Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-09

and then leaves, he practices a monopoly.
The owners of these roads are not in con-
dition to do this. The very situation of the
property itself is guaranty beyond question
that it never can be made a monopoly. The
money is invested in property that must re-
main with the people, and cannot be sold and
carried off.
In certain and limited sense all railroads
are monopoles. Every man cannot pass over
them with his own private carriage; there
must be a managing head. In the cry of
monopoly which has been raised he thought
he saw the ghost of Shepard Cary, who for
merly appeared here with his earnest pro-
tcstations against bank and railroad monopoly;
but this bugbear has been more damaging to
the State than anything else.
In regard to rates of fare and freight, the
managers of railroads have found out that
high rates of fare and freight are not the most
remunerative more travel and freight will
come from low rates. Until road pays six
per cent. on its cost it cannot be said that the
company is unreasonable in its charges. This
is a law of railroads that is fixed.
1t has been said that if this consolidation
takes place competition will not exist. Com
petition has not existed for quite number of
years. There have been the same rates of
fare for six years on both roads. Competition
cannot exist for any great length of time even
on parallel roads, on account of the great cost
of building and equipping. If one locality is
favored by competition, other localities must
suffer. He proceeded to show that the build
ing of the Androscoggin road had not lowered
the rates.
He said the idea that the proposed CONSOLE
dation would control the legislature and the
politics ofths State as too ridiculous to demand
a moments consideration. Another strong
argument in favor of consolidation is that it
will do away with the annual railroad fights.
These railroad fights had been expensive and
had caused protracted sessions-they had con-
sumed much time and money. These two
lines should go into one corporation, and this
eternal war would cease. This is an induce
ment of public nature, But the battle will
continue TO go on unless an arrangement of
this kind can be made. If the companies are
made one they viii be in a better possible con-
dition than they can be by fighting each other.
1t would be the foundation of gigantic rail-
road system having its centres at Portland
and Bangor.
Edwin Moves, Esq, of Waterville, in an
swer to questions, said that the manufactur-
ing interests of Lewiston had all been built
up since the opening of the railroad. When
the road was first opened the freighting bust
ness was comparatively Insignificant; it was
soon largely increased; and he found that
population and business would follow the
lines of the railroad. He then proceeded to
show the folly of multiplying the carrying
business, as shown by the experience of Eng
land. There was deplorable failure of this
system in that country, because the carrying
business had been overdone. He read from
the evidence taken by the Royal commission,
showing that competition there was fatal to
the public interests. Roads fell into decay
and were worn out and unsafe, and the public
had to suffer in consequence. This nation
| (England), which had so long fostered and
encouraged competition, is now DESTROYS of
amalgimating. Mr.. Noyes said he had been
to the trouble of probing the affairs of the
much talked of Camden & Amboy railroad to
the very bottom, and had found that in no
State were the public so well served as in
this State of the Camden & Amboy. He showed
at considerable length the internal working of
this road.
Mr.. Noyes said if we want to reach our
great water-powers by railroad it must be
done by corporations that have the means.
No small company can provide repair shops
and furnish all the rolling stock necessary for
the purpose. Maine, with her long winters,
is hard State for railroad business; the
road and stock is constantly wearing out, and
there are but a few months in which out of
door work can be done. He referred to sew
eral States where the amalgamation of rail
roads had resulted in great benefit to the
people.
VIM. Atkinson, Esq, of Emblem, appeared
in opposition to the measure. He said he
wished to speak for the people on the line of
the Somerset road He considered that the
companies would be much benefited by the
consolidation asked for, but the objections
should all be presented and candidly consid-
cred. The increased value of the railroads in
case of consolidation, is no argument in its
favor These railroads had been built under
the charters granted by the Legislature, and
if they wanted further privileges they must
show just cause. He appeared here as
backwoods farmer, living on the outskirts of
civilization, and felt hardly competent to
meet the gladiators which he saw before him.
Who asks for this legislation? What is the
motive power? Gain-nothing but gain
Some would think to hear the argument that
philanthrophy lay at the bottom Of all this
In looking at the company before him, he was
almost constrained to believe that the long
promised day had arrived when the lamb and