Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-18
RAILROAD MATTERS,

1t is said that the directors of the Maine
Central will, at an early day, reduce both
passenger and freight tariffs in Maine.
The reported sale of the Waverley House
to the Eastern Railroad Corporation is denied
On authority.
The railways of Illinois have, in the las,
ten years, nearly quadrupled their business,
winch increase has called for quadruplng
their rolling stock, besides an immense
amount of other outlay.
The Portsmouth and Dover Railroad Com.
pany held their annual meeting at Dover
Point, Thursday. The old officers were re-
elected, with Frank Jones as president.
case has been decided in Indiana in a
manner to indicate that when railroad COM
pany sell ticket it is with the understand
ing that the passenger will be furnished
seat A passenger in Indiana lately refused
to give the conductor his ticket until he was
supplied with seat. The train being crowd
ed, the conductor could not comply with his
request, and put the passenger off the car,
throwing his baggage after him. The latter
entered suit against the company, and was
awarded $1,000 damages by the jury which
tried the case.
ThelBoston Traveller says IA rumor and
it has a reasonable fondaton) in railroad
circles, is the proposed lease of the Vermont
and Massachusetts Railroad by the Boston,
Ciinto and Fitchburg corporation. Should
the fact confirm the rumor, the result will
prove the operation to be one Of the most
important changes ever made in the New En-
gland railroad interest The veil fought bat
mine who should have the control of the
tunnel settled at once and forever the
question as to the prospective value of that
enterprise as connecting link between tide
water and the West. The Vermont and
Massachusetts Railroad is the legitimate
eastern outlet for the tunnel it was the origi-
nal plan--the Troy and Greenfield Railroad
would not have been built and the tunnel
never thought of but for the enterprise of the
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad. For
evidence of this it is only necessary to refer
back TO the debates in our State legislature
from lS4S to 1854. The folly of some people
was apparent last winter when the attempt
was made to ignore this corporation and
claim preference Dy rlgilt tlat was no pref
ereDce at all. Out of that quadrangular fight
what has come to the surface? First-the
Boston and Lowell Railroad Company is ex-
tending its line from Lexington and Concord
TO Aver Junction, thence 70 some convenient
point either on the Boston, Clinton and
Fitchburg Railroad or farther up on the
Boston, Barre and Gardner, to unite with the
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad at
Gardner. Given this as proposition, what
will he the result? The Boston, Clinton and
Fitchburg through the birmingham and
Lowell Virtually one corporation) is in
harmony with the Boston and Lowell The
Vermont and Massachusetts corporation is
not prevented by law or statute from con-
tracing a lease with any corporation whose
line forms a connection herewith. Again,
the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg opens up
new through line to the seaboard at New
Bedford. When Colonel Smeed of Taunton,
in speech in the senate sveral years since,
in favor of the charter of the birmingham
and Mansfield Railroad, remarked that New
Bedford would yet be an importan: port for
the export of western produce, he was very
mildly sneered at; but today his words of
prophecy are becoming words of fact