The Portland daily press., 1873-09-22
The Railroad Problem.
A Full Stafenaen of fhe Situation.
WHERE IS THE FAULT?

BANGOR, Sept. II. 1873.
To the Stockholders of the Eastern and the Bes-
ton and Maine Railroads:
In addition to the midnight train of the
Eastern Railroad, ten passenger trains per day
are dispatched from Portland to Boston over
the Boston and Maine and Eastern railroads
The return trains number the same. Five
times daily two traius start out from Portland,
one upon each road, at precisely the same mo-
ment, from the stations on the opposite sides
of the same street, and for many miles run
parallel routes. Internationally, indeed. within
biscuit-toss of each others cars. Upon inspee-
ton it appears that neither train is full So
far as regards the transportation effected, one
locomotive, one set of train hands, and half the
number of vehicles would suffice Either one
of the trains .ould do the through business.
The way business could be well accomma-
dated with alternate trains upon the roads,
certainly to South Berwick Junction, and
very likely to points considerably further
west Meantime each road maintains full
corps of high-paid officers. Each in part
already has, or proposes to have, millions in
vested in terminal facilities, in locomotive
houses, repair shops, depot buildings and
grounds, wharves, dock room, etc., facilities
that, as prepared for one, would suffice for
both. Each road, as matters now stand, is
expending large sums in extra advertising, in
agency work, for writer's, legal counsellois,
runners and other functionares small aud
great, differing in gifts and offices, but alike
in being each and all the most expensive of
their class. Counting over no other items of
outlay than these, the wasted extra expeudi-
ture of the two companies, operating al they
now do, will not fall short of half million
dollars per year. The natural result of this is
seen n the depreciation of Boston and Maine
sock by thirty-four dollars per share, and of
the stock of the Eastern road by nineteen doi-
lars per share.
This is but the beginning. The directors of
the Boston aud Maine railroad are determined,
it is understood, to push their line through to
Bath. The Maine Central, now working in
alliance with the Eastern road, will oppose this
with all its force. The ensuing session of
the Maine Legislature threatens to be little else
than a drawn battle betwixt the contending
hosts of the rival lines. The best lawyers. the
most adroit lobbyists, the old-line politicians,
anxious one and all t. turn an honest thousand
apiece, will be retained for service, fed and
housed and wued all winter at the best hotels,
the total cost of the campaign running up at
the lowest estimate, even suppcsing no votes to
be bought outright, to 100000 for the roads con
cerned Suppose the Boston and Maine pro-
cure their charter, and build thirty-fUur miles
of parallel line to Bath What is effected by
il? IL would add two millions 10 the four mill
ion dollars Of debt incurred in the extension to
Portland Like that extension it would open
NOT a single new town. ltwould create no new
business, and give no needed facility to the old.
Once built, the war would then be shifted to
the possession of the roads further east These
roads would doubtless get glad deliyerance
from their troubles by the means-at the cost
of the stockholders of one or the other of the
Boston lines. In the meantime, and all the
way along, as the endeavor should be- continued
to force passage eastward, numherless on.
po''tunities would be afforded the opposing mar
ty to th.ow distractions in the way t. mnltiplv
difficulties and costs, legion by name. If suc-
cesstul at last in forcing through to Lands
End, the duplicate line, then there would he
saddled upon its stockholders the monsir,ns
bill of getting through under such conditions
Upon the stockholders of the other ne the
cost of opposing and battling their rivals of
building COULTER branches and cut offs, and up
on both, the expense of operating two lines
| where the business would Justify but one.
Granting ali this accom- pllshed, no man ia
| mliar with the history of railroads in this ana
/ in other countries will question that the TWO
lines would ultimately come to an agreement