St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-02-10

vi us hlhd that las ever taken place
Ill our STATE. The interests, power ant
capital thus concentrated in one manage
mcnt are 50 vast, that their union undc,
one control may well occupy the ,houoht.
full consideration of every citizen. The
first feeling with most, on hearing oG TIL,
event, has probably been one of appre.
hension. Fears that the public may be {
sufferer rather than II gamer Ly thi.
change; that prices Of freight and pas
sengcr travel may be advanced; thai
communities and business interests which
have thrivel under competition between
the railroads may now languish that
the Influence Of 50 heavy n corporation OH
stale legislation may not be wholesome :
that the increased work and responsible
ty thus assumed by the managers of the
consolidated roads may even be too heavy
for the shoulders Which must bear it
that these and similar apprchenSions oc-
cur TO many minds, is most natural, is
inevitable. That in common with many
thoughtful and public spirited citizens Of
our state, we have heretofore considered
union of the two great railroad lines Of
our state an undesirable consummation,
looking To the intcsts Of the public, we
cannot deny. Some of the considerations
which Lave he'd US TO look differently up
on the matter, and which reconcile us to
the change now that il has come may be
worth noting.
In the first place, the tendency of the
great carrying interests in our times tow
ards consolidation is too unmistakable
and too strong to be ignored or Success
fully resisted. The day when little rail-
roads can live and prosper. if there ever
was one, has passed. Now a-days the
heavier corporations 0terihtJy absorb the
smaller ones; and experience shows that
in purely business points Of view, such
consultations are not to b. dreaded As
Charles Francis Adams, Jr., remarks,
the increased facilities, sure connections.
settled and uniform rates Of fare and
freight, and efficiency of management, Sc
cured by these consultations, prove TO be
for the advantage Of the travelling and
treighting public.
In the second place, this matter must
be looked at in view of the actual condi-
ton Of affairs, rather than from any Uto-
plan dream of what might be, if every
thing was perfect in this world. Wheth-
cr it might not be better for the state TO
have the two main trunk lines through
the state under the control of hr0 strong
and successful Vermont corporations,
rather than of one, is not a point which
need be discussed either for or against.
That is not the case i'll hand. 1t has
been apparent, we suppose, for some time,
TO well informed parties, that the Rut-
land Compony was not likely to sustain
itself. Prolonged litigation between its
bondho!dcrs under the different mort
CAGES; losses by the great trcshets; the
legal tender decision which compelled it
to pay in gold a heavy portion of its ma
turing liabilities, and especially the sue
cess OF its rival in securing control of the
great feeders of through business, have
weakened it in spite of all the enterprise,
activity and ability of It's managers,
ana they have been truly able and enter
priSing,-till it was plain that it could
not much longer maintain the unequal
contest.
Such being the case, and the question
being whether Vanderbilt, the Rensselaer,
and Saratoga, or the Contra, should take |
the Rutland, we are perfectly clear that |
it is best for the state that lis control |
should be kept in Vermont hands, as it
will be 10y the lease to the Central. Give |.
us for the management OF our roads Yer
mont men, identified with Vermont in
tcrcsts, familiar with Vermont ways and
Vermont people, and not so familiar with
the .'wayS that are dark and tricks that
are v;lim," which characterize - much
OF the railroad management and control
of railroad legislation in New York
state.
The Rutland road, by the lease, goes
into tine hands OF men who have demon
slratrd their capacity as railroad man.
ayers. We speak but the universal tcS-
timony when we say that the Vermont
Central line is :; notably wcH muiuyol
line. 1t is conspicuous for genuine en-
tcrprisr, for llbcrality i'll extending It's IA
cilticS for the public comfort and cpnvc-
niencc, for prompt adoption of improve
mcntS. for careful and reliable MANAGE
mcnt. Its managers take the Rutland
line, not to smother or cripple it, or any
business depending on it; but to build
up, develop, and make it, ii possible, Of
still more service 10 the public. They
will throw more business over il than ii
has ever had. The immense business of
the Central waS just reaching TIE point
where Il double track 10 Boston would be
Il necessity. The lease of the Rutland
road gives them another track 10 Boston,
and it will be made the most of -Bm-
Hnyt0n Free Pres.