The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-10-02
RAILWAY MATTERS.
THE ST. JOHN BRIDGE.


The new ST. John bridge and railway extension
Will be operated by the New Brunswick Railway,
and every endeayor will be made to accommodate
through travel and freight on such terms as will
change it from water route TO a land route
General Manager Cram of the New Brunswick
Railway is one of the best men to deyelop the bus-
mess of that road that could be secured owing to
his thorough knowledge of railroad matters and
his long connection with the European and North
American and Maine Central Railroads Since he
assumed aSsnn the Management gg of the road he has
and freight cars, which are now being delivered
Inc business OF the road has increased very rap
been comparatively no freight business delivered
TO the road by the International Railway Asan
instance instance 9i TINS we may say that the number OF
road IN 1884 was an increase of III, ,460 600
over the number of 1879. During the same time
pounds to 10,1Oo 345 pounds; hay, from 3,ii3-
773 pounds to 17776,80O pounds; sleepers, from
5oo 55oot to 2os016, and bark from llsf cords in
1850 to 2:59 cords in 1884. With the facilities
that will hereafter exist for the Shipment Of
1reghts from points east of St John, this business
must annually increase to the benefit of the roads
west OF this section.
THE FREIGHT TARIFF
The situation, as outlined by a high Vanderbilt
officer to Tribune reporter, is as follows:
'The existing differential rates on east-boupd
traffic were never extended by agreement so as to
cover the business passing through the Atlantic
seaports for Europe. The theory advanced by the
Pennsylvania and the Baltimore and Ohio roads
was that ocean freights were higher from Phila-
delphia and Baltimore than from New York, and
that the inland differences would only equalize
the through rates. The Vanderbilt companieS
claim that as matter Of fact the average ocean
rate Is the same from all the Atlantic portS and
hence the more southern lines enjoy an adyant-
age iii their inland differentals' which lowers
tnelr export rate to the disadvantage of New
nreSpnf inf of t1aa Tab
and the Michigan Central roads is that the Grand
Trunk OF Canada and the Pennsylvania lines have
been making through European rates without
regard 70 70 ocean rates, and securing the bulk of
tne trathc III consequence, especially Of the pro-
VISION shipments The Grand Trunk has con-
tract with steamer lines from Portland and Que
bee, by which it is bound to furnish the vessels a
certain amount OF tonnage. To enable the Grand
trunk TO fulfill its contracts, the American trunk
lines have permitted it to secure tonnage at lower
than market rates, whenever a deficiency was
created by the Grand Trunk maintainp rates n
Is charged that the Grand Trunk has abused this
privilege by a reckless disregard of the tariff ir-
aesPec@sye @ OF whether or not i could fill its steam
ers at tulI rates: The Lake Shore and Michigan
are now determined to protect their interests ora
through European business by insisting on equal
rates by way OF all the seaboard ports. In con-
sentlng to the advance IN Eastern rates on Mon
day they did not pledge themselves to a mainte-
nance OF rates which should be higher on export
business than those by the other Chicago lines
ihelr assent was given with the understanding,
dat methods DDS OF qph9lding the tariff were to be
they hold themselves free to meet any cuts bv
rival lines" ~ "
NOTES.
Inc railroad commissioners of Maine and soma
OF the OfheialS of the Maine Central and Boston
al1 Nul, MAINE, with General Manager Cram of ths
~ new brnnSWick Railroad, have gone to Houlton
thence to Bancroft. '"i0oN
+, Inc Boston and Maine Railroad Companv has
Ss oontracted with the Judkins Electric Signal
company 70 equip all its passenger cars and loco
motlveS OF both divisions with the signal which
superSedeS the bell rope, and which gives an al-
tomatic alarm in case the train parts The num-
per OF engines Is 261 and cars about 475 The
MAINE Maine central have adopted it and the Grand
Trunk are considering it.
despatch from Presque Isle says; party OF
railroad men made flying visit here Thursday
In charge of General Manager Cram of the New
Brunswick Railway. Among them were President
Lord OF the Boston and Maine, President Sewall
and General Manager Tucker of the Maine Cen
trail, MeSsrs. Wildes, Anderson and M0rtland
railroad commissioners, and other gentlemen
prominent in railroad circles numbering about
twenty. They dined at the Phair Hotel and left
at $50 p. m.