The Portland daily press., 1873-02-28
An OpDOrtunity.

The last annual report of the directors o.
the Maine Central Railroad Company com.
pared with that of the year previous, plainly
indicates that at no distant day the road un.
der wise, and of course, liberal policy, may
be one of the best paying roads in New Eng
land outside of the few leading out of Boston.
The general public believe that the measure
ofits success must depend entirely upon the
policy it pursues towards the people of Maine.
That its present policy is not wise may be
learned from the fact, that the larger part of
the people living along its lines and doing
business with it are dissatisfied. IT may be
charged that this is the fault of the people,
but all men are not unjust and unreasonable;
consequently it may be fairly assumed that
there is something of unreasonableness and
hardship, ifnot injustice, in the present man.
agement.
We have been led to this remark because it
appears that the present time is most favora-
will render th e corporation at once more use
full to the business interests of the State.
At the annual meeting Judge Rice easily dis
posed of his foes, and, doubtless, now has a
board that will be more in harmony with
whatever course he deems it wise to pursue.
The Legislature has just sanctioned the con-
solidation of all the roads it now operates,
which banishes every doubt as to the charac-
ter of its consolidated bonds, ard will tend
to strengthen the credit of the corporation
quite as much as the very fattering exhibit
of the late report. The stock of the Com
pany has reached market value that a few
years since would have been deemed impossi-
BILE. Every industry along its lines is -four
ishing to an unprecedented degree. Its busi-
ness is rapidly increasing. In view of these
facts could there be more favorable time for
the Maine Central management to inaugur-
ate that policy of cheaper tariffs on its own
zines which Judge Rice at hearing before
the Railroad Committee in the hall of the
House of Representatives in 1870 declared
would be the inevitable result of con-
solidation? At that time Judge Rice
demonstrated to an interested assembly
that the economy of management resulting
from consolidation would enable the present
roads to carry as freight such articles as the
tariffs they were then compelled to ask, rem
,s..s impossible. Has not that time come? 1t
may be said that such is the case in connec-
tion with Boston and other points out of the
State; but we are speaking not for Boston,
but for Maine and Portland interests. Re
liable men here and in Lewiston, Gardiner,
Augusta, Waterville, Skowhegan, Farming
ton, aud in fact all along its line say that
they could increase their business but for the
high rates of tariff. This statement applies
with great emphasis to many industries in
this city.
Then as to passenger fares; cannot it's
wise management see that if their local rates
were reduced twenty-five per cent that in the
end the passenger business would yield more
money and better accommodate the people
who have authorized their existence and have
right to demand something of considera-
tion?
If the Maine Central management had
early shown a disposition to adopt concia
tory policy toward the thriving city of Lewis
ton and reduced its tariffs with view to its
growth and Importance, would that road be
now building that will surely deprive them of
a very large part of that increasing busi-
ness? .- s..
The PRESS has never laid itself open to the
charge Of being Maine Central advocate;
but if Judge Rice and his associates will seize
the present most favorable opportunity both
to make good its promises to the people when
he and they asked for consolidation,
and will make 1t evident that they
appreciate the people of Maine and the
development of its industries by adopting
something of the policy we have indicated
and which the people demand, that corpor-
alton will have no more ardent supporter than
this paper in its small way. rr