Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-23
Portland G Rochester and Portland & Ocdens

Portland 6 Rochester and Portland Ogdens-
burg Railroad corporations have never sup
posed for moment that that there was a Sc
cret enemy concealed in any section of the
Portland & Rutland charter. You can we'll
imagine our surprise when we were informed
by Hon. John A. Poor, President of the road,
that he claimed the right under his charter to
enter the city Of Portland "a piece of AFRO
charters and honest dealing
BY the unanimous consent of the railroad
committee of this Legislature, am allowed
to present an act printed House bill, No. -
and ask its favorable consideration. The
Portland and Rutland Railroad ask for an ex-
tension OF time for locating their road. 1t is in
cumbent upon this Legislature to revive the
original location, or otherwise, as it may con-
slider best. The course that has been pur-
sued Is so repngnant to all sense of justice
and honor, in violation of all rules of fair
dealing, that these virtues can only be vim
aicated by abrogating the charter entirely.
But, the city of Portland, which was repre-
scented before the railroad committee by his
honor Mayor Kingsbury, who spoke most
earnestly against this assumption of power on
the part of the Rutland Railroad Company in
its wrong endeavors to push its line into the
city of Portland against the interests Of said
city, also, the Portland & Rochester, and the
Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad Companies,
which are and have been most seriously at
fected by the recent unwarrantable proceed
ure in locating completing road without
any authority of Notwithstanding each
and every interest are not so much pro-
voked, but that they desire to deal mer-
cifully. They simply ask in granting the
extension of time for locating the Portland &
Rutland Railroad, that such language may be
used that they shall not be subjected to fur
ther inconvenience.
We find that the Portland & Rutland Rail
road Company contrary to a mutual under
standing, and an expressed agreement as
testified to by Hon. William Deering and 9TH
ers, in violation of the charter, have run and
located road parallel with the Portland &
Rochester Railroad twelve miles, intending
thereby to take from this road important BUSH
ness. The Portland & Rochester, Railroad
has struggled through an embarrassed life of
some twenty years for long time bankrupt
and poverty stricken, it has at last emerged
from the slough of dependency, and breathes
under better auspices, and promises future
life of usefulness and advantage to its friends,
and the localities through which it passes.
We think that the Legislature will be unwill-
ing in granting an extension Of time for the
location of the Portland & Rutland Railroad
to allow this road any pretext through q false
Interpretation of language, whereby if it can
not do the Portland & Rochester injury, it
may annoy its progress. After this assumed
location of the Portland & Rutland Railroad
has meted out its injustice to the Portland &
Rochester Railroad, it passes along, and is a
competing line with the Portland & Ogdens-
burg, and at point near the town of Cornish,
its location is within quarter of a mile of the
last named road, distance of 80 miles from
the city of Portland. The Portland & Og-
densburg Railroad has just issued bonds to
the amount of 500, 900, the avails 10 be used
for the further construction of this road. This
company should not be embarrassed in ths
sale Of these bonds by an unwarrantable con-
struction of a charter, which allows the friends
of the Portland & Rutland road to publicly
announce that they also intend as a compete
ing line to claim share of the business,
which rightfully belongs to the Portland &.
Ogdensburg Railroad Company The city of
Portland are taking deep interest in this
matter They hold q mortgage of 100000
on the property, franchise &C., of the Port.
land &,Rochester Railroad. The city is also in
directly interested in the issue Of S350,00O
more Of bonds by this corporation. The city
of Portland is also subscriber to the stock
of the Portland Ogdensburg, to the amount
of 100000. The citizens have subscribed
S2SO,OO0. In fact nearly O., SOC, 900 are or
will be invested in these two roads by the
city and citizens of Portland. These large in
vestments are liable to become deprecated, by
an unwarrahtable assumption, that there is
to be parallel line. Strange it is to say, the
Portland Rutland Railroad Company came
to this Legislature two years ago, with re-
quest that the charter might be so altered as
to allow the corporation to enter the city Of
Portland if this right existed in the original
charter, why did this company thus present
nasf xra mr. org nj cd nd "a
company has assumed to run into the city of
Portland ON its own hook. Two years ago,
the board of trade of the city of Portland by
a vote of 81 to /, objected to this road coming
into the city of Portland, any other way than
by the provisions of the charter. The city
government took similar action. The citizens
of Portland are as unanimous on this ques-
ton TO day as then. / think by few this
question is not understood. This is the rea-
son why there has been few petitions
against restraining the charter of the Rutland
railroad. rhis course of the Portland & Rut-
land railroad have done the city Of Portland
and the great railroad interest of that city a
great wrong The Revised Statutes says,
chap. 46, sec. l6, Facts of incorporation
passed since March II, 1881, are liable to be
amended altered or repealed by the Legis-
lature as if express provision were made in
them" We do not ask for any unwarrant-
able legislation under this act nOtwithstand-
ing our grievances, but simply, in granting re-
newed powers, powers that are exhausted,
that this privilege Of location may be SO reg
ulated and understood, that we may no longer
be troubled with an arbitrary assumption Of
power. Pass this act and it simply gives the
Rutland interest what the Legislature gave
them three years ago, and takes nothing away.
We are not enemies to the Portland & Rut-
land railroad, or its distinguished President
personally we like him. He sets us good
example for perseverance under difficulties.
The Portland & Rochester Railroad, and the
Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad Companies
have been, and are ready to treat with this
corporation on the most favorable terms, and
when it is ready and desires to come, over
either track into the city of Portland it has the
unobstructed use of the great marginal way.
Professor Stone will give the most interest
ing Biological Seance ever witnessed in Au-