Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-12

John A. Stanton, of Clinton, thought it was well to have it stated how the Canal rail road matter stood. He didn't feel factious spirit, however.
 President Watrous said that while it was not the place to go into details, Mr. Stanton was quite right, and said that last spring it became evident to the roads directors that it was well to look out for the company's out side interests and the directors, acting for the roads interests acquired substantially, but not technically, an interest in the stock of property which it was believed by some was intended to be utilized for competition if not hostile intent. That was done somewhat expeditiously, l believe, and think efficient ly. We have an interest in the stock of the Canal property which secures that our prop erty will not be jeopardized by that and that will not be jeopardized by our ownership in that road. At proper time and place I am willing to explain the details to any stock holder. The directors mean to do what is best for the stockholders interest. There is no doubt among the directors as to the wis., dom of that transaction.
 H. A. Abbe, of Enfield, here introduced the following:
 Resolved, That the shareholders in the New York. New Haven and Hartford R. R. Go. have the fullest confidence in the honesty ability and determined forts in the board of directors treat all the parties interested in this road with the utmost fairness and are proud of the ability shown to protect the best n terests of the stockholders
 MT. Benjamin, of Milford, now came for ward with speech against Sunday trains, and the draft of a petition to the Legislature asking it to take into consideration the pro- fanation of the Sabbath, and the disturbance of public worship by railway travel and traffic on Sunday and cause the evil to cease in our State by enacting regarding said travel the same laws as are already upon our statute books regarding travel on other roads on Ia cir ha<
 Mir. Benjamin followed the resolution by saying that there was as much freight carried Sunday and Saturday from midnight to mid night as in any other twenty-fou hours MT. Benjamin was applauded when he sat down, and when asked if he had any motion to offer he rose and made another speech.
 MT. Watrous said no doubt MT. Benjamin was interested in the road and was mortified at the prospect that should another road run through Milford they would also run Sunday trains. (Laughter.) But seriously there was practical question involved-a big question, too, such as could not be settled by directors or stockholders but must come before the people for a settlement. The road could not stop running Sunday freights without causing great pecuniary loss to all concerned-the road, the shipper, the dealer and the consumer. He quoted the case of perishable property and said that he knew that no road in this vicinity has a full treas ury enough to suspend all use of property on Sunday. The road would have to be respon- slble for all perishable freight shipped, for the law would not excuse the road for losses caused by it's suspension of Sunday traffic. All except the speaker are as good men as they will average Slaughter and voice, "We hof- for you.'O Yes, I think am proper subject for hope Laughter. You might as well listen to me as anyone else who can
 77S better if there are any such
 ~sr.) Mir. Watrous then spoke of how
 awould accumulate in two days and
 that two days freight accumulated in would produce almost unmanagea- ble confusion If not a perfect blockade. He wanted the gentlemen to understand that the directors do not wish to violate the Sabbath and he doubted if such necessary service as IS now performed is violation.
 Mir. Benjamin continued to say that the "wild beast" had been let loose, and MT. Watrous objected to being called wild beast. Another stockholder asked what his Milford friends would do if there were no meals got in Milford on the Sabbath. Mir. Stanton suggested that Mir. Benjamin sell his stock and thus get rid of his share in the transaction. Mir. Benjamin, who was on his feet, said he hadn't any stock, that he repre- sented the stock of 8 widow whose heart was against Sunday trains, and Mir. Stanton then applied his suggestion to the widows stock. Ihls was about all that passed on the Sunday train subject.
 MT. Goodwin was on his feet as soon as this subject was over with, and wanted one fact borne in mind. It was that since the reduction of fares in 1879 the passenger re- ceipts had increased 30 per cent. He there fore thought it was a good time to say that ex-President Bishops fighting (Goodwin) in the Legislature against reduction of fares had been from mistaken apprehension, viz, that the speaker was not actuated for the roads interests. Mir. Goodwin then said that the passenger receipts for 1879 were $2, 15O. 552, and for 1881 (since the reduction to two and a half cents per mile), $2, 755, ,43S. The greatest reduction of passenger fares was, however, on the Shore Line road, where the average rates of fares in 1879 was about three and half cents per mile. Since the reduction (which was to two end a half cents per mile) there has been an increase of pas senger receipts of nearly fifty per cent, or from $2OG, ,526 in 1879 to $3O8. S27 in 1881.
 MT. Goodwin now asked MT. Watrous how much money woud be spent before the Legis- lature this year. Mir. Watrous said: ''That would depend whether you are there or not, MT. Goodwin You stay away and we'll save money"
 MT. Stanton said it seemed as if the Shore Line ought now to have double track
 Charles A. White, of this city, and Will liam M. Hudson of Hartford, were elected auditors. Adjourned.