Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-17

to subject themselves to transhpment, an
inherent difficulty which they claim must be
obviated. Now the first thing that suggested
itself to us, when we had in contemplation a
CHI nee of gauge, was the great advantages to
DO derived by the citizens of Lewiston and
n uturn by this improvement. He reminded
the committee that several years ago the
Grand Trunk was not allowed to run over
the Maine Central road, and all goods then
had to be transhipped at Danville Junction,
even tto1gh the gauges were the same. He
alluded to an early arrangement made with
Mr.. Bridges of the Grand frank, by which
cars of tie adjustable gauge could be run
from one road to the other, thus saving the
necessity of transhipment.
" The Judge referred to another difficulty
that had been presented, in the matter Of
freight to Portland. The policy of the Grand
Trunk has been to charge freightto Danville,
Yarmouth, Portland, and Boston, all alike.
How sound that policy is, he was not pre-
pared to say. Ifysu build road from Lew
iston to Danville Junction, it is alleged the
Grand Trunk is going to use it to run into
Lewiston without extra charge. What IN
duccment, he would ask, will the Grand
Trunk have to run gratuitously over five and
a half miles of road? He fancied that it
never would occur. You will encounter at
Danville Junction the Grand Trunk with its
policy and toll for all freight passed over it.
He asked if the Maine Central did not
have all the capacity to accommodate Lewis
ton and Auburn. During the past year we
have been obstructed by the process of chang.
ing gauge and by the want Of rolling stock,
but now we are in a position to reap the
profits for which we have so long toiled.
Have the people of Lewiston and Auburn
been deprived of passenger facilities? The
Judge then proceeded to show that every ia
cility was now afforded them by the frequent
running of trains, and they could not justly
complain. We have endeavored he said, to
put on trains that would fully meet their re-
quirements.
The petition comes from a representative
of corporation that has declared dividends
Of 36 per cent, a dividend that would make
a Shylock laugh in his;coffin. How are such
dividends as compared with those of road
which has struggled in poverty for twenty
years, and not able to pay one dividend, yet
the cry is competition to reduce freight which
does not come with very good grace. There
might be some propriety in turning the ia
bles.
Are these manufacturing companies taxed
or overtaxed! They send thousands of tons
of fre light by the Maine Central, and all that
we get is s 35 per ton one way, and $l.70
per ton the other. What they pay when
they get over the lines among the heather of
foreign lands the Judge would not pretend to
say. But there stands the fact and the con-
Tracts in writing, and that contract was made
with the Androscoggin road and still remains
since that road passed into the management
of the Maine Central.
The Judge said he made no complaint of
the treatment received from Lewiston and
Auburn, and had undertaken in return to deal
fairly and literally with them. If the Maine
Central gives to these petitioners at a reason
able cost all the facilities and conveniences
asked for, would it be carrying out the prin-
ciples of a sound policy to have charter for
a parallel road granted?
At the conclusion of the judges remarks,
the committee voted six TO four, to postpone
the decision of this question until Friday af-
ternoon of the present week.