The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-05
RAILWAY MATTERS.
The RaiIroad situation.


Mr.. Joseph Hickson, general manager of the
Grand Trunk Railway, questioned recently
about the present condition OF affairs in rail-
road circles. gave expression in the following
views: "The position of the trunk lines, and,
indeed, OF all the railroad properties Of the
northern part of this continent, Ia Just about
as bad as 1t possibly could be under almost any
circumstances. The large companies are
drifting without ano settled policy, a2d there
Is no one with sufficient influence and COM
manding enough confidence to control the sit
uation. The companies with the largest CAPT.
tai, and who ought to be most conservative,
are pursuing reckless policy, partaking more
OF the characteristics of the commune rather
than OF conservative management which
commands the confidence of investors. So
radical measure as reducing the passenger
rates between New York and Chicago to ST.
per head might. without attracting public az
tention, or perhaps materially affecting pub
lie interests, be resorted to by a bankrupt in
stitution, but resorted to by q corporation rep
resenting the largest amount Of capital invest
cd In railways under one control on this con-
tnent, the step amounts to little short OF rev.
olution. How the position thus assumed is
TO De got away from no one Ia able to foresee.
The pooling system has literally broken
down, not owing to any want of ability or en-
ergy on the part of the commission, but en-
tirely owing to the action of representatives Of
railways whose interests are involved In with
holding their support from well-conceived and
perfectly practicable measures for concerted
action on reasonable basis. No one Is able
to tell whether the lack of support of Mr..
Fink results from personal jealousies, lack of
capacity or interested motives. The railway
problem is approaching that phase which viii
attract the earnest attention of the public, and
1t IS highly probable that it will not be set
tied until public interest in it has been reflect.
cd In legislative enactments and those charged
with the administration of corporate property
are forced to act purely ia the interests Of
their trusts and free themselves from the EN-.
oarrassing influence of spectators"
Bostsn and Maine Relief.
The Eastern Relief Association, organized
in April, 1883, by the employees OF the Eastern
Railroad, has been changed to the Boston and
Maine Railroad Relief Association. The prop
erty and cash to the amount Of $4S2.13, has
been transferred to the treasury Of the new
association under the new bylaws. The orig
insl purpose OF the organization has been ex-
tended and it now includes sickness, accident
and death in its benefciaries. There are now
120 members, with constant increase of mem.
bership. The officers for the year are:
President Daniel w. Sanborn.
Vice Observation-Disclosures Colby.
Secretary and Treasurer-Arthur A. Ingalls,.
Directors-Oliver 4. Russ, Charles E. Armitage,
George E. Mudgett. Arthur Pickering, Alvestus A.
Howe, John Bennett, James Kennedy. Edward E.
Minor Matters.
Official notice has been given of the appoint
ment of @. w. Spencer to the position of as
sistant general superintendent of the Eastern
and Ontario divisions of the Canadian Pacific
Railway, with the head Office at Montreal.