Connecticut western news., 1875-01-29
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
rta Local I,,terest.


 rom the visit. The chances for railroad connections west of the river are more fa- v ,orable than has been supposed, and the C ,nly question about the bridge will be the V consideration of the expense. The com 7 nittee will probably satisfy themselves first ' whether the bridge can be built for the es- I lmates (and the Keystone Bridge Compa- ,y can probably give light on that point if , ,onsulted), and second whether the Penn $ ,ylvania Central road or other great railroad l In that direction will help the enterprise financially. These two points settled satisfactorily, the bridge is pretty sure to be built.
 It will be seen also that the mana agement its president, is not improving present op- portunitics as they ought to be improved. It is vitally important that this road should raOao be run in harmony with connecting lines, and be quick to affiliate with the great trade in Boston anxions for new outlet and the interests west of the river seeking the eastern markets. To stand in the track of this trade at the outset, and re- fuse to carry freights at rates which con- meeting roads are glad to accept, is shor: sighted and suicidal. It is defeating the | ends which the Connecticut Western road were built to secure.
 We have it on the authority of the presi- dent of the Erie Railroad that that corpo- Sa fn- fn md other freights over it's line to Newburgh and
 into New England, and has been ready tc
 do it for months. The only hindrance to
 arrangements for starting such traffic is
 the attitude of President Barnum, of the Connecticut Western road, who declines to
 enter the proposed. Arrangement for through
 freights. dividing the tolls pro rata accord
 ing to the miles of haulage on each road.
 A refusal on the part of road not over
 burdened with business to enter upon such
 an arrangement IS inexplicable on any ordi-
 nary business principles. The inference therefor is fair that President Barnum all lows his interest in other railroads to intlu- ence his management of the Connecticut
 Western. Tms he ought not to do. If he
 finds it difficult in his official position to act
 for the stockholders of the Connecticut
 Western road as he would if he had no
 personal interests elsewhere, he should turn over the management to some one else. The position of MT. Barnum in this matter was very freely and publicly criti
 cised by the railroad and business men or the excursion last week. It was intinateG that he cared more for affiliation with the Vanderbilt and Boston and Albany railroad interests than with the rival corporations ir , the southwest. We hope this is not SO Such course will, we believe, be suicida for the Connecticut Western road. It ha! the opportunity to become part of val uable competing through line, with Bostor
 at it's back on one side and the interests ii Southern New York and Pennsylvania or the other. It need never expect any faYor from the Boston and Albany company; i 5 properly invite trade over the New Yorl Central road, but it should not tie up tt that alone. It should he ready to bring grain pro rata from that road, coal iron T Rondout. everything that may come ove
 the Poughkeepsie and Eastern, grain, cot ton and coal from the Erie or Pennsylvani Central roads-in short, anything and eve rything, at as cheap rates as connectinI 3 roads. It can stand in thls position, mak friends everywhere and thrive on suc1 I erSo great interests which it is the plain duty o e it's managers to encourage in a position o l. hostility and compel them to construct con peting lines and turn traffic in other direc l. tions. A railroad can make friends earl '. Tn its life who will stand by it when it ai older; it can also make enemies who wi = be quick to make friends with rival whe IS the first opportunity offers. We are gla % to be assured that there is 8 prospect tn, V- others in the Connecticut Western Railroa n management will insist upon more liher le policy than the president seems inclined 5. pursue, and that there is probability th' re their counsels will prevail. The prop 10 course in this important matter seems { al plain that it is strange that there should 'e any difference of opinion about it. It is E first-rate time now for the new directors 1e study up little, and have a word to ss as upon the subject. We believe their viey IT will accord with ours, and with those D. some at least of the old members of Il il- board.
 (The following is an extract from Il
 -1~ ~N-o lH.,le i- -ED1
 he It is to be lamented that the only thil d about the whole investigation to cause
 Hartford man, or any other one interest or in the Connecticut Western railroad fro gh the peoples standpoint, should come fro at some developments about the manageme m. of that road. It frequently cropped out discussions of railroad men, and of u oe Boston visitors, that efforts have been ma h. ing for a year 10 secure pro rata rates ut freight from the Erie line, crossing q ,,r river on floats already in use. and so
 over the Dutchess and Columbia. Come
 ticut Western, Hartford, Providence al an Fishkill, and New York and New Englal m. roads, to Boston or places on the thr0uI nd line. All the managers of these roads a
 willing to make the arrangement exec
 Mir. Barnum of the Connecticut Weste road. Naturally this standing up as he block to :he travel already seeking an e of trance to New England, creates feelI he against the road, on the part of Bost
 business men and those interests west ce the river which want to open business r CT, lations with them. President Barnum we ow out with the party from Hartford to Lax ts vile last Tuesday. and knew the importau n of the investigation and the advantage the road which might come from it. { 'ur Thursday he met President Jewett of | es- Erie road in New York, and tha: gentlem ,ur afterwards telegraphed that he had be -, unable to arrange terms with him, and tt uu be did not believe he could. It was free mt otnfoI that Mp Purp,1vn,o