Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-24
Cur Boston letter.
RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION IN AtAssA-
CHUSETTS.
BOSTON. March II.

Boston, March II.
Editor Rutland Herald 1t would not
be very practicable, were one disposed, to
give in letter anything like an outline
of the present state of the mutual and an
tagonistic interests of the various rail
roads in this State, particularly those that
centre in this city, as they appear at any
session of our legislature, whethere they
be main lines in any direction, or short
roads intersecting there. But the time
appears to have come when none of these
roads can ask any extension of its rights
without exciting the suspicion of numer-
Gus other roads that their rights are to be
invaded, or that those they intend to ask
for in the future may be appropriated by
others before them. To some extent this
is true Of all States, but it is most appar-
ent here where the net work of roads is
becoming finely drawn. The through
lines to other States have their schemes of
consolidation or other objects and aims
half hidden, but which they are OCCASION
ally obliged to unfold to view.
1t may be interesting to you to know
that the Boston & Lowell Railroad Com
pany, over whose road the freight of the
Vermont Central road passes, and which
forms this end of that long line of roads to
Ogdensburg, whose interests, if not their
roads, are consolidated, has held for a
long time the monopoly of all the freight
carried between Lowell and Boston
Though it, own road is not more than
thitrH miles .nn4. it control~ four times
that amount, at least, OF roads centering
III l.1~e.l. I3I~ road ~ ,,u, ~ r}t two
oldest u IT,. c,.un:ry ir has becomr rich
aud powerful. ,nd by adroir infringement
it has aimed to continue this monopoly.
As a means to this end it recently pur-
chased the Lexington branch road, lead
ing from the Fitohburg north towards
Lowell, from q junction six miles from
Boston, This branch not being built or
owned by the Fitchburgh did not paw
expenses and was not run Could
this Boston u Lowell Company get
the right to extend this road 10 Bos.
ton, the next step would be easy, that OF
extending it to Lowell, or near it. On the
Nashua road. Then they would have
another line tor freight, in addition to
their present two tracks But as the wants
OF the people Of the intermediate towns
were 70 be secondary to the through
freig hit, and the convenience of this mo-
nopoly, the programme was spoiled in the
Senate by large vote against the ex-
tension to Boston. But the next dav the
House still further disappointed the
wishes and expectations of this CORPORA
ton, by voting charter for a new road
from Lowell to birmingham, large
town on the Boston and Albany road, |
which already has connection with Prov.
idence and Fall River, places situated on
the Narraganset bay. When it is known
that it requires considerable more time
and expense to get coal, cotton and other
frieghts, from the south around Cape Cod
into Boston harbor, than up this bay to
Providence, it will be seen that this road
will De formidable competition with |
the Boston and Lowell, if kept under sep.
arate management.
The old policy of taxing local freight
dearly, that through freight may be car
ried for almost nothing, is in fair way
of being ended in this State. It is evi.
dent that the present legislature is not
partial to through lines, to and through
distant States. A notion has long pre-.
vailed, that Boston ought to be favored
with low freights to the West, that by |
her prosperity the whole State might be |
the more benefited. But other views are
creeping in. The country and many of |
the city members favor a new state of i
fhipnu