing the rights of the people.
Consolidation places an autocratic power
in the hands of the few which may and must
be exercised to the injury of the people or the
money. Grant these gentlemen what they
1 dsh loI anu VIC anu POotSihy ihuSb SNS "AAN
feel the results of the saying, Il am the
State"
No men or set of men have right to ex-
pect that the Legislature shall grant them inn
munities, hoping that in future they may not
act to injure the people and the public
What may come of this move towards con-
solidation is in the unknown future. The
consolidation question and the general rail-
road bill are horns of the same dilemma, and
both are opposed to the interests of the Som
erset railroad. The motto of the Somerset
road is, God and the right. The friends Of
that road had rather lose all they have done
than to put upon the people this odious monop-
oly Hon. Joel Gray of Boston, says he
had rather sacrifice the $4,000 he had sub
scribed to the road than that consolidation
should succeed. The towns on the route OF
the Somerset road which have subscribed to
the stock are waiting to see if these railroad
bills will pass before they will pay. If they
pass they will refuse to pay.
! Have the people asked for consolidation by
petition or otherwise? No, they have not
/ and do not want it.
| Hon. A. Z. Morrill, said all the gentleman
who went before has said is bosh. The Maine
| Central furnishes the means for continuing
work on the Somerset road. We have made
a contract with them and shall stand up to it.
Shall we destroy that road when we have
paid in $50, 900, and are pledged to furnish
more? We have given them money and ad-
vice and it does not look reasonable that e
should hope to do as the gentleman has said.
| The company have leased to the Maine Cen
trail for fifty years and have given them the
I power to fix rates. Does that look as if they
were afraid of monopoly?
Mr.. Atkins answered the remarks of Mr..
Morrill, in some direct and pretty strong Ian
guage.
Mr.. Stinchfeld of Hallowell, proposed some
amendments to the bill. which he thought es-
sential. The fares upon our American lines
of railways are double or three times as high
as on European railways. Our fares are ex-
brilliantly high. The legislature ought not
to give up its rights to fix the rates of fares
upon the railroads of the State. As the bill
now reads, the railroad company can mort
gage the road for any purpose they please,
whether it is for the road or not.
Is satisfied that the tendency of the bill is
| to mislead the committee and the legislature.
The first section means all the railroads in tine
State. The whole effect and tenor of the
bill is to make the whole railroad interest in
the State unit.
He read letter from II. C. Carey, the well
known political economist, in opposition to
railroad monopolies and consolidation.
Spoke in severe terms of the Camden &
Amboy r. r., in New Jersey, which owns and
controls the legislation of that state. The
doctrine of consolidation has never been
adopted in any state in this country except in
New Jersey.
Before Mr. Stinchfield had finished his ar
gument the committee adjourned till p, p
NJ, Friday, when the hearing will be contin-
ued.
On