The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-29
THE BOSTON RAILROADS.
Something More About Consolidation.

The Boston Herald of yesterday devotes a
ton between the Boston & Maine and Eastern
railroads and takes the ground that the former
road is too favorably established to do any
thing of this kind. 1t seems to think it not
improbable that the Boston & Maine, which
has been victorious in all its ventures, may
make an arrangement with the Grand Trunk
on its own account, and for that purpose has
been looking towards the Boston flats and con-
sulting with Sir Hugh Allan, and Mr.. Barring
The Herald then goes on to say the Boston
& Maine is in thoroughly Independent con-
dition. and is prospecting The Eastern cam
not be more independent than any other large
debtor. Ii, therefore, any arrangement lis to
be made between the two roads, it must be of
such nature as to more largely benefit the B.
& M. before it will enter into it. AT the same
time, no doubt, its management would not be
so unreasonable as to want the advantage all
on its own side. There are two feasible ways
by which the two roads can be operated in a
community of interests. One is, for the Boston
q Maine to lease the Eastern, assuming its
management, the interest on its debt, and Civ
ing the surplus OF its earnings over and above
this amount toward the payment of the five
millions OF debt that is to be paid before
q Maine should lease the Eastern on some
such terms, it would, of course, be for its
manifest interest ito make that road earn at
least what would pay the interest on Fits debt;
but beyond this there would be no special in
ducement to go. The fairest, and perhaps
the best, way to do would be not to CONSOLE
date the business of the two roads, but to place
them under one general manager, with in
structions to operate both roads in the proper
interest OF each. He should be man en-
ployed and paid equally by both corporations.
and his duty should be to see that both had
fair play under a well-defned and properly
understood system of the division of tthe traf-
fic of both on some agreed basis. Let Eus sup
pose that such basis would be the gross earn
lngs OF both roads last year. The Boston &
Maine earned $2,200.0OO, and the Eastern
50, 400, 0OO-together S4,600,OOO. The business
OF both roads could then be adjusted to this
proportion, from month to month, SO that the
Boston & Maine should have 20-46ths and the
Eastern 22-46ths. In this way uniform rate
of tariff would be preserved, and the busine IS
community be better served and receive more
satisfaction than under a condition of f1uctuat-
ing rates. Too much, however, should not be
expected of such copartnership as that pro-
posed.
A good many sanguine persons have antici-
pated that under any new deal indicated there
must be large saving in the operation of the
roads. Viewed in a practical way, it is diff
made. 1t would not do to take off a single
passenger train on either road, and freight
trains are not now run for fun any more than
they would be under any joint arrangement
There can be no saving in these matters. 1t
would not do to stop the morning train to
Portland on either road, for there are many
persons living along their lines who continual
ly want to take these trains in order to connect
with the Maine Central, Grand Trunk, the
coast steamboats,, &c, &c, and would raise
hfan0 fv,nxra I
s9ngers came from Boston one end or Portland
on the other. and the Boston passengers went
through to Portland, and vice versa, the case
would be different; but such is not the fact So
this supposed saving falls to the ground. In
regard to the mechanical operation of the road
every man that is now employed would be
needed under any new arrangement like those
anticipated.
AS many clerks, ticket agent, treasurer,
ETC., would also be found necessary, for, while
both corporations might be operated jointly, so
far as general business was concerned, their
accounts and transactions would have to be
kept separately. The only gain of Importance
that need be taken into account, outside of
what would accrue from fairly remunerative
tariff, would be the abolition ;of that body
OF semi-employes known as freight So
licitors. Their services under any Joint ar
rangement would not be needed. The freight
forwarding public might send their freight to
either road, the rates being the same on both,
and the roads themselves would look to a divi-
sion of the traffic to suit their agreement.
Why, exclaims the apprehensive citizen, this
would be joint monopoly, combination of
railway interests This is just what it is, and
if it will secure peace, harmony and prosper
ity between rival corporations it will be doing
good; for the quarrels and rlvalries of railroads
are all eventually paid for by the public. Com
petition often leads to expensive litigation, and
the only refuge of the roads themselves and
the general public is in eventual consolida ton
actual or in effect.