The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-10-20
PORTLAND & OCDENSBURc.
Letter from the Hon. William L. Put
nam.
CORTLAND, Oct. 10, 1885.


ogdensbury Railroad Company requiring aunan-
mous action for its success could hardly succeed
with the present state of feeling in the city, so
that perhaps any further discussion of such
schemes at the present time may be little value,
and to continue such discussion at any length for
the purpose of settling personal issues would be
uniustifiable; yet think, you will cheerfully ac-
cord me this further hearing.
In to-day's PRESS you state. editorially that
you did not know what Mr.. Putnam means by the
expression, "being by the ears" contained in his
article in Fridays Advertiser, and you submit
that there is neither 'force nor dignity in the ex
preston"
You also speak of his dragging into public print
private conversation, in which language is at
tributed to one of the participants, which he de-
nies he ever used. am glad there is some one
who does deny its use; and thereby adds his con-
demnation to mine.
SO far as the depression "being by the ears" is
concerned, whether dignifed or not, it was very
suitable, as it told the exact truth The converse
ton referred to, and all similar conversations be-
come something more than mere private con-
versations. when uttered in public places connec-
ted with similar expressions in the public prints.
and coming from gentlemen who have taken an
active public part.
I think the PRESS hardly appreciates the
scandalous nature of the attack which has been
made in this affair, for no other reason than that
happen to be the attorney of the Boston & Maine
railroad When lawyer who has according to
the best of his knowledge, endeavored to perform
his duty in a matter which is somewhat of quasi
public nature and is conscious OF recttude tnere
feeling and for using those expressions which are
most expressive, when he sees himself posted, as
was in the interview published In the PRESS OF
September 29th as having so far forfeited my
honor, as to have brought forward under the
guise of counsel for the trustees of the Portland
Ogdensburg railroad, scheme which was "a
Boston & Maine scheme sees it REINFORCED by
other publications of similar nature, and meets
at every corner questions and remarks indicating
how far such scandal will travel while truth is
pulling on its boots.
not been the first time in connection with this
railroad that parties who were going forward in
the performance of their duty, have been thus
wish to stand up for the right of citizens to be
treated with decency, and of the community to be
allowed to judge questions of this character upon
facts.
The Boston & Maine railroad was dragged into
this matter without anything whatever justifying
it. On the other hand the facts, SO far as any ex
listed, were all the other way. The relations be-
pany and the Boston & Maine railroad before the
lease of the Eastern railroad were always of a
friendly character and mutually beneficial The
relations between the first named company and
the Eastern Railroad Company before the lease,
by reason of the Conway Branch, were always of
specially friendly character; and the Eastern
railroad on more than one occasion, rendered
most valuable services.
/ have no:knowledge whatever, nor do believe
any person in this city has any knowledge what
ever, of any action by the Boston & Maine rail-
road, for or against any scheme of reorganization
etber ser drectly or indreetiy On the other hand
this do know: That without the legislation OBJ
tanned in New Hampshire this summer, an organ
izaton of the bondholders under the foreclosure
would have been impossible. When we asked for
that legislation we were opposed by the Boston &
the work was all laid out for tedious and deter
mined fight against our BILL unless we would con-
| sent that our road should never be extended be-
were able, of own strength to carry our bill?
| Not at all; that was impossible. We turned for
| road; to gentlemen connected with the Boston &
| Maine railroad, which had succeeded to the Con-
| way branch of the Eastern railroad, and thus
| Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad Company in its
emergencies. Those gentlemen acted, not in an
c capacity under % any sRRes Resan Man
| Railroad but without objection from it rendered
us all the assistance in their power, and we passed
| the BILL which without their assistance would
have failed. If, now, tho policy of reorganization
advocated by the "PRESs," succeeds, 1t should
| except for the friendly aid Of those gentlemen
This is the connection, or rather want OF con-
| nection with this matter of the Boston & Maine
| interested in the Boston g. Maine railroad; and
| for their reward their corporation has been most
unjqstly assaulted MT: J. 3. Rieker. . who IS one on
4 densburg Railroad Company, has been acting in
this matter in his own individual interest, and In
no other interest, and will so declare; and doubt
l not his personal assurance would be accepted as
conclusive by any right-minded citizen who knows
him.
4 me all the more unjust because no person knows,
| and am not sure know myself which plan of
| to advocate either. Only this do know; that
were responsible for the finances Of the city my
| decision would be easily determined.
/ do not wish to be understood as complaining
| of anything in your article of today. regard 1t
as fair presentation of the questions involved
l from your side of them; and If the whole discus
| sion had been In the same just and well tempered
| spirit, our people would undoubtedly have been
| whole matter in manner generally satisfactory.
/ Your article alludes to the commission appoint
| ed by Gen: Fessenden with reference to the roads
in which the city was interested This excuses
| me for giving you the following quotations from
their report, bearing upon the value Of the citys
been :, made available The report SAYS:
sit is useless therefore to cast about for second
ary causes for the condition in which we find this
taking to build railroad of this extent without
i sufficient means, without money. AS well might
fri brick Without straw. % : The mountain section
| was pushed through at the time of its construc
tion with the intention of widening the excaya
/ tions and embankments, and completing generally
| that part of the road after its Inauguration.
i The Portland section was originally constructed
| in the same manner, with view after it COM
| menced running to replace temporary structures
| by permanent ones, and to perfect the road
1 generally"
do not think that the report in any part under
| takes to fix any value for the property.
| To the report, however, will be found appended
1 the following special memorandum made by my
self as member of that commission:
81 think the mountain section of the Portland
& Ogdensburg railroad is entitled to credit for a
larger proportion of the gross earnings than the
expert has given it, and that both railroads will
| develop steady, though probably not rapid, in
| crease of gross and net earnings"
| That report was made in February, A. d. 1877.
The prophecy as TO increase of gross and net
| earnings with reference to the Portland 0g-
| densburg Railroad Company has proved correct.
There was no opportunity Of testing it with refer
ence to the Portland & Rochester railroad, be-
| cause the same was soon after sold by the city
A comparison of the condition of the road at the
| time when this report was made and its present
| condition, ought to explain away all suggestions
and doubts as to its earning capacity, and sustain
| the minimum estimates put upon 1t, contained in
| my article in the Advertiser, to which you refer
| Ihope to trouble our citizens with no further
| communications to the newspapers upon this
| topic. WILLIAM L. PUTNAM.