Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-02-23

Barnes of New Haven, was called and said
his firm had experienced no trouble in re-
ceiving freight. They received from to 10
car loads day of hogs, and they were al
ways delivered promptly after they arrived at
Springfield. If necessary the Consolidated
road would run extra freights to accommo-
date them. He had heard no complaints in
regard to the transportation of freight or
passengers He said he had heard very little
or any sentiment in favor of Parallel road.
D. B. Crittenden, grain dealer of New Ha-
ven, said he received from four to five car
loads of grain and flour per day, and had
never had any difficulty in receiving freight
promptly. Had never heard any complaints
about rates nor about passenger accommoda-
tions. Had heard no talk in favor of Paral-
lei road.
Lyman Gould, of Norwich, president sof
the G. B. Rogers 4 Co. Cutlery company,
said he had never had any complaint to make
regarding the transportation of freight
Sent most of their freight by boat. He
thought the route of the road as laid out
through Norwich would be very expensive.
Hon. Nathaniel Wheeler, of Bridgeport,
was called He said he was director in the
New York, New Haven and Hartford rail-
road Re'thought the public had all the IA
| cilities at present for moving freight and
| passengers between New York and Boston
| and more than was needed. He said when
| losing money and they had to make it up on
| local business He thought it would be bet
ter for the general public if the government
could regulate the rates. He said the New
England road was not able to pay any inter-
| est. Since the Consolidated road leased the
Shore Line, they had lost money until the
| last year, when they had made up what
they had lost He thought these roads
should be allowed to develop before allowing
new roads to be built He did not think it
possible for a competing road to be made to
paw If new road was built it would divide
| the local traffic perhaps one-half. He said
| the passenger trains on the New York road
did not average over one hundred passengers
a day. The past year had been an exceed
ingly good year for the Consolidated
road, and there had been consider
able surplus yet the money was
needed for proposed improvement. They
had purchased plot of land at Harlem river
at an expense of $1O5,OO0 They were now
building twenty-five new passenger cars of
the best kind, also some palace cars and new
| locomotives. 1t was proposed as soon as
possible to build another track over the
Shore Line and also to build four tracks be-
| tween Stamford and New Rochelle, where
| we intercept the Harlem river branch, to &C
| commodate freight trains and not interfere
| with passenger trains. They were at present
building new depot at Meriden to cost
| ABOUT DOU,UUU. luSr0 WAS d16O u 20 CA
| pense required at Bridgeport to make room
for another track which would cost about
| 1915, 900. All the earnings except the dlvl-
| dends of ten per cent. have been used in i'm
provements, and this was the, policy of the
present management which it was proposed
to continue. They haG during the past year
done considerable stone ballasting, at an ex-
pense of from S., 900 to $4,000 a year, prin-
cipally between Wallingford and North Ha-
ven, and this had been done for the comfort
| of passengers.
Mr.. Harrison-What is your opinion about
the need of another road between New York
and New Haven?
Mr.. Wheeler-Perhaps some may think
that my opinion would be biassed. But will
say that the New York road could double the
business that it is now doing 1t is our
policy as business increases, both in freight
and passengers to reduce their rates. and
this we can afford to do. Our average pas
Isenger rates at present are less than two
cents a mile. If business increases we
can Go it cheaper than a competing
line because we have got the bridges,
the tracks, the rolling stock etc. He said
their proportion of terminal expenses in New
York was So, $50, 600, or in other words they
paid interest about that amount.
pretend to say, said Mr.. Wheeler, that it
is for the interest of the Consolidated road to
accommodate the public, and this they try to
do. In regard to building another road par
allel to the New York and New England and
Air Line beyond New Haven, think it poor
policy for the State to beget more children
than it can care for. 1t did not seem to him
that it was good policy to build new roads
that will not pay, and knowing at the same
time that many will suffer loss in their build
ing He thought that this demand came
mostly from outside the State, from parties
looking about all over the country for chances
10 ,,a4. Ic Hn do
tailed statement of the way railroads were
built. by the construction company, the
syndicate, etc., wherein the original stock.
holders do not put in dollar and innocent
parties are lett to suffer. He did not think
it possible to build the proposed road except
in some such way as he had described. AT
present said Mr.. Wheeler the commuters rates
are lower on our road than any other road in
the country. If the commuters want any
thing they tell us in a gentlemanly way and
| we try to accommodate them. He said that
during the past year his road had had to Dor
row money to pay their dividends, from the
fact that they had expended so much of their
income for necessary improvements.
/ After lengthy cross examination by Mr..
Maltbie he brought out facts about
the purchase of majority of the, stock OF
the New Haven and Northampton road
which Mr.. Wheeler said done for the
sole purpose of protecting the property Of
the Consolidated road.
l. Mr.. Harrison then asked Mr.. Wheeler tt
give the details of the Canal railroad transac
ton, which he did. Continuing he said thai
rhe New York, New Haven aad Hartford
railroad had done more to build up the towns
and villages along its route than any other
line running out of New York. Although he
did not want to make any promises, he
thought he could safely say that the Local
rates would be reduced just as soon as they
could see that they could pay their ten per
cent. dividend and from the surplus earnings
keep up the road where it should be. 1t was
for the interest of the road to cater to the
wants of the community and they propose tt
do it.
G. t. Hampstead, general ticket agent, was
next called. He said the average number Of
passengers carried over the Consolidated roa6
each day was 4,291 an average of 81 to eacf
train. Also 3,296 commuters or an average
of 81 to each train. He said these were car
ried by twenty-s six trains, and they could car.
ry many more The number of passengers
| between New York and Boston by all raj
route was 100000. About per, cent. of the
traffic is through traffic.
At $50 O'Clock the committee adjourned
until Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.