The Portland daily press., 1873-07-24
The Boston and Maine and the Maine
(From the Advertiser of Wednesday,

(From the Advertiser Of Wednesday,
To the Edition of the Aduertiser.
This mornings PRESS contains paragraph
which is in entire harmony of expression Win
the official document simultaneously given to
the public by the Maine Central Railroad, and
which, therefore, is undoubtedly the result of
desire, not of the PRESS, but OF the gentlemen
who control the Eastern ana Maine Central
railroads, to lead the public to believe that the
BOSTON and Maine intend the use Of force to
the extent of creating disturbance. The para
graph is as follows:
1t is very evident that the Eastern and Maine
Central did not propose to be caught mapping
Positive orders have been given to Mr. Bachel-
der agent of the Eastern aud Maine Central at
this place, to keep strict watch to prevent the
cutting OF the rails of the Maine Central by the
Boston aod Maine to make connection. If
such an attempt is made, he has the most en-
phatic orders to resist it with force, even to the
summoning of the entire force of the road to
the threatened point. Indeed, it we got clear
idea of the emphatic words of the Maine Cen
trail President to Mr.. Bachelor, he is to run all
the engines of the road on any part of the line
threatenedsby the hostile force. OF course that
decided official did not say it; but he looked as
though he meant to transform each OF those
engines into an Assyrian war chariot, which
rushing to and fro along the Threatened line,
with their terrible scythes mow down the luck
less partzans of the Boston and Malne tnat
come in the way, and even if this would not
suffice to daunt the invaders, equip the engines
with batteries of the murderous French mitral-
euse.
The Maine Central officials fear that if the
Boston and Maine should by any means effect
junction, not only would the trains go over
that line, but taken into the courts it might be
decided by them to let the connection continue.
Therefore, if in any event, the Boston and Maine
should effect a junction, Mr. Bachelder has
positive orders to destroy it at any hazard. In
short, the Eastern and Maine Central mean to
resist-to meet force with force-if necessary.
The closing sentence of the paragraph is very
significant. In order that the courts shall not
get jurisdiction of the questions involved, and
for fear that the courts would decide "to let the
connection continue" the Eastern railroad will
''at any hazard" destroy connection, if put
in!
In view of the fact that the counsel of the
separate roads have no misunderstanding that
the course to be pursued to test the questions
involved, will be an entirely peacable one, and
in view farther, that only yesterday forenoon
it was ascertained on an accidental conference,
that there was no misunderstanding on this
point, and in view farther that the notice given
by the Boston & Maine road, states that they
will inform the Maine Central of the place and
time of the proposed connections, and will put
in the same, unless resisted" the warlike pro
nunciamento of this morning, is merely rid
iculus mus
When the Boston & Maine Railroad reached
Portland. they found the Maine Central were
hauling freight at an everage of 44 cents per
mile, to $40 cents in the previous year, and pas
sengers at the rate of 81 cents per mile, against
5 1-3 cents in the previous year-an average in
crease on both of nearly Is per cent. in single
Nf,fx 4 fbafo nd 10 tto noe
ton & Maine railroad were willing to pay them
their local rates in and out of Portland. The
Eastern Railroad, for reasons of their own, how
ever, were paying the Maine Central a large ad-
diton to their local rates. which addition the
Boston & Maine refused Hence all these
tears! The question between the road 80 far as
the writer can understand, was on that point;
and whether the Maine Genital can and shall
refuse cars, freight and passengers on payment
of full local rates, is what the Boston Il Maine
are seeking to have decided, not by force AMI
violence, but by the courts.
The great accusation is that the poverty of
the Maine Central has not s'moved the COM
passion of the Boston end Maine raiload.-
Whose poverty? Is it the poverty of the pres
ent President of the Maine Central, or of its
late President, Judge Rice, or of its former
President, Mr. Dunn? or of their associates in
the several Boards of Directors? Have these
gentlemen, or any of them. grown poor out of
their connection with these Maine Railroads?
railroad regrets that some of these gentlemen
have gained wealth by their great ability and
forecast, whether in their management of the
railroad in question or elsewhere; nor do they
allege that the acquisition of that wealth has
been accompanied by any detriment to the pub
lie. With such private matters of the Maine
Central the Boston & Maine railroad have or
dnarily no concern But if these things are
thrust into their face, if the alleged poverty of
this road is constantly pushed forward as an
answer to their demand for facilities on pay
ment of full local rates, then in reply they are
compelled to ask whether The Maine Central
would not ere this have been a cash dividend
road, even on reduced rate of fares, if all the
stock which has gone to swelling its capital, had
been been applied to developing its resources or
reducing its liabilities. If the parties owning
this or any railroad prefer stock instead of cash
dividends, and to equalize values by issuing
scrip and stock in lieu of other methods of
equalizing, they have right to do SOFAS against
any other railroad, but they certainly have no
additional reason on that account to claim what
the Maine Central have claimed from the
Boston & MAINE.