The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-27
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAND.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1871.
"o shh TO Secure National Aid for she
f'iand, Rutland, Oswego and
Chicago Railroad,

f"and, Rutland, Oswego and
chicago Raiirond.
| ihe senehe ior building great national
| thoroughfare between CHICAGO and t;de.v,,sr
In Portland harbor is Certainly a m.o,ifcort
one. If such road with Its doubI, ,,.oI-
steel rails, iron bridges and cheap tariff. sub,
Ject to government supervision and regulation.
could be built it certainly would be national
blessing as well as great local benefit.
The following bill introduced in the q. S,
Senate by Mr.. Hamln is more plausible than
most bills OF the kind in its demand for
government subsidy. Instead of asking it as
a gratuity, the road promises to give full
equivalent and to secure the government from
all possibility of loss. II the principle Of
railroad subsidies is to continue in vogue
tnere is no reason why it should not be ap-
piled in case like this. We Give Mr.. Ham.
Inns bill in full. 1t is entitled
A BILL
10 secure cheap transportation of bread .stuAs
ana provisions from the West 10 the sea-
board, at uniform rates throughout the wear.
BE 1t enacted By the Senate and House of
Representatives. of the United Stdtes Of
Americd In Congress assembled. 2s9-s1r''
That the Post Master General is hereby a,l.
thorized to enter into contract with the Port
land, Rutland, Osweeo and Chicago Railway
Company, TOR the use of its line in the carry.
ing OF the mails between the city OF CHICAGO.
In the State of Illinois, and the city of Port.
land, in the State of Maine, on terms and
conditions, in this act set forth, in case said
Railway Company shall enter into contract
with the government of the United States to
construct and m .i pfoiy a flnr,hl
railway, with all adequate equipment and
with steel rails and iron bridges, from the
navlgsble waters of Portland Harbor. by the
most direct practicable route due west or
westerly, across the States of Maine. New
Hampshire, Vermont and New York. to the
navigable waters of Lake Ontario at the CITY
OF OsweSo, and thence by the most direct
practicable line to the city of Chicago I'm the
State OF Illinois.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That
whenever said Company shall have complet-
ed 4O consecutive miles of any portion OF said
line ready for the service contemplated By this
act, as first class railroad, the President of
the United States shall appoint three Com
missioners to examine the same and report TO
him In relation thereto, and il it shall
appear to him that 40 consecutive miles of
said railroad have been completed and equip
ped, the Secretary OF the Treasury shall issue
to said Company bonds of the United States
OF $1,000 each, payable in 80 years after date
bearing 8 per cent. interest per annum, pay
able semi-annnally. on the first days OF Janu-
ary and July IN each year. in lawful money of
the Uuited States to the amount OF filty of
said bonds per mile, and so on in like man
ner as each 40 miles OF said line are com.
pleted, upon the certificate of said Commits
sioners, which said bonds delivered to said
Company shall ipso facto constitute first
mortgage on the whole line OF the railroad of
said Company, together with ITS rolling stock,
fixture and property OF every kind and de-
scription.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That
the grants aforesaid are made upon condition
that said Company shall pay said bonds at ma
turity, with the interest thereon and aud shall
saidi railroad, with telegraph line connected
Herewith, in repair and use, and shall at all
times transmit dispatches over said telegraph
lines and transport mails, troops, munitions
OF war. supplies and public stores upon said
railroad tor the government, whenever re.
quired to do so, by any department thereof
and the government shall at all times have the
preference in the use of the same Tor all the
purposes aforesaid at fair aud reasonable
rates.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, that
said railroad corporation may establish for its
sole benefit fares, tolls and charges upon all
passengers and property conveyed or lrans-
ported on its railroad at such rates as may be
determined by the Directors thereof, and may
from time to time by its Directors regulate The
use of its road, ,IprOui9ed that such rates of
fare, tolls and charges and regulations shall at
all times be subject to revision and alteration
by Congress or such officers or persons as
Congress may appoint for the purpose, and IN
case no such officer is appointed by Congress
or under any law OF Congress, the Postmaster
General is hereby vested with all the powers
necessary to regulate the use of said road, and
nx tne rate OF fares, tolls and charges as con-
tempfated by this act.
SEC, 8. And be it further enacted, That
The government of the United Statss may a.
any time take and possess the. e.road of said
Company with its franchises and property af-
ter one years notice in writing, paying such
compensation therefor as may he awarded by
three commissioners appointed by the Presi-
dent OF the United States, who shall be duly
sworn 10 appraise the same justly and fairly,
and upon the payment OF any such award or
the tender OF payment thereof TO said COM
pany, the title of said railroad shall vest in
and become the property of the United States
government
SEQ. 6. And be it further enacted, That
on the completion OF said line OF railway from
the navisable waters of Portland harbor to
the navigable waters of Lake Ontario at Os-
wego, with suitable docks, wharves, and ap-
and property, the Postmaster General or otb-
er officer appointed by law, shall establish the
rates of transportation both for passengers
and freight upon all through business between
| tide water at Portland and the city of Oswe-
| go, which rates shall not be changed without
the consent of the Postmaster General, or
| other officer appointed by law, and the same
be uniform throughout the year.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That
whenever in the opinion of the President of
The United States, the business OF the coun-
| try shall require the Building and laying
| down OF an additional double track lire along
side the existing road bed of said company
and within the limits of its right of way, or
any portion thereof, and shall give notics
| thereof to said company, said railway CON-
pany shall forthwith proceed TO construct and
maintain an additional double track line in
| conformity with the notice as aforesaid, and
| on the completion OF 40 consecutive miles of
| said new line ready for the service conten-
| plated by this act,.:6fly bonds per mile OF the
| tenor Aforesaid, shah III like manner be deliy-
cred to said company, and so in the same
manner as each 40 miles are completed, upon
| the certificate of said commissioners. which
| said bonds shall constitute mortgage Oh the
| whole line OF railroad OF said company, sub
| ject only to the prior mortgage OF the United
States, to require from time to time as the
wants of business shall require additional
/ double track lines to be constructed and MAIN
tanned by said company upon the terms in
| this act set forth, the government holding a
lien upon said lines, its rolling stock, fixtures,
and others property as contemplated in this
| act, with right TO purchase the same at the
| pleasure of the government as herein before
set forth, and the rights of the government 10
| the control Of said line, and the rights OF the
| company shall continue the same after addi-
tlonal double track lines are built as provided
by this act, in case single double track line
| Is built.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That
| whenever in the opinion of the President oil
the United States, an extension or extensions
| of said line shall be required, beyond the lin.
its mentioned in this act, it shall he lawful for
| the President of the United States to notify
said company to complete and maintain such
| extensions with one or more double track
| lines on the terms in this act set
| FORTH in reference TO its main line. But said
company shall not be compelled to build such
additional lines, exceeding in all 200 miles in
| length without the consent OF said company
in writing, and it shall be lawful for said COM
| pany to purchase any existing line OF railway,
that may be found necessary or convenient in
the carrying out Of the provisions OF this act.
SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That
before entering upon the work of construc
tion of said line Of railway, the location there
of shall be approved by competent Engineer
appointed by the President of the limited
States.
SEC 10. And be it fu ther enacted Tba,
the railway OF said companv is hereby do