Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-04-03
8ailp 4ennebef Jonrnal.
A1slsta. Tuesday Morning. April 8.
Railroad Consolitlatlon


The proposed consolidation of the Bos-
ton and Maine and Eastern Railroads un-
der one management is question of i'm
portance to the public. its most apparent
effect If consummated will be to prevent
competition between these hitherto rivsl
roads. This may be good or bal thing
for the travelling public. 1t will depend
upon the Management which of these two
It will be.
We have no doubt that the two roads
can be managed more economically under
one management than under two as they
have hitherto been conducted. Rivalry
has increased the expenses Of both roads
In many ways it has caused the expendI-
ture Of money which might have been
avoided without in the least drtracting
from the service of the roads. But it will
be contended that the competition has been
. good thing for the public because it has
kept down prices of transportation and
that If it be removed, though the mtnage-
ment can afford to reduce rates Of travel
and freight. the inevitable consequence
will be an increase of rates. The greed Oi
corporations having great power in their
hands makes them subjects Of distrust
This is a very general feeling. for which
such corporations have nobody to blame
but themselves.
But all corporations are not SO managed
They have brains to see that liberal man
agemsnt towards the public pays better
than a penurious. oppressive policy. A
few years ago the people of this State
were exercised over the proposed consol-
idation Of two main and competing lines
of railroad in this State. There was n
division Of sentiment upon the matter.
iust as there is now about the attempted
consolidation of the b. ston and Maine and
Eastern, some being willing to trust the
union of the roads and others refusing
and clinging to competition rs the only
safeguard against extortion and plunder
by the railroad magnates. But consolida-
ton was effected. and thus far the people
have no reason t. complain of the result.
II rates have not been reduced, they at
least have not been increased. while the
roads and their facilities have been greatly
improved and the service very largely
increased for the accommodation. cOnven
ience and comfort OF all who have bnsl-
ness TO do with the Maine Central. The
State has been benefited by the consol-
dation. and the general sentiment now is
that the doing away with the competition
which kept the Legislature and commune
ties in broil the most of the time was 4
good thing.
So it may be that the lease Of the Eastern
to the Boston and Maine NAV be produc-
tive of good results to the public as well as
to the companies. The legislatures con-
cerned should see to it, il consolidation is
accomplished, that the public are project
ed as far as possible. But, after all. the
fact that the true interest of the cOmbina-
tion will be in serving the public to the
best of its ability and at reasonable rates.
ought to be a sufficient assurance that its
managers will pursue n just and liberal
policy. The men selected nowadays for
such positions are usually men broad
enough to understand this fact. and prac-
teal enough to apply it with good effect.
l..