The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-18
RAILWAY NOTES.
Growing Importance of the Grand Trunk
Railway.

Some publicity has been given to the state
ments that the Grand Trunk Railway of Can
ada has been of late attempting to secure a
lease of the Boston 81 Lowell railroad and
more recently that its relations, already very
close with the Central Vermont railroad, are
to be made still closer, either by purchase,
lease or consolidation. 1t can be readily seen
that such an arrangement, giving the Grand
Trunk an independent and very direct line
from Chicago to Boston, would place it in a po-
sition not only to successfully compete with,
but virtually to dictate terms to rival lines.
and would enable the Grand Trunk, in the
event of general rate war, to secure. large
share of the carrying trade between these
points, Now it is announced that the Grand
Trunk has completed RAINING arrangement
with the splendid new railroad from New York
to Buffalo,-the New York, West Shore &
Buffalo,-soon to be opened to the last named
city, under which solid trains of new and ele-
CANT passenger cars will be run through be-
tween New York and Chicago, thus giving the
Grand Trunk New York outlet and that
similar arrangements for freights are to be
made with the West Shore. West of Buffalo
the Grand Trunk has three lines to Detroit,
those of its Great Western division main and
loop lines, and its own main line; between
Detroit and Chicago 1t has two lines, the Chi
cago s. Grand Trunk, and its new cutoff route;
and east from Buffalo, its connections, via
West Shore, Lackawanna q Erie, and its main
line to Montreal, give it a commanding posi-
tion as regards east-bound traffic. tits said
that with the completion of these arrange
ments the Grand Trunk will demand per-
centage much heavier than has ever been al
loGted to it,-some say 90 per cent--in the east
bound pool from Chicago. The coalition with
the West Shore is likely also to lead to the es-
tabIishment of o new freight line TO Boston,
via West Shore 81 Fitchburg roads, and Traffic
Manager Robinson of the West Shore has
been IN Boston for day or two past, in con-
sultation with the FitchbuTg management rela-
tive to it. The reports that the Grand Trunk
would lease the West Shore road may have no
more foundatian in fact than the traffic agree
ment ailnded TO above, but the prospect of such
an alliance and the possibility of an independ-
ent line to Boston have caused the managers
of other trunk lines to look upon the Grand
Trunk as a coming competitor of no mean
Importance. il not the future Colossus of
Roads, Boston Advertiser.
The New Brunswick Railroad.
The Boston journal says that on the first of
this month the New Brunswick road came in
to the management of the Fredericton Rail-
road, so that now, with the exception of the
Grand Southern, from ST. John to st. Stephen
N. B., ali the railroads in the western part of
New Brunswick are under one management.
The total length OF tie New Brunswick Rail-
road and its branches is now about 485 miles,
and it is proposed to increase this by extend
ing the road from Edmunston to River de
Loup 80 as to connect with the Intercolonial
which will give the road through traffic from
the northern provinces. The new bridge
across the river at st. John is we'll under way,
as we'll as the new union depot for the use Of
the lntercolonial and New Brunswick Rail
roads. The Bridge Company had to consider
ably modify its plans on account OF the inse-
cure foundation on the Carleton side of the
river, and the span of the bridge will have to
be extended TO about 4S5 feet, with an eeva-
tion OF about so feet, but notW outstanding this
change it is expected that the bridge will be-
completed III season for the summer travel.
One OF the great advantages expected to ac-
crue from the building of the bridge is the d.
version of large amount of freight from the
water lines plying from thereastern provinces
to the New Brunswick Railroad, whence it
Will be shipped to any point in the States
without breaking bulk. AT present the larger
part OF the freight from Prince Edwards ISL
and is shipped by water, on account of bulk
having to be twice broken if shipped by rail.
Under its present management the New
brunswick road has secured close connections
with the Maine Central and its connections,
so that through freigbts are subjected TO as lit
tie delay as possible. When the extension to
the River de Loup is made another bridge
across the st. John between Gibson and Fred
ericton will almost be a necessity to accommo-
date the through traffic from the upper prov
inces to st. John as shipping port. Mr. Dur
pee, the general manager of the road, Is resi-
dent OF Bangor, Me-, but is thoroughly ldenti-
fed with the railroad interests Of new Bruns-
wick and with his assistants is DONG ms u
most to bring the road to the hlghest degree
of prosperity. AT present arrangements are