The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-01-22
The Force DilI.

| To the Editor of the Press -
In the report Of the Boston and Maine
railroad for 1872, page s, the following
language is held:
| '.While it has been the aim of YOUR directors
| to make every concession that it Just and prop
| er to connecting roads, to secure TO YOU the
| through freight and passenger business which
at|equitable and Just rates contribute so valuable
| a source of income, vet they have refrained
from making contracts of this class of business
for term of years ut rates that have not seemed
| adequate TO insure reasonable compensation
for the service rendered. They prefer to build
| up and foster the local business Of your road,
which is now large and constantly increasing,
rather than to increase the gross receipts at the
expense of the net income.'
What is the Specification Of this sonor-
ously Phrased paragraph, as bearing on
the matter to which it made reference
namely. the relations of the Boston and
Maine Railroad to the business Of the
State OF Maine. What its Specification is
will best appear by citing the rates at
which the Eastern Railroad and the Bos-
ton and Maine respectively would agree
to carry the through freight and passen-
gers of Maine to and from Boston, in con-
nection with the Maine Central railroad
The ultimatum of the two roads, respec-
lively. was as follows:
Passengers Freight
per head per ton
Eastern Railroad :. =. 81 80 80
(2.50
Boston & Maine Railroad 900 : to
}8.Oo
In other words the Boston and Maine
railroad proposed to eXtort from the PEG
pie of Maine using its line thirty three per
cent more than the Eastern railroad The
Maine Central urged and entreated the
Boston and Maine to yield as favorable
terms to this State rs the Eastern had con-
sented to, otering tM a1d free co1lnectioA
at Portland on the same term as to the
Eastern. The Boston and Maine refused
to the bitter end With an unaccountablo
intatuation the direction of that road built
in to Portland, at the cost Of $1,000 900,
side by side with the old p. S & p. road,
their ''ENtension.' This extension does
not open a single new town Ii creates
no new business. 1t gives no additional
facilities to the people Of Maine what
ever. And now the Boston and Maine
with its record known OF all men, as above
stated, will have the presumption to ask
anew of the Legislature Of Maine, a
Force Bill" TO compel the Eastern and
Maine Central railroad TO give il connec-
ton al Portland All the while a perfect
connection exists at South Berwick juno
ton 10y which every town west OF the
junction on the Boston and Maine can be
reached with perfect facility. The towns
east of the Junction, now traycrsel by
the extension, have been fully accommo-
dated for a quarter of a century by the P.
> II = road. The public have no earthly
interest whatever in the connection at
Portland. The Boston and Maine railroad
having spuandered $4,000, 900 on the cN-
tension are doubtless anxious to force all
the business on it possible But to ask the
Legislature Of Maine to help them out of
this scrape by arbitrary and tvrannical en-
actment is a Jest indeed EQUITY.
What is the difference between 4 plan
OF Il battlefield and a roasted pippin !
One is a war map, and the other is warm
apple.