The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-17
The Force Bill.
To The Editor of the Press

~ TIE EuLtOT " Tue II Teocs-
In the report Of the Boston and Maine rail-
road for 1872, page 8, the following language is
held: s.t ,.v re. tn5 3 4f b83i~ as
sWhile it has been the aim of your directors
to make every concession that is just and prop
er to connecting roads, to secure to you the
through freight and passenger business. which
which at equitable and just rates contribute SO
valuable a source of inco1 e, yet they have
refrained from making contracts of this class
of business for term OF years at rates that
have not seemed adequate to insure reason
able 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 in
come" .t- d.
What is the Specification of this generously
phrased paragraph, as bearing on the matter to
which it made reference, namely, the relations
of the Boston and Maine Railroad to the bust
ness of the State of Maine. What its signifi-
cation is will best appear by citing the rates at
which the Eastern Railroad and tie Boston and
Maine respectively would agree to carry the
through freight and passengers of Maine to
and from Boston, in connection with the Maine
Central railroad. The ultimatnm of the two
roads, respectively, was as follows: ~,
+ ~. ifGC 81 9a' per head. per ton.
Eastern Railroad. 81 80 90 90
Boston g. Maine Railroad. ....... 90 am to
IL 90
In other words the Boston and Maine rail-
road proposed to extort from the people 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 as the
Eastern had consented to, Offering full and free
connection at Portland on the same terms as to
the Eastern. The Boston and Maine refused
to the bitter end. With an unaccountable in
fatuation the directors of that road built in to
Portland, at the tof $4,000, 900, side by side
with the old P. S. & P. road, their 'Exten-
SON. This extension docs not open single
new town. 1t creates no new business. 1t
gives no additional facilities to the people of
Ma inc whatever. 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 'Force
Bill'' to compel the Eastern and Maine Central
railroad to give it connection at Portland All
the while perfect connection exists at South
Berwick Junction by 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 traversed by the extern
sion, have been fully accommodated for a QUAR-
ter Of a century by the P. s. g P. road. The
public huve no earthly interest whatever in the
connection at Portland. The Boston and
Maine railroad having squandered $4,000. 600
on the extension 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 tyranncal enactment
is jest indeed.
a'17 % G'tt EQUITY.