The Portland daily press., 1882-04-28
RAILROAD NOTES.
Portland and ogdensburg.

Wednesday the case of the Central Vermont
was heard by the Commissioners at ST. AiDans
in opposition to the petitioners, the st. johns
bury and Lake Champlain road. Bridge
builder Clark stated that the cost OF the build
ing OF the bridges across theMissisquoi Bay and
Lake Champlain was $401 900, and that the
average annual expense of maintaining the
same was $1,000. VIM. Leard testified that
last year POI 900 tons of freight came over the
Rouses Point bridge, of which 81, loot tons went
to the ST. Johnsbury road.
General Superintendent Hobart stated that
the operating expenses of the section OF the
road in controversy we're about So per cent. OF
the gross receipts per annum. Gov Smlth
| gave comprehensive account OF the building
of the Vermont Central and Vermont and
| Canada roads. The Central Vermont contract
| with the Grand Trunk road for freight traflc
was explained, and reasons given showing that
| it would be violation Of the compact to allow
the fourteen-mile section. of track in question v
| become part of the rival through line on q
| pro rata basis. The Blue line cars were per-
mitted on the same grounds as the New
! York and Central Vermont line cars to enter
| upon their territory for competitive business.
| The cost of the road and bridges on the four
teen mile section was stated to have been
| $778,000.
Superintendent Bentley of the New london
Northern road regarded the charge of so cents
per ton over this section OF the road none too
high. He cited parallel cases where the arbi-
trary rule charged for similar service was
larger per mile for ton of freight than in this
case.
Superintendent of Local Traffic E. A. Chit
tenden showed that the Central Vermont paid
other roads larger arbitrary rates for a proper
tionate distance and tonnage than was charged
between Rouse's Point and Swanton.
Manager of Through Traffic Lansing Mills
reviewed the history of the through freight
business and explained the traffic relations ex-
listing between the Central Vermont and Grand
Trunk roads.
President Anderson of the Portland and Og-
densburg, Blodgett of the Ogdensburg and
Lake Champlain, Barlow of the Southeastern,
Raymond of the Passumpsic, Supt Jewett of
the st. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain, and
others testified for the petitioners, whose claim
is that they desire to make through line from
the West to Northern New England, and are
prevented by the high rate on this link in the
chain.
The testimony revealed some interesting in
side railroad history, and indicates that the
present proceeding is the result Of combina-
ton, in which the Vanderbilt people have a
part, to get into northern New England, using
the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg, the 0g-
densburg & Lake Champlain, and Portland &
.Ogdensburg system in Vermont New Hamp-
shire and Maine. 1t appeared in the course of
evidence that the bulk of the freight coming
from Chicago to Boston via the Grand Trunk
is at present OF the class billed as GA cents per
100; through rates run as low as so cents. The
commissioners will make decision as soon IS
practicable, which then goes to the Supreme
Court for approval.
A New Ogdensburg Connection.
Articles of association have just been fled in
the Secretary of States Office, Vermont, under
the Gegeral Railroad law, of the Canada juno
ton Railroad Company. The capital stock is
subscribed for, and the first assessment of ten
per cent. thereon has been paid in by the
stockholders. The following board of direc-
tors have been chosen: Hon. Bradley Bar
low, ex,Gov. Horace Fairbanks, Col. A. R.
Jewett and f. A. Metcalf. The road has been
surveyed and work will be begun at once on
the line. The new road IS to run from the |
present terminus of the southeast extension to |
Frelighsburg, iast over the Vermont border, |
through the towns of Berkshire and Sheldon to |
Sheldon Junction, Vt, there connecting with |
the st. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain and |
he Tha lin CriI hp
eleven miles in length and will give this sec
ton of the country Montreal connection.
Minor Notes
II the Maine Central is able to maintain 4 /
per cent. dividends, the Eastern road through |
its ownership of the stock, would receive $T5, |
600 per annun from this now source of rsye-
nne
1t is reported that the Lake Megantic Tsil- I
road will be pushed to the lake this season. |
Four thousand men have been hired and viii |
be distributed the whole length of the line; it |
is cut out seven feet and the surrey is made all |
ready 10 work when the snow is gone.
A bill providing that "no railroad company |
shall in doing its freight business, make or
give any undue or unreasonable preference or |
advantage to or in favor Of any person, firm or
corporation, nor subject any person, firm or
corporation to any undue unreasonable |
prejudice or disadvantage passed the Massa-
chusetts Senate Thursday and went to the
House.
The Eastern railroad directors visited this
city Wednesday.
The Toronto Globe recalls the fact that the
consolidation of the Grand Trunk and the |
Great Western railroads cannot be perfected
without legislation, and says no such measure
can be carried through the Canadian Parlia-
ment.