The Portland daily press., 1883-09-17
RAILROAD NOTES.
Is the Grand Trunk Terminus to be Re-
moved to Boston?

The Boston Sunday Herald says: "It is a
matter for congratulation in Boston that the
Grand Trunk railway desires to move its At
lantic coast terminus from Portland to this
city, says the Transcript. 1t is this that has of
late given rise to reports that the Grand Trunk
was about to lease the Boston & Lowell road
which has for some years maintained the anom-
aious position OF an unremunerative head for a
very long tail of other railroad lines. In fact,
the difficulty for some years in the manage
ment of the Lowell property has been that,
with terminals exceeded by but few railroads
in the country, it could not handle freight at
these terminals and take its pay in the pro rata
Of its 40 miles of road upon 1200-mile haul,
and the connecting lines would not pay for the
terminal charges. The Grand Trunk railway
system, consolidated Aug IL, 1882, with the
Great Western, represents more than 1000
miles of road, mostly in a trunk line from
Portland to Chicago. The fact that this great
trunk line system desires to move into Boston
is no small recognition of the advantages of
this port. The Lowell railroad people recog-
nize the mutual advantages that might result
from lease Of their property to longer line
Va AonNj "ht nAo POAAoVeiJ WAlibS w bdhC VI VI
per cent. upon their stock as the price of such
lease. The connecting roads through New
Hampshire and Vermont would be friendly to
such an arrangement. The question is very
large one, and can be more quickly settled
upon the Boston side than upon the English
side, for 1t involves still greater improvements
In terminals, the construction of elevators,
etc, and great outlay by the Grand Trunk.
The matter is being very carefully considered
at the present time. Last month Sir Henry
w. Tyler of London, the president of the
Grand Trunk Railway Company, and Mr.
Joseph Hickson. the general manager, made
quiet inspection of the Lowell property in
company with its directors, and Engineer
Shanly OF Montreal is now engaged in making
a detailed report upon the terminals in Boston,
together with estimates OF the cost OF the
improvements needed for the large business
the Grand Trunk expects to do IL 1t concl udes
70 make Boston it's Atlantic port"
The Consolidation.
The condition of things between the Boston
& Maine, Eastern, and Maine Central rail-
roads has not suffered any change as yet. There
was conference Of several members Of the
Maine Central committee at Waterville Friday
morning, the result of the meeting in Portland
last Tuesday. The committee are getting all
the papers together that relate to the stock
holders movement, and the claims Of the road
will be formulated and presented to the Boz
ton & Maine committee as requested. The
stockholders movement seems at present to be
merely one of protection, as unless the stock
holders of the Portland, Saco q Portsmouth
railroad object to the proposed consolidation no
stay OF proceedings can be effected, and the
desire is to get as good guarantees as possible
from the Boston & Maine relative to the future
management of the Maine Central and its
earnings. The probability is that the road will
be party to the consolidation of the three
roads.
Cutting Rates.
A despatch from Chicago says there is a lack
Of harmony among the trunk lines in regard
to passenger rates between Chicago and Buff
falo. A secret meeting OF the passenger
agents OF these lines was held Friday, which,
it is understood, ended in considerable i'll
feeling. AS result it is stated that the Grand
Trunk and Niagara Falls lines will announce
cut of So.