Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-01-23

Total number of miles, OO6.s3 3,09l.l3
1t being about one mile of railroad in the
State to each 33 square miles of territory; to
each s2Sl 200 of property, and to 64+ of
population.
The condition of each road is taken up in
detail. The Commissioners contribute an
elaborate and able article on Railroad strikes.
referring to the great strikes of 1867, and
expressing the opinion that many of the causes
which produced or led to those strikes still
exist, and need only the exciting circumstan-
ces and favorable opportunity to have them
reappear The history of the various strikes
of these years is briefly referred to. The
origin and moving influences that carried into
effect the strikes referred to can be found in
the trades-union organizations, while the
cause of the July riots was the sudden and
violent protest of men who had suffered from
the hardships and privations incident to sew
eral years Of continually increasing business
depression, but did not stop to reason over
the same. These disturbances and riots in
fiicted great loss and Inconvenience to the
public. The causes of these disturbances
still exist. The multiplication and improve
ment in labor-saying machinery, and the
rapid increase of population throughout the
country, to say nothing of other Influences
produce strong competition among the work
ing classes and reduce the price of labor.
With a dense population, and reduction of
wages. why may we not expect strikes to oc-
cur! In view of these facts, the Commits
Sioners are of opinion that the statutes of
Maine in relation to obstructing railroads
should be made more effective and they rec
ommend the passage Of bill which they pub
lish in the report. 1t is substantially a copy
of the statute of the State of Connecticut.
which provides for the punishment of persons
who shall obstruct trains, stops engines, or
trains, leave them when in charge of them
excite riots, revolts, cause strikes, etc
The Board, from their point of view. be-
lieve the railroad corporations with perhaps
rare exceptions, are entitled to no particular
sympathy, as il is generally through their
own short-sighted and often selfish policy that
these strikes AMI disturbances occur.
BY adopting some well considered form of
the cooperative principle in the management
OF their roads, policy which the Board, wear
after wear heretofore, have not failed to advo-
cate. they have the power to ally with them
selves and attach to their interests their
armies of employees. If they do not choose
to exercise that power. the fault is their own.
and the consequent injury that falls on them
they ought to be made to bear. But unfortu-
nately the ruinous consequences inseparablc
from any serious obstruction Of their business
do not fall in the greatest degree ON them The
public usually suffer the most. Their rights
and iiterests are the most deeply involved and
these. at least, ought to be considered and pro-
tectcd. In State like Maine. having more than
a thousand miles of railroad traversine every
county, and all parts where any amount of
business is carried on, it is not easy to esti-
mate the immense loss and Inconvenience
that would result to all classes from suspen-
sion of business. Employees have right to
leave the service of a company but should do
1t in an orderly and peaceable manner
During the year there have been seven ia
tai accidents on the roads, and eighteen per-
sons were injured, who recovered. The usual
null tables are given, and altogether the re-
port ls the most complete that has vet been
issued for this most important department of
the State. The commissioners are A. w.
Wildes, Skowhegan John f. Anderson, Port
land Charles J. Talbot, East Wilton.