The Portland daily press., 1872-01-24
A Railroad War in Maine.
VIVA, OUTSIDERS THINK OF IT.

~ "HAT~OUTSIDERS THINK OF Ii. ee-
The contest now going On in our Legisla-
ture attracts the attention of the most inde-
pendent and thoughtful journals of other
States. Under the head of "a RailroadWar in
Maine," the New York Evening Post pub
fishes in its editorial columns an article which
we give below. The Post is so far away
from the immediate influence of the contest
and in position to fully appreciate its lmpor-
lance in the light of past experience, that its
words of warning should not be lost. The
Post says:
Maine has been remarkably free from the
corrupting influence OF great railroad monop-
-s;-.eIrefy refused to encourage the first ad-
vances of the railroad kings. The faintest
appearance OF monopoly before the legisla-
ture has always been the signal for united
resistance, and the spectators have fled with
out daring to give battle 1t was a sufficient
answer in the mind of Maine legislator to all
such advances to point to the tyranny and
corruption with which great corporations
have ruled New York, nliuois, Pennsylvania
New. Jersey and other States that have listen
ed to the tempting voice of those enterprising
charmers known as boards of directors.
Within few years, however, since the Euro
pushing its way so rapidly towards Halifax,
promising great international thoroughfare
to reduce the ocean trip to Europe at no dis
tant day, the railroads of Maine have become
more active in their reach after power The
legislature will be the scene of important
combats of the railroad companies against
the State. I- Ser
Maine is by no means insignificant as
railroad State, considering the number of
new railroads building and in contemplation
1t has eight hundred and fifty miles of road
in operation, and last year it completed about
one hundred and seventy-fve miles, The
principal roads, forming the trunk line across
the State from west to east, are the Portland
and Kennebec, running from Portland up the
nebec river to Skowhegan, one hundred
miles; the Maine Central, running from Port
land to Bangor by the way of Lewiston, cross
ing the Portland and Kennebec road and the
Kennebec river at Fairfield, one hundred and
twenty-seven miles; and the European and
North American road, from Bangor to ST.
John, N. B., one hundred and fourteen miles,
to the New Brunswick line For the Port
land and Upper Kennebec trade the Maine
Central and Portland and Kennebec roads /
were rivals until two years ago. Then their
managers, anticipating monopoly Of the
trade of the new international line, and
having common interest in defeating the
proposed new line from Portland to Bangor
along the coast, agreed upon plan of con-
sohdation by which their two roads should be
uhuer one BOARD. 1t was also understood
that the European and North American road
would be consolidated with them. and the |
officers OF that company were very active in |
promoting the scheme. One of the Portland
and Boston roads was also expected to ioin |
the combination. The plan was presented |
to the legislature in the winter of 1870. Int |
it was promptly rejected. On the other hand,
the rival coast line was chartered, and fifty |
miles have since been constructed. The State |
emphatlcaliy resisted all plans for monster
monopoly, but decided to keep the railroads
well in hand.
The two principals in this combination,
however, did not give up their pima. They
consolidated their management, and chang |
ed the broad gauge of the Maine Central road |
to be uniform with the narrow gauge of the |
Portland and Kennebec road. The main line |
since has been from Portland to Fairfield on |
Inc Portland and Kennebec road, and thence !
70 Bangor on the Maine Central. The Euro |
Pean ana North American road still retains |
o III . ploau gauge. The companies have been |
Gu onis tllne quietly strengthening themselves
ing completed their arrangements. having
conclllated as many of the new railroad COM
panles as possible; having promised to advo-
cate the required legislative aid for several
feeble speculatlons in the eastern mart of tbe
State, they now propose to demand an act to
legalize what they have been doing in def
ance OF the legislature. In other words. bay-
ing violated the expressed will of the State
legislature, they now ask that the legislature
shall reward them for it.
No State is more free from railroad domina-
ton than Maine, and it can remain free bv
continuing to discountenance all needless
'''-7""'"-~~ ~ a. ~i:~A~ : T.