The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-02
RAILWAY MATTERS.


Eastern is well sustained between 80 and 81, by
reports of coming union with the Boston &
Maine Meanwhile there is growing desire up
on the part of stockholders of Boston & Maine to
receive 10 per cent dividends, under the plea that
if the lease of the Eastern is beneficial to the Bos
ton g. Maine. the stockholders should receive it in
the shape of increased dividends. Boston s.
Maine stock has advanced "a to 1874. The
joint gross earnings of the Boston & Maine and
Eastern roads for the first quarter OF the new is
cal year are reported to have increased S102 900.
Eastern directors met Friday, but transacted no
gentlemen seemed to be to await the decision OF
the court in matters pending, before adopting rad
ical measures.
NEW RIVAL TO THE BOSTON & MAINE.
The management of the Boston g. Lowell rail-
road assert that has been the policy of the leg
islature in times past to confine the Boston q
Maine to the territory occupied by its own road
and that of its leased line, the Eastern, while at
the same time tho Boston & Lowell should confne
its efforts in a northerly direction. The lease of
the worcester & Nashua however, is looked upon
as direct and wilful invasion of the region hith-
erto occupied by the Boston & Lowell, conse-
Worcester s. Nashua by the Boston & Maine, and
thereby establishes the precedent that an inva-
sion Of one reads territory BY that Of another
Boston & Lowell lay claim to an equal privilege,
and petition the legislature for leave to connect
their Mystic branch with their Salem and Lowell
branch at some point in Peabody, by the construc-
ton of railroad which, leaving the Mystic branch
in CharleStown, and thence running through Ever
EFT, Chelsea, Revere, Saugus, and Lynn to Pea
body, will open new and direct route in connec-
tion with the Salem and Lowell branch, between
Boston and Salem of only 141a miles, or several
miles less than the present rsute via the Eastern
Division of the Boston 4 Maine. With the termi-
nal facilities controlled at both ends Of the pro-
jected route the Boston g. Lowell can construct
this connection at a very moderate cost, and un-
doubtedly 1t would kprove to be very profitable
one, considering the low rate of interest at which
its cost could be funded, in comparison with the
huge debt under which the Eastern has been
struggling for many years, and which is largely
taken care OF by that portion Of its road between
Boston and Salem.
NOTES.
The Maine Central train which left Bangor for
Boston Sunday evening, was equipped throughout
with the Judkins' Railway Train Signal 1t work
ed perfectly and the train men were greatly pleas
ed with it. The signal and its mode Of operation
have recently been fully described. This is be-
leved to be the first train equipped with the sig
nal which ever passed over the road.
The Railroad Commissioners Of MASSACHUSETTS,
Saturday morning heard the closing arguments on
the petition Of the Boston & Maine railroas for an
extension OF Its tracks in Salem. NO decision
was rendered
The following are Grand Trunk earnings:
Week JAN 16 .S240, ,324 $295, ,028lDec.. 500, 104
Since Jan. ] -. 484, $3.50 5S0,626 Dec. 96,O6o
Mileage. ......... 2,91S 2,91S