The Portland daily press., 1885-01-17

Cut Rate on EmiRrnnt..

The Chicago Tribune says: "It is reported
that the Grand Trunk has made a cut OF 81
on emigrant rates from Portland and Quebec
to all points reached by it in the West. As
the Grand Trunk has differential OF 81 80 on
this business, the cut makes the rate from
Portland or Quebec to Chicago $3.50 less than
it is from New York to Chicago. 1t is be-
lieved that this cut will have a demoralizing
effect on emigrant rates between seaboard
points and Chicago, and that this was the in
tention Of the Grand Trunk in making the cut,
as it expects thereby to hasten settlement Of
all the existing passenger troubles.
The Erie Railway and other trunk lines an
neuDce reduction of the emigrant fare from
New York to Chicago from $13 to S8, with pro-
portionate reductions to other western points.
The reduced fare will be authorized to ocean
steamship lines and booking agents for use in
America and Europe until further advised
This action was taken as an offset Of the reduc-
tions In emigrant fare by the Grand Trunk
Railway from Quebec and Portland to the
West in connection with the Allan and Do
minion steamship lines.
The Union Pacific.
dispatch from Washington says: AS an ap-
pendix to the report OF the Government di-
rector of the Union Pacific Railroad, is letter
from Charles Francis Adams Jr., president OF
the company, in which he states that the Un-
lon Pacific Company has no scheme in regard
to meeting its government obligations which IL
is endeaVoring to have incorporated into Law.
The policy OF the company is to treat the debt
aa it would any other debt. The Thurman act
overthrow the original policy of the company
in regard to the sinking fund and Congress
substituted new plan. 1t only remained for
the directors to conform as best they could to
the conditions of the Thurman act which thew
are prepared to do. However President
Adams says, in practical operation the sinking
fund provisions of the Thurman.act have NOT
proved successful. The Union Pacific merely
await such action as Congress in its wisdom
may see mt to take. President Adams disap-
proves the Thompson bill which passed the
House at the last session Of Congress. In con-
clusion he says: II am well aware l may ba
wholly wrong nevertheless | give it as my
best Judgment up to this time that should the
sixty-year funding bill now before the Senate
become law, am under the impression that
u would not impose an obligation lgreater than
the property could BEAR
President Adams favors the construction OF
additional lines OF railway out of the surplus
ealnlngs OF the Union Pacific, the fret mort
gage securities of which should be placed in
the hands Of the government as an offset to
the eompany's maturing debt. In that way he
the company, and ultimately to the United
States. 1t would be such a measure as this
that the company would advocate did it now
advocate any measure at all.
Minor Notes.
In the Municipal Court at Boston, Yesterday.
charge OF embezzng funds from the Eastern
Railroad and was held in $4,000 for trial at
the Superior Court.
The cut rate wal seems likely to become a
double ender, instead OF being only a contest
OF rates westward, and this will be precipitatad
by an ugly fight being now opened be-
tween tae Grand Trunk aud the Lake Shore.
Since January l, though in a measure se-
cretiy, the Grand Trunk has been carrying
emigrants from Montreal and Quebec 10 Ohi-
csgo for 81, and in retaliation tue Lake Shore
is now emitting rates from Chicago east though
not openly, and the New York Central yester-
day was selling second class tickets to Chicago
for IS and the Erie at the same rate
At q ticket scalper's Office in New York CITY
yesterday, hrst class tickets TO Chicago were
being sold for $3.50 and second class tickets for
$3.50.
Talk About n Direct Line Into Aroostosk.
The Woodstock Sentinel says that proper
notice has been given for application for q
charter for railroad from Cross Creek in the
Mirimichi Valley, to some point on the st
John river, between Hartand and Muniac, a
distance OF from 45 to 55 miles. The Sentinel
says further that this road will intersect very
important and valuable sections of country.
and provide very desirable link in the chain
OF railway inter-communication, Not long ago
the Herald noted the fact that the northern
line OF survey for the trunk line OF the Inter-
National road was being survey from Hartland
up the Meduxnekeag stream in Monticello,
then across the headwaters OF the Pressure
Isle. Tne proposed road mentioned by the
Sentinel is only another link in the chain
OF the International line, and may be taken
as an indication that the northern line may be
adopted. If it is, there will be a branch 70
Presque Isle and another to Houlton, which
VIII render the direct line advocated BY the
Herald stern necessity, il the Maine Gem
tral system has any desire to hold the trade OF
the New Northeast.
st. John is SO miles, by rail- nearer Boston
than is Presque Isle. By the direct line, when
built, Presque Isle will be So miles nearer Bos-
ton than is St. John. From Presque Isle to st.
John, by rail, is now 226 miles. When the
direct line is built to Bancroft it will be but
1873 miles from here to st. John. From Pres
que Isle to Calais by rail, it is 176 miles. A
direct line to Bancroft would reduce that dis
tance 140 miles, and road from Bancroft or
Danfolth to Princeton wonId reduce it still
more, perhaps to about 115 or 100 miles
Aroostook Herald,