The Republican journal., 1871-02-09
REPORT OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS

The annual report Of the Railroad Com
mssioners of Maine is published 1t is q
thorough review of the roads in Maine, and
just such document as would be expected
| from gentlemen 80 able as those composing
the board. 1t shows thorough knowledge
of the theory and practice of railroading, and
& careful regard for the interests and safety
Of the public. There are G94 3-4 miles OF
railroad in the State, of which IS were open
Ell the past year. There are now under con-
struotion 1856 miles. Five persons lost their
lives by railroad accidents in 1870. Four of
them were persons improperly upon the track,
and one the conductor of a train on the Bath
branch. The lite OF no passenger has been
lost. We copy in full the remarks of the
Commissioners upon the Belfast road
The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad ex-
tends from Belfast to the Maine Central road at
Burnham-33 miles. 1t is in the main we'll made
Its masonry, bridges, embankments, appropriate
station houses and depot buildings and general
organic structure will rank it among the first class
roads of the State. lis rails are English iron OF q
good quality and well spiked But the ties are
many Of them unsuited to the general character of
the road-some are of inferior wood, some rotten
and many less than the standard face of six inches
Nor is the ditchng completed. But the inferior or
defective sleepers easily be replaced by larger
and better ones by the section men from time to
time as the road is operated; and the bitches can
be deepened and cleared in the same way as the
trains commence running. But it is not often a
road is in better condition when first opened thau
this was on November lst, when its Directors con-
sidered it ready for its rolling stock.
1t has been pushed forward to its present near
completion with wonderful perseverance by itz most
energetic President. And the cheerftllness with
which the citizens Of Belfast and the communities
upon the route have cOOperated with the Directors
and in most tavOring season for field work. to eff
feet early completion Of the road. evinees their
enterprise and their faith in the project; and we
hope the road will carry to Belfast the business and
growth its projectors anticipated, and 10 the towns
upon its line the conyeniences and benefit they
predict, and to the lessees, if the contract for a
lease heretofore entered into shall be carried out,
a remunerative travel and traffic.
But we may be pardoned for reterring-and APP
propriatey here, we think-to the suggestion in an
earlier report we had the honor of submitting to
the Legislature in favor of State policy in the To-
cation Of railroads, and Of the propriety of invest.
ing the duty and power somewhere to see to il that
they be located where public convenience and nee
essity require, or prospective development may
Justify, and not with view of promoting the inter-
ests OF rival roads or rival communities, too often
to the injury of too hasty subscribers or to the
prejudice Of Investments before made in other
roads, or enterprises that Just as much entitled
to the protection and favor of the State
The road was built under a contract for lease,
when completed, to the Maine Central COMPANY
for fifty years; and one of the articles of that con
tract was, that in case any difference should arise
between the parties Sin relation to building the
road" by the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad
Company, or "reaton TO running the trains" by
the Maine Central, such difference should "be sub
mtted to the Railroad Commissioners of the State
for the time being, whose decision shall be final. y
Such difference has arisen and been submitted to
u.s. and we have decided it, not TO the satisfaction of
either party, it may be, but rightly we think Onr
decision has not been acted upon by the Board Of
Directors or stockholders, that we are advised of:
but under friendly arrangement the gauge of the
road has been narrowed, and rolling stock nut up-
on it by the Maine Central Company; and upon
the return of Judge Rice the President Of the Maine
Central road, we trust an arrangement between
the two Companies will be made, alike honorable
to both Boards of Directors. and satisfactory to the
stockholders and the publican arrangement so
liberal that it shall not discourage ncipient trlbl-
tarY roads, and SO in accordance with the spirit of
the contract that stockholders shall have no reason
for complaint.