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

Bridges gave hearing yesterday afternoon
to several gentlemen on the bill allowing the
Portland and Kennebec and Maine Central
Railroad companies to consolidate.
The hearing was opened by Hon. A. p.
Morrill,, who said that he represented the
Maine Central Railroad Company, who felt
an interest in the passage of the bill. The
interests of the two roads are the same, and
he thought that it would be for the interests
of the public as well, that the two corporations
should be united in one that the business and
labor may be concentrated, enabling them to
act unitedly. He knew that the popular SEN
timent was opposed to this. This is spoken
of as a measure to build up vast monopoly
that will control the legislation of the State.
He would be the last man to ask for anything
of the kind. No interest would induce him
to stand before the committee to advocate it.
He saw nothing in the bill which would be
likely to produce the results predicted by
gentlemen who had not given it careful ex-
animation. What do these companies ask!
Simply permission to take common name.
i
gether in one interest, by an agreement The
written contract is signed, and whether the
present bill is allowed or not, the roads will
run in this way. They desire to issue bonds
in the name of the new corporation and pay
the bonds which are maturing against the old
road. No additional privilege is asked for
no right which they do not now virtually pos
sess. Can gentlemen see in this a monopoly
that is to be dreaded! The bill cannot be
tortured to mean monopoly. If consolida-
ted, these roads can do more for the public
than when operating as distinct corporations.
1t has been said that the fare will be raised /;
but the seventh section of the bill prohibits
doing any such thing Are the companies
taxing too much now? Gentlemen who have
considered this subject will say no. The
Maine Central has been running over twenty
years, doing its business in a manner equal
to any other road; it had built up large in
terests on its line; but no stakeholder had
ever received farthing for the money he had
put into it, and the road has been managed
as economically as could well be, judiciously
and carefully, with remarkable freedom from
accidents.
We look for large development of bust
ness from consolidation. The track and
stock will be improved the next year to the
amount of $500, 900 Ultimately it will result
in a uniformity of gauge, enabling person
to take his choice Of Augusta or Lewiston, as
pleasure or business dictated, in going from
Bangor to Boston. As the European road
is extending, we want to make the most di-
rect line to Portland. There has been much
embarrassment on account of the connection
with the Grand Trunk at Portland. 1t is our
purpose, if consolidation is granted, to put in
a short piece of road so as to give a direct
the public would be convened by having these
Improvements. At the other end of the line,
the accommodations of the Maine Central are
first class. We shall thus have a well regu
lated railroad line from Portland to Bangor,
complete in all its departments. If any
amendments to the bill are necessary to pro-
tect the public, let the public have the bene-
fit of them. All the companies ask is the
privilege of taking common name. By
granting this the committee and the Legisla-
ture will serve well the public inter ests, and
make the labor of the companies more eff
Gent
Hon. j. II. Drummond of Portland was the
next gentleman to appear before the commit
tee. He took it for granted that the bill I'M
der consideration would be reported, unless
it could be shown that the public interes:
would be injured thereby. He desired to
meet some of the objections that had been
made to the bill. There is no clashing be-
tween the peoples interest and that of the
railroad corporation. 1t is eminently for tho
interest of the railroad to foster and build up
every other interest in the State. Everything
additional that is raised by the farmer, every
additional fabric that comes from the hand of
the manufacturer, helps the railroad. 1t is
one of the first objects of the railroad to en-
courage these interests. What has been done
construction of the Maine Central Road, the
rise in real estate in a belt of country the en-
tire length of the road for five miles on the
south side and ten miles on the north side,
would more than twice pay for building the
road, so that people who had not invested
cent derived an immense advantage. What
have the company received in return for this
They have run the road for the exclusive
benefit of the public, without receiving a dol
lar of dividend. The road had developed
business, while the business had not ade-
quately compensated the road.
A good road, well run, is blessing, while
a bad road is curse. He referred to the
Grand Trunk. He did not believe all that
had been alleged against it, but the road has
not been spoken of in words of commenda-
ton. He merely alluded to this to show what
a half starved railroad may become. The
public must suffer in all these cases. 1t is
not for the interest of the public to crowd
down railroads, and put them in place where
they cannot pay fair interest on the money