The Portland daily press., 1875-01-19

| axle ulOTc DURABLE Will II lOW IdlO oh0h =" AS"'J
one with high rate of speed. He regards
| fifty seat passenger car more economical than
| the sixty seat cars. 1t requires less power TO
| move six fifty seat cars than it does five sixty
seat cars there being difference of Is tons IN
| favor of the former. He also thinks it is more
economical to employ efficient and rellable
men at fair pay than a poorer class OF men
with less pay.
The next subject noticed in the report is 1.-The
organized movement against permitting rail-
| road companies to adjust their own rates OF
toll" Without apologizing for or extenuatlng
those breeches of trust and denquences SO
much complained of in the West and else
where the Commissioners discuss this question
at length, taking grounds against the general
assumptions of the Changers of the West and
assuming that tariff snffici to pay operating
expenses and interest on the actual cost OF tne
road is no more than just, even II
the same could now be built Tor
much less sum, since the money used IN the
construction of new lines had in most instances
been raised at great disadvantage. In view Oh
this is it not right that railroad managers
should impose sufficient toll to maintain their
that such an amount is necessary? This sub
iect, the Commissioners think should not De
meddled with by the Legislature.
The Commissioners next consider the as
examinations between local and through traffic.
Various authorities in the West are quoted 10
show that the system of cheap through rates
works no injury to the local shipper as the cost
of his rates are not enhanced thereby and the
railroads and both consumer and producer WIDE
apart are benefited. Indeed, uniform rate OF
tariff per mile would probably result ia the
injury of the local shipper who had only
a few miles to carry his freight since
the railroad would earn more money,
on the longer distances and thus the
local short carry freight would be avoided
or made subsidiary. In conclusion the report
of the Massachusetts Commissioners to whom
this matter was referred by the Legislature, is
quoted to show that in all cases in this country
and England where an attempt has been made
to fix maximum limit of rates, it has most al
ways failed. The Commissioners think upon
due reflection, all but one sided and Impractical
BILE men will conclude, upon fair examination
of the whole subject, that neither state nor fed
eral authorities nor even the abest experts, can
impose any infexible rates of toll upon rail-
roads without inflicting serious if not fatal IN
jury not only upon the most efficient agency of
the country's development but upon very
large part if not the whole of the active bust
ness world.
From the consideration of this most difficult
and important problem Of tariff rates, the Com
missioners drop down to subject which every
traveller can appreciate-"the clamorous impor-
tunity of hackmen at our city stations" The
policy of the steamboat companies at Portland
who keep Objectionable hackmen from their
wharves is commended and recommended to
such railroads as control yards of their own. To
get rid of the annoyances now suffered by the
travelling public, it is suggested that hackmen
be required to stand quietly by their carriages
so that the traveller may view man and vehicle
together and make satisfactory selection, or
that hack ticket office be provided within city
stations or hack coupon attached to any tick
ct when desired. Following this portion of the
report is long communication from a gen.
tleman evidently acquainted with railrod man
agement in which many errors and mis-
takes of railroad management are noticed.
Among other things he thinks that every night
car should be sleeping car. He says that cars
can be constructed which will accommodate as
many sleeping passengers as it is possible to do
IN seats. Under the same head of railroad
management and economy the Commissioners
call attention to the plan of Chief Engineer
Holt of the Maine Central by which nine pre-
miums were offered to the section men on that
road TO be given to those who made the great
est improvement on their respective sections.
and guarded against the destruction of the COM
pany's property. The Commissioners believe
that the general adoption of such plan would
secure much more efficient service than rail-
roads now obtain
The condition of the various roads in the
state, the Improvements made the past year
etc., is the next subject considered, which are
here summarized as followos:-
GRAND TRUNK.
Length in Maine 50 miles. During the year
the gauge has been changed and strikinglv
marked improvements made. Most of the
track is in superior condition, especially be-
tween Portland and Lewiston where steel rails
have been laid on large ties well ballasted, and
sufaced up. Most all of the bridges are of iron
and in very short time all will be. In addi-
ton to the iron bridges the following material
has been used the past year: ballast 51,7l2 Gu
bic Yards, ties AZ 600; steel rails 80 miles. The
Lewiston and Auburn branch IL miles in
length, has four iron bridges and makes the dis
lance between Portland and Lewiston by the
Grand Trunk railroad 50 miles. The branch is
laid with steel rails.
BOSTON & MAINE.
Its management is very successful and its
general condition excellent and is pronounced
by travellers, Que of the very best roads in the
United States. The management of Supern-
tendent Furber is regarded by the Commission
ers as well nigh perfect. Up to September 30,
1874, there had been expended on account of
the Maine extension, including wharf purchase,
$4, 163, BAH. The Company has SO engines,
122 passenger cars and 1406 freight cars. New
iron has been laid on 16 miles of the track, 1Oa
being steel. Three years trial of steel rails con-
vince the managers that they are much more
economical in the long run
PORTLAND & ROCHESTER.
A marked improvement is reported in the
roadway, track and bridges of this road. The
marginal way securing connection with the
front harbor has been completed within the
year, and the Rochester and Nashua railroad
completed thus, giving through route to New
York. In addition to the work on the bridges
80 tons of new rails and $4,000 oak and cedar
ties laid the past year.
PORTLAND, sACo s. PORTSMOUTH.
This road leased by the Eastern, is reported
in excellent condition. The management of
the yard at Portland is specially commended as
being perfect. During the year 81, 1872 ties, $50
tons of new iron and 60 tons of new steel rails
were laid on the road. A new iron bridge has
been built at Bddeford across the SAGE, COG
feet long. Several other bridges have been
built.
PORTLAND s. OGDENsBURG.
This road sustains its reputation as well
built and carefully managed. The track is now
laid to within six miles of the Crawford House
at the summit of the White Mountain Notch,
giving continuous track from Portland of SO
miles in length, nearly three miles of it being
upon the maximum grade of 116 feet per mile.
The first trial was made on this grade in
November at which an ordinary engine took
over 200 tons up tha grade in a perfectly salts
factory manner.
PORTSMOUTH, GREAT FALLS AND CONWAY.
The portion of this road in the state, Al miles
is in fair condition. The Commissioners have
felt called upon to frequently examine the road
on account of the bridges thereon and frequent
and rapid express and excursion trains running
over the road in the summer. 1t is controlled
and run by the Eastern.
EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN.
The consolidated company has $50 miles of
railroad of which 1862 miles are in Maine, ia on
the boundary line and 48 from Oldtown to
Guilford. The Bangor & Piscataqus branch
is in very good condition. The E. & N. A.
hoe liant