The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-12-09
Commercial Street and the Railroads.


municaIions that not
Commercial Street and the Railroads.
The citizen who has, for the past veal, been
watching the progress of the many sided rail-
road contests on Commercial street, has
doubtless come to the conclusion that it is
about time for the city government or some
other lawful authority to interfere in behalf
of the business interests of the city and the
State Railroads are common carriers by law
and extraordinary powers are granted
them upon the assumption that they
shall facilitate trade and subserve the con-
venience of the public; but there is so much
of human nature in railroad management
that when the interests of different corpora
tions are supposed to clash, they forget the
public, ignore the idea that business and in
dustry is to be served, and impede rather
than facilitate business. At present four
railroad corporations have pitched upon the
most important thoroughtare in Maine us
battle ground. 1t is the most important be-
cause in no other place in the State is there
80 much business done, so many interests to
be served, so much to be gained or lost by
hundreds of people, as shipments are facllitat-
ed or delayed. 1t is evident, too, that no
more railroad tracks can be laid on that street
without serious detriment to business. There
is no good reason for allowing any more rails
to be laid, since all the business can be readi-
ly and economically done on the present
tracks if the companies using them or desir-
ing to use them, could be made to see that it
is their true interest to act in harmony for
their own and the public convenience. But
some of them do not seem disposed to do this
and there is hot contest in progress as to
which shall get the most tracks on CONNER.
cial street.
By an agreement with the Atlantic and st.
Lawrence Railroad Company, when Com
mercial street was built, that corporation was
to have strip twepty-six feet in width the
whole length of it for tracks. Soon afterwards
its successor, the Grand Trunk, made a con-
tract TO grant the P. S. & P. Railroad Com
pany half ofits rights on the street. The lat
ter road being under lease to the Eastern, as
is also the Maine Central practically, the
Eastern demands the same privilege for the
Maine Central cars ON Commercial street that
its own now have. The Grand Trunk refuses
this, not particularly on public or general
grounds, but because it has an unpleasant
ness with the Maine Central, and demands
that the cars of the latter road pay smartly
for the privilege of using the Commercial
street tracks. To these exactions the Eastern
declines to submit, and to test its rights has
brought bill in equity against the Grand
Trunk. And now the Boston and Maine ap-
pears on the scene. 1t and the Eastern have
an unpleasantness, or rather bitterness.
They occasionally show indications that the
pugi.istic passions, acquired by the race
through Adams fall, have lost nothing in
Transmission to the present generation. The
B G. M.-the ally of the Grand Trunk-wants
to get on to Commercial street and the
wharves. Not only does it want to get on to
Commercial street, but it wants the right to
lay another track of its own on that street,
Soon we may expect the Ogdensburg and
Rochester will apply for rights on that impor-
tant thoroushfare. Shall each road be grant
ed the right to lay track and maintain it,
thus closing up the street for other purposes,
OR shall any one OF two of them adopt dog
tracks only at an exorbtant charge?
These are questions for the business public
to consider. If the conflict affected only the
railroads themselves, the public might be
willing to allow them to carry on Kilkenny
cat fight; but unfortunately disturbance, de-
lay and extra expense of transportation on
Commercial street will seriously interrupt
business and enhance the cost of goods and
count largely against Portland trade and en-
terprise. 1t is thing which Portland can
not afford and which its municipal authori-
ties ought TO prevent if within their power.
There are doubtless several methods by
which harmony can be restored among the
warning interests on Commercial street and
speedy and cheap transportation secured, but
the most obvious one is for the city to secure
an act of the Legislature giving it the control
OF all the rights claimed by the various rail
road companies on that street, and indeed on
all the marginal streets of the city, for the
purpose of securing economy and prompt
ness in transportation as well as to prevent
the further obstruction of business in that To-
cality. When the city obtains control of the
thoroughfare, it is altogether possible that the
now fighting railroads will agree to some ar
rangement that will secure them all the priv
ileges they need, and what is more important,
meet the fullest dem ands of business. At all
events the city can enforce proper and con-
venient transaction of the carrying business
on this great thoroughfare on such terms as
shall be just to all. 1t is said that the city
government will ask for such legislation.
IIxIc RtaStcsa Dat la.as SSrasd