Connecticut western news., 1875-03-12
The New Western Freight Route.
POSITION OF THE CONNECTICUT WESTERN.

while commenting on tue DOsLDA OOAulI- tees Report, concerning the best means of connecting New England with the trade and industrial centers in substance, and l believe in the words tco, of the committee:
 "The committee, however were unwill- ing to recommend this route on account of an alleged former hostility of the Connecticut Western to through business traffic, and favored the southern line ln their report. Thus the Connecticut West ern has let slip the grandest opportunity of it's career, and the section through which it runs will be permanent loser byits narrow and untusiness-like policy"
 It was not unnatural perhaps that the Boston committee should have made the statement above inasmuch as they heard, while on their tour of investigation, the complaints from Boston and from the West that the Connecticut Western stood in the way of a through arrangement for freight, etc.
 A few simple statements of facts will perhaps satisfy yourself and the public as they have already satisfied the Boston com mittee, I believe, that the complaints above referred to have nojust basis.
 The president of the Connecticut Western Mr. Barnum, states that no propositions were ever made to him to transport coal on the Connecticut Western from the Erie road until after the excursion of the Boston committee. He had previously offered to take through freight from the Erie road, provided they would deliver it at Newburgh upon the same terms that they deliver it at New York, to which proposition they objected, and have continued to object thus far in more recent attempts at negotia- tions, unless the Connecticut Western and other eastern roads, would unite with them or some other company in an expensive transfer arrangement at Newburgh. Neither the Duchess and Columbia, nor the Hart ford, Providence and Fishkill nor the New England and New York roads, could make investments In such transfer company, requiring capital of from $2OO, 900 to $4OO, ,OOO, insalnuch as these roads are in the hands of other parties than the organiz' ed companies Hence neither of these companies but the Connecticut Western could legally invest in such transfer compa- ny. Besides, at sundry meetings of the managers of the eastern roads with the Erie company, no terms have been offered by the other companies for the service to be rendered. Of this fact I believe MT. Clark manager of tine New York and New Eng | land road. and the trustee of the Hartford Providence and Fishkill, have been entirely satisfied Moreover the Connecticut West ern has better facilities for moving coa and through freight from the west thar any that have been or probably will be offered by the Erie company. These vii in due time be made manifest 10 the public.
 Wha! nesd, then, is there of building another road from Boston to the Hudson over which the western roads would expec the business to be done upon the same terms that have already been rejected by the roads now constructed. simply because it would not pay expenses? Boston anc other New England cities would do muci better to put part of the five or si1 millions it will cost to complete the New England and New York road into tho Poughkeepsie bridge. This bridge is tho absolute necessity-the key to the grea business of both sections. This completed tbc necessity for sixty or seventy addiiiona miles of railroad could be determined afte it should be demonstrated that satisfactory arrangements could not be made witt existing roads leading to the same points.
 Now, sir, word to the Hartford editors The Connecticut Western has not '' let sli] the grandest opportunity of it's career. Its opportunity has just arrived, and it vii avail itself of that opportunity to demen strate to the city of Hartford within yea that It is wiser to stand by the Connecticu
 Western, in which it has so deep a
 interest, than to indulge an occasional fin
 at its management, which it's director
 outside public. The aid and encourage
 mcnt of the Hartford editors, will redoun much more to the interests and credit o the city, than any insinuation that tn Connecticut Western is not well managed until proof to the contrary can be lai
 before the public.
 1 [Rt marks by Editor Post.l
 We cheerfully give place to the com
 munication in which the management o
 the Connecticut Western railroad is defend
 ed, bt cause we desire 10 deal justly wit
 all in such matters. Of the facts presente
 we could, of course, know nothing, but is certainly unfortunate that for any reasO
 this road should seem to stand in the wa
 of the completion of an arrangement S
 promising to the industrial interests o New England. The suspicion apparent
 entertained hy our correspondent tha
 "Hartford editors ar" swaycd by som
 sinister influence in their treatment of thu
 matter certainly has no application to thi
 journal. We have none but the kiEdes
 feelings toward the Connecticut Wester railroad, and can have no desire but fc
 the prosperity of line in which Hartfor has invested so much and in the success c which the city is so deeply interested. Br we are frank to say that the impressio prevails in the minds of good man
 intelligent people that the road is manage more with reference to the interests of tt , president than of the company. If anythin 3 can be said to disabuse the public of tn f impression we shall be glad to receive it. BY HIS ExCELLENCY