New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-24
THE QUESTION IN THE MASSACHUSETTS
LEGISLATURE.

THE QUESTION IN TIE MASSAChUSEl 10
LEGISLATURE.
IMPORTANT REpoRTS-CRlSD RAILROAD coNsorIDA-
TIoN scIEMEs-srATE CONTROL OF THE TUNNEL
PROPOSED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TILE TRIBUSE.l
Boston, April 23.-The Hoosac Tunnel Rail-
road Committee rendered two reports to-day. The re-
port of tho majority provides for consolidating the
Fchburg, the Vermont and Massachusetts, the Boston
and Lowell and the Troy and Boston Railroads Tor tho
last three If the FitclbuIg reuse into one corporation
by the Of the Boston and Northwestern Railroad
Company.
The bill for consolidation ia long one and makes all
tho necessary stipuations for compensation. III the
corporations vote form the COMPANY and cannot
agree upon terms then the Supreme Court Is TO ap
point three Commissioners for that purpose The Hoosac
Tunnel and it's approaches, including SO much OF the
railroad on each side of the tunnel SHALL within two
months from the passage Of this act be determined by
the Governor Council to be necessary and eonven'
lent approaches" TO the tunnel to remain in common
for the public benefit In transfer OF passengers and
freight from side Of the Hoosac Mountain to the
other, and the title and ownership are to remain
in the Commonwealth. The State, by the Governor
and Council or in any prescribed by the Legisa'
ture may control and regulate the use OF the tunnel ana
approaches and the passage Of trains through and over
the same and IL at any time any corporation operating
the tunnel the approaches thereto fails to observe hs
rules and regulations established the Commonwealth
may by due process In the supreme Juolcid Nou'
prevent the use the tunnel and the approaches thereto
and in such event the Commonwealth shall provide
other means for the operation OF the tunnel and It's ap
proaches
Tho Boston and Northwestern Railroad Company
shall operate the tunnel and approaches but all railroad
corporations connecting herewith or with the bos'on
and North Western Railroad shall possess the ngh
sending their and passengers and freight througH
the tunnel upon equal terms and with equal facility
For the use OF the tunnel the Commonwealth shall DC
entitled TO receive not exceeding II per cent OF ths
amount charged transportation by the consondatec
company II the Troy and Boston and the Boston aho
Lowell roads refuse to be consolidated the new company
NAV be formed by other corporations voting TO unite
Should the Fitchburg road decline 70 come into the ar
ranocment and consolidated corporation he formed,
the latter is REQUIRED 10 establish terminal facilities ate
near Underwater before tho first day Of May 1871 and 10
required to extend Its railroad from the present tenf
ms OF the Vermont and Massachusetts, road In Fitch
burg to the depot at tdewater For these pur
poses IL may within two years take and hold ana use -
much Of the road property and franchises OF the rcH
burg Railroad Company as may be necessary ana COD
venent therefor subject the laws relating to ths
taking OF land by railroad corporations ana the eonpeh
saon to be made therefor 1t may lease or hre tue
Fitchburg Railroad, subject TO all the laws reatinsN
| the leasing Of railroads.
The consolidated corporation may purchase OF tease
any railroad or railroads chartered or built between
the intersection of the Troy and Greenfield kanoad
VITA the State line Of Massachusetts, and Lake ontars
mr. Lewiston on the Niagara River, or on the rou"
thereto and may operate and MAINTAIN the sfine ano
may locate aud construct such tracks 10 the to"ns %
| Belmont, Cambridge, aud Arlington as may DC neeeS
sary 10 connect the Fitchburg Railroad aud It's water
town branchwith the Lexington and Arlington Railroad
for the purpose Of making the Mystic KVer ternnai IL
cfities accessible to the line hereby authorized.
The Board Of Directors is to consist OF - persons,
three OF whom shall be appointed by the Governor and
Council The corporation can make all Tue leaSes
of other roads that may be requisite Tor the ueVei1
nent OF its business. II the Commonwealth chooses
NAV any tIne after six months notice in writing OF s
intentions SO do take possession OF the ROAD
property rights and privileges Of the SAID consolidated
| corporation.
The minority OF the Committee, consisting OF foui
members ,say that the tunnel will be completed during
the current year. and will cost the state, including IN
terest about t2OCo000. They state that the tuhhei
itself must be worked and managed Tor all parties us'ns
| q nv one head It follows that the Commonwealth
hond own or control one hne Of road between Boston
and the West at the same time giving all parties equal
advantages in the tunnel The method recommended py
ta nuorty Is 70 form a corporation for the manage
ment Of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad ana Hocsae
Tunnel composed OF five trustees, appointed oy INC
Governor and Council each 10 hold Office for hVe years.
and one Of whom shall be appointed annually 10 THESE
State trustees be added not exceeding three
one nv each OF the railroad corporations whose properly
NAV be acquired or managed under the terms OF the act
Instead Of directly purchasing the railroads constr
tutng the direct line, provision Is made TOT eas'us
| these railroads by the new corporation upon '''A"'
which are fair and equitable fer all parties
The minority bill places the Hoosae Tunnel "nen conl
pleted, and the Troy and Greenfield haiiroau, Oh VI 20
fore the lst Day OF July next In the hands % Nv
trustees. appointed by the Governor ana 'oa'.t'
Thase trustees are 10 have the sole direeuon VI w"
tunns, and Troy and Greenfield Railroad anu are
.uthorized 10 relocate, where necessary, 'no aa u
the Troy and Greenfield road Five million "ohai' arc
annropr,aed for carrying out the provisions VI 'no
the nronerty of the Commonwealth in inc lAn"'o ANU
,nnnel being pledged to the redemption Oh the scnp
The trustees are empowered to lease In perpe'nty 'he
franchise and property, and 20 maintain improve ana
.r.,a the railroad with is branches OF the Vdmone
ara Masachusets Railroad Company also those OF the
PteSburs Railroad Company and likewise to lease the
franchise and property Of the Troy and Boston Railroad
| Ia 90 mo intain improve, and operate IL.
anu % on these roads Is ut OF the gross earn
,rs IA sat apart the payment OF rents The trustees
r hrfher Ant horzed 70 lease any railroad lying IN the
aunns route between Boston and Lake Ontario In the
csr,ase OF through passengers and merchandise the
ss,ss az shall be estimated pro rata per
re and the Hoosao Tunnel shall be estimated 40 snch
Length in miles not exceeding 50 rs shall seem equitable
10 The trustees Similar provisions are made for obv-
| where, In the bill Of the majority
HIGHWAYS TO BOSTON.