The Portland daily press., 1885-07-21
RAILWAY NOTES.



The last number of the Financial Chronicle
devotes considerable space to the excellent
record of New England Railroads in relation
to dividends, and gives several reasons for
this success. In the first place, says the
Chronicle, these roads are nearly all very
conservatively managed-with an eye single
to the interest of their stockholders and the
speculative element in management has been
almost entirely eliminated. Then, unlike
roads in other parts of the country, the for
tunes Of New England lines are not depend
ent chiefly or even largely upon through
traffic, the rates on which have so
disastrously declined because of increased
competition and diminished export trade.
With rare exception they serve almost ex-
clusively local interests, and knowing how to
minister to those interests, they have no diff
fculty in making them yield handsome re-
turn on the capital invested.
1t is to be remembered further that the
Eastern States are in general more thickly
settled and their trade pursues steadier
and more even course than other sections.
Not that there is not ample room for consd-
cradle further development, but that the
newer and unopened sections in the West
and Southwest offer greater attractions. 1t
follows from this that the growth of the New
England sections is constant and slow, rather
than extreme and WIDE and thus does not in
ylte, even as the laws do not encourage, eX-
cesslve or unnecessary competition. AT
the same time this very element tends to
assure to the roads a steady and profitable
traffic.
The assurance of a growth in traffic is not
wanting either, for the industries of the sec
ton are being all the time enlarged and add
ed to, though, as stated, the work goes for
ward not by leaps and bounds, but In meas
ured and even way Of course in any gener-
al trade depression common to the whole
country the Eastern section is not unaffect-
ed, but necessarily it feels such influence
less than other sections. There is a certain
amount of local business, which will remain
in any event. and it is upon this local bust
ness the roads rely for their prosperity Fur
thermore, buoyant and active times do not
stimulate the business to an extraordinary
degree, and hence there is less of reaction
in an erea of depression.
BOSTON & MAINE.
The policy of the Boston & Maine Com
pany, as outlined by President Lord, is as
follows: "When the lease went into opera
ton the notion prevailed that the Eastern
road would be made subordinate to our own.
We had no such intention, and to convince
the public of their mistake we have meant to
give the people on that division a little better
service than they had before. The interests
of the region traversed by the Eastern Divi-
sion are of just as much concern to us as
those of the country served by the Western
division, and money earned by the CONSOLE
dated company on one is worth as much as
ON the other. For these reasons we have
purposely refrained from taking off certain
trains which seem unnecessary, and from
abandoning one of certain duplicate stations,
that is to say, the policy of economiZing has
not been pushed to the utmost. The conse-
quence is that whatever distrust existed has
disappeared, and cordial relations have been
established all around to the advantage of
the community and the road" With respect
to the passenger service in the enlarged ter
ritory OF the Boston d Maine it may be add
ed that 1T was never so satisfactory in the
days of competition as it is now, nor has
there been any retrogression in the handling
OF freight. The earnings of the united roads
since Oct. have not been equal to last
years, but the best quarter of the year is the
present one, and there is reason to expect
that it will show comparative gain.
THE SHORE LINE.
Colonel Green, president of the Shore Line
Railroad. states that there still remains to be
built between Sullivan and Calais, go miles,
and branch from Eastport to the junction
in Charlotte, which will be 10 miles, making
in all 107 miles. The towns are asked to
contribute $1,000 a mile, or $4,000 in all.
The money is not to be called for till the
work has begun and the completion of the
project assured. Town meetings have been
called in Machias, East Machias, Cherry
field. Harrington, Columbia, Whitneyville,
Dennysville and Edmunds, and the meetings
will be held in these towns next week and
the week following to see if they will vote
the required aid. A meeting win probably
be held in Eastport Monday, Aug. l, for the
same purpose.
MINOR NOTES.
The Providence Railway, after very sat-
isfactory trial of the Judlfins Railway train
signal on one of its trains for more than two
months, has ordered the same equipment ON
other trains at once. This is the electrical
arrangement which takes the place of the
bell rope running through the train. Gen
eral Superintendent Mellen of the Boston &
Lowell road has also ordered the equipment
put on trains of that road. Mr.. Judkins is
employed by the Maine Central road