The Portland daily press., 1883-03-28
RAILWAY NOTES.
Tho Eastern and the Boston ana Maine.

Charles Francis Adams Jr-, who was Mas
saehusetss railroad commissioner for ten years,
has written letter, advising the consolidation
OF the Eastern and Boston and Maine roads,
which is published in yesterdays Boston pa
lers Mr.. Adams goes on to show that in
those sections Of the State where one road has
gradually absorbed the other roads that the
monopoly has resulted In lower fares and
larger dividends. The expenses have natural
~ been immensely reduced, and where there
used to be many complaints there are now
hardly any.
The old idea In regard to the community and
its railroads was that the latter we're TO be re-
garded as in the nature Of thieves, and when
they fell ont, honest men might hope to come
By their dues. The public welfare thus be-
came associated in the popular mind, and. con-
seqGently, In legislative action, with the mis-
fortunes Of the corporations; just as If the two
could, IN reality. be separated in interest. It
was to this period Of railroad development
that snch competition as existed between the
Eastern and the Boston and Maine companies
properly belonged. II was the period Of TWEEN
IL years ago. The whole tendency OF late has
been III another direction. In the first place
Il has become recognized that the business Of d
railroad company ID 20 serve the public, and
not to fight another railroad company In the
nsxt place it has become recognized that, ia
order to serve the public well, Corporations
must be large and prosperous Small COM
panies. engaged continually in petty bicker
ings with each ether, cannot do the work.
They cannot afford the equipment or the
terminal grounds, or the depois, or the EN-
ployes which modern railroad business re-
qnires
SO far as tho public is concerned, the tenden-
cy, both Of feeling and legislation, in respect
70 railroad Development, Is perfectly we'll de-
fined. The proposed consolidation Of these
two roads 10 in direct accordance with II, That
tendency Is to look upon q railroad war as
upon any other war. and up0n railroad peace
as upon any other peace. The war is q waste
full, EHeegtssial, i-basharnns means OF reach
ing desired Fesalf In plaea Of u system
af regulation aud arbitration - being rapidly
developed. The ommunsty relies Tor pKutoc-
ton 70 its rights on government machinery,
specially devised for the purpose. In the face
cf what every one who choose can see, il is
mere foolishnass 70 say that this reliance
amounts 10 nothing. Never Twas our railroad
service SO good, 50 uniform, 50 generally re-
gardfai Of the jast rights Of the public, as il Is
at this time. That the public may DO better
served the railroads must give up lighting and
concentrate their RESOURCES anu att6Htaou III
serving H. AS to the amenability OF the COR
porations 10 just public regulation, have
through the last fifteen years been watching
the progress OF events altogether too closely TO
feel any apprehension.
The Eastern,s Lease.
The Boston journal says: "The meeting OF
Eastern stockholders called for to-day promises
to be one OF the most oventful in the history Of
the company. Since the terms Of the proposed
lssse to the Boston and Maine has been
published, there has, 1t Is stated,
been growing tendency to oppose 1t among
tho stockholders. THIS opposition has reached
such a stage that we arc informed that some
notifications 81 the terms proposed win be
submitted to ihe stockholders Of the Eastern
III their meeting tomorrow. But even with
the now terms there is strong opposition 70
the lease unless much better offers are made
BY the Boston and Maine corporation. 1t is also
acknowledged that some Of the parties holding
considerable amounts OF the stock are dissatis
fed at the developments in connection with
the value which the stock market has appar-
emily put upon the value Of the lease to the
stock, aud Instead Of the boom which was ex-
pected the public arc letting the stock severely
alone This condition OF affairs has, II Il re-
ported, caused several large holders to decide
agAings the lease
II ia also stated that the unusual displeasure
/ with which the press OF New Hampshire are
meeting the proposed union OF the two roads
renders II very doubtful IL the New Hamp
shire Legislature will sanction the measure
Sc that, judging from present appearances. I
looks somewhat doubtful II the consolidation /:
| carried out at tho present time.
Ia regard to the stockholders OF the Bostoi
| and Maine there IL no doubt whatever bu
what they will sanction the union, unless thu
notifications to be proposed to tho Eastern ar
too generous.
An Independent Railroad.
Gen. Alfred Hoitt and seven other proml
nent business men OF Dover publish motto
that they will ask the next Legislature for
charter for railroad from Dover to SOM
point on the Nashua and Rochester Railroad
in Darlington or Lee. This movement 4
| brought forward on account Of the intende
consolidation Of the Boston and Maine an
| Eastern roads.