The Portland daily press., 1873-03-17
Notice to Travellers.


"The Maine Central Railroad Company gives
notice that passengers upon the Boston and
Maine Railroads destined to stations on the
Maine Central, east of Portland, will be recev-
ed at its passenger depot in that city as hereto
fore, and also at the depot of the Portland
Saco, and Portland Railroad directly opposite
and in close proximity to that of the Boston
and Maine.
Passengers will please take notice that the
Maine Central trains will not stop at the cross
bridge in Portland for receiving or delivering
passengers.
Augusta, March 15 1873.
L. L. LINCOLN, Acting Sup't."
The Maine Central and its predecessors were
the companies that so many years harassed and
defed the travelling public at their crossing of
the Portland and Kennebec Railroad at Ken
dall's Mills; but as its friends claim the Maine
Central has now come under more liberal con-
troll. it is necessary to explain the above no
tice in order to overcome any presumption
arising from such claim. Without reference to
tion of two routes, we call attention to the
great number of passengers between all Maine
aud Dover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Con-
cord, Manchester and Northern Vermont and
New Hampshire for whom the only direct
route is over the Boston and Maine Railroad.
The Maine Central Railroad would compel all
this great travel TO be transferred from station
to station in Portland at considerable annoy
ance, delay and perhaps expense to travel;
while the Boston and Maine Railroad propose
to exchange it at their junction, where they
have provided conveniences for it, and where
there will be comfort, and facility, and where
all baggage can be handled by railroad officials
without expense to the traveller. In either
case each railroad receives the same fare from
each passenger; and therefore the only ques-
tionS are those of conven ence to the public and
the Boston and Maine. The public laws of
Maine provide:
"When railroads cross erch ether and passen-
ger trains are due at the crossing at the same
hour, the train first arriving shall wait for the
arrival of the other, it it comes within twenty
minutes, and each shall afford suitable oppor-
tunity for passengers desiring it to change with
their baggage from one train to the other"
The charter of the Kennebcc and Portland
Railroad Company, provides that it shall be
their duty to receive from any other railroad
approaching near at any suitable point, passen-
gers and freight, &c.
The above notice apparently disregards the
public laws of Maine as not applicable to the
M line Central; and evades the precise condi-
ton under which it holds its chartered rights,
by designating as suitable place for receiving
passengers two depots. one of which is notori-
ously contracted and inconvenient, and each of
which would compel great trouble, haste and
expensive handling of baggage, and in many
cases loss of connecting trains
The position OF the Boston and Maine in this
matter Is shown by the following: On the Goth
day of February, 1878, the President of the
Maine Central was informed, as we understand,
by receiving written copies IF kilograms, that
the Boston and Maine were ready to appoint a
committee to meet committees from the Maine
Central and Eastern with view to a settle
ment of connections and business; provided the
Maine Central would receive from and deliver
to the Boston and Maine on their road at Port
land pending the negotiations, such business as
might be consigned to parties over the Boston
and Maine. No notice of this suggestion has
ever been taken by the Maine Central.
On March 4th, 1873, the President of the
Name Central was notified b. the President of
he Boston & Maine, that they were then run
ming freight trains, and in about two weeks
would be running passenger trains over their
extension; and that the Boston & Maine
claimed the Maine Control should exchange
passengers and freight at suitable and con-
venient point near the place of crossing; and
In order that the convenience of the public and
railroads concerned might be best promoted,
requested the Maine Central to appoint COM
mittee to meet a committee from the Boston &
Maine to arrange the precise point of exchange
and the details in relation thereto. On the
eighth day of March the Boston & Maine re-
ceived reply from Judge Rice protesting that
no case affecting the Maine Central had arisen
under the laws referred to, but expressing "a
strong desire that the convenience Of the public
and of the railroads concerned should be best
promoted;" and thereupon the communication
proceeded to designate the Vice President, the
Actlng superintendent and the General Freight
Agent of the Maine Central, with authority
to meet such such person or persons as may be
appointed by you at or near the premises to
determine the precise point or points, for the
exchange of passengers and freight between
the respective roads and the details thereof"
Said Committee on March II, met the Presi-
dent and Superintendent of the Boston and
Maine at Portland and in a protracted con-
ference disavowed any authority to make any
arrangement except substantially as stated in
the above notice. AS such an arrangement
would involve no concessions to public conven-
fences on the part of the Maine Ceutral, tha-
proposition hardly seemed to require the meet
ing of such high Railroad official.
The place desired by the Boston and Maine
Railroad for the exchange OF passengers is Sit
uated just northerly of the point of crossing
the Maine Central, has been provided with a
convenient platform and exchange passenger
station, and is very close to the place where hv
reason OF the general law relative to crossings.
every train on the Maine Central, comiug into
| Portland is stopped; SO that by arrangement
| one stop could probably be made to answer ali
| purposes. Its general convenience NAV he in
| ferred from the fact that when shown nearly
| year ago the Boston and Names plan of ali
the proposed connections at this locality the
| President of the Maine Ceutral praised the
| plan for showing as he expressed It. as mnch
| foresight as any railroad project in Maine had
| ever shown. BOsToN Ann M ATNE