The Portland daily press., 1871-06-08

The Railroad War.

Under this head, the Boston Advertiser
publishes the history of the origin and pro-
gress of the conflict between the Eastern and
the Boston & Maine railroad companies. The
past is SO well known that the present difficult
ties, beginning with Monday are subjoined:
"We now approach the time when HOSTILE
ties fairly began. In this controversy there
are evidently two sides. Neither company
| can fairly claim to be wholly free from blame.
| In stating the manner in which the war has
been carried on thus far, we would gladly con-
| fine ourselves to admitted facts, but uniortu-
nately the parties are not wholly agreed as to
the facts, and there are questions OF law in
volved which admit of a great deal of argu-
msnt. We must therefore occasionally give
| the two versions of the several occurrences.
The Eastern and the Maine Central roads
had been for some time in consultation in re-
| gard to the establishment OF through express
| trains, with Pullman cars. The officers OF the
Boston and Maine road were consulted with
reference to the same matter, but that compa-
ny declined to make any plans involving the
| use of Pullman cars until its extension should
be completed, and according to one version of
the story declined to enter into any arrange
| ment whatever for the establishments of
| the new trains. AT any rate the reply of the
| Boston aud Maine Company was interpreted
| as refusal to come into the new arrange
| ments, and the Eastern and the Maine Cen
| trial railroads proceeded to perfect their Joint
1 r
| informed, two new trains, one day express and
the other sleeping train, running through
to Bangor. The Eastern road arranged
| its time table SO that the day express should
make but three stops between Boston and
Portland-at Newburyport, Portsmouth and
Saco. This would, of course, prevent any de-
| lay at South Berwick junction to attach an
other train. The Boston and Maine Company
notified the Eastern Railroad that it would
| have train at South Berwick to be attached
The reply was given that the arrangement
did not contemplate stop at South Berwick,
that the delay would consume the very small
space of simo during which the express could
have the road, and that the train could not be
| attached. The Boston and Maine denies that
square refusal was given to the request that
its cars be drawn over the road, and this is the
most important disagreement as to facts be.
tween the two companies. The superintend-
ent of the Eastern had sent the usual notice to
the superintendent OF the Boston and Maine,
telling him when an engine would be at South
Berwick to take Boston and Maine trains into
Portland. Those times were the usual hours
| for the old trains but not for the new which
were not to stop at South Berwick at all.
But the Boston & Maine Company was not
disposed to yield the point. Whether it had
declined to run the new trains at ALL and af-
forwards changed its mind, or not, it was clear
y the interest of the road to offer as good tacil-
tiles as its rival, and endeavor to throw the
blame OF any failure to carry it out on the
Eastern road. Therefore on Monday morning
II made up train at the Boston station, and
notified the Eastern and Portland, Saco IL
Portsmouth superintendents of the time when
1t would arrive at South Berwick, the train
was run on quick time to the junction. 1t ar
rived before the Eastern train, but the latter
adhered to the law laid down for it and passed
the junction without stopping. The passen-
gers by the Boston & Maine were left on the
cars until the train which leaves Boston just
after noon came along, when they were taken
into Portland. The new half past 3 o'clock
train from Portland, the return train to that
leaving here at s. 40 A. NJ was made up as AN
Eastern railroad train only, against the de-
mand of the Boston & Maine officers and was
run as such. There was one other disagree
ment, as to the 9 o'clock express. The custom |
has been that this train should run over the l
two roads on alternate nights, and each year |
the road exchanged nights,-that is, the trains /
having run over the Boston & Maine on Mon
days, Wednesdays and Fridays last year,
should 20 over the Eastern these nights this
year. The Boston & Maine had been notified |
that the usual custom would be adhered to.
Ne vertheless it made up a train at 6 O'Clock l
and took it down to South Berwick where it /
was passed, as train had been in the morning,
by the Eastern train. Later it was attached to
a freight train, land carried into Portland, ar
irving. three hours late. The Boston s. Maine
lustifies this disregard of long-establ,shed |
custom on the ground that it was part only
OF general understanding of which the most
II Dortant part was that the two roads should
nave matched trains in every case and as that /
part OF the understanding was not carried ont
by the Eastern road, it was not bound hy apy
part OF the tacit agreement.
=. IL VIII be seen that there are several ques-
lions involved In this controversy. The revised
statutes of Maine provide that connecting
road shall draw the cars Of the road with which |
t connects "at reasonable hours and at tolls
not exceeding its ordinary rate" What are
' ssa honrs! The Eastern road will say
hat what has been reasonable in the past, and
hat the Boston & Maine manifested no de-
'lre to change until the Eastern had made new
ma superior plans, must be reasonable now.
in the other hand the Boston & Maine adyo-
'ates will say that what is reasonable for the I
Eastern is reasonable for them. The Eastern
viii say that having made special arrangements
or the rapid transportation of passengers the |
session u Maine has no right to interfere to
prevent IT. by causing stop and delay at
ram that 1t will he difficult to make the pub
ished Tune. Iaa Boston & Maine will claim
w rignt 10 pc carried into Portland with the
, egulag tfain OF the Eastern. The Eastern
Sas having given as good facilities no travel. |
ers by that road as before, they can have moth
ng to complain Of And thus there are two
rreeoncilable views of rights and duties Per
aps the strongest point made by the Eastern
Dad is its right to run an express train to stop
shere it chooses, Only those who are cog infant
I t2a Mahner in which the several trains are |
eeessarlly arranged SO as to meet and pass |
ach other near South Berwick junction at a |
ertaip hour and at stations connected by a |
lngle track, can understand the disarranee-
lent that would be caused by delay to make
ne two trains before proceeding to Portland, |
{ is claimed by the Eastern railroad that aside
ON the Inconvenience of such a DELAY it
'0uld so narrow the margin of time when |
ne road is open that there would be danger in |
10 connection proposed. There is certainly
'methng to be considered, and it will not be
the limits of impartiality if we
~ that, provided there is the danger alleged,
ne Eastern railroad would be justified in SO
lueh of its course as was due to that consd-
ration. And in regard to the whole question, ,
70 .n,nk we may fairly claim to have shown
'at tnere IS too much to be advanced by either !
~ 10 the controversy to admit of q correct
luRintht until the facts lrpowp