Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-20
4 GREAT RAILROAD.

At the annual meeting of the stock holders of the Consolidated railroad held yesterday in New Havena esolution was unanimously adopted approving most heartily the action of the directors in making application for an increase of capital stock for purposes of permanent improvement and capitalizing obliga- tions and acquiring the stock of leased lines. and expressing the desire that the general assembly will grant such legis- lation as shall be necessary to carry out the plan of the directors. And as was happily expressed by President Clark, and as may be readily imagined from the condition and prospects of the road, there is no water in the present or pro- posed increased stock.
 The Consolidated is truly a great rail road, and easily stands among the lead ing railroad systems of the country. Con- trolling, either by lease or ac- tual purchase, the greater part of Connecticut's railroad plant, 1t pays into the state treasury every year in taxation the enormous sum of S399, ,O13.- 66, its entire tax payments amounting to nearly half million dollars. To New York it pays S70 089.02, and S25. 151 A to Massachusetts. This is an immense sum and indicates to some extent the enor- nous amount of business done by the road, and the benefits it distributes in employment to vast army of employees and to merchants and others in the pur- chase of appurtenaness and supplies. Twenty per cent, or one-tifth, of its in come Is paid into the state treasury for taxation. And withal its service is of the best and cheapest. With a rolling stock equal to the best in the iaad and equipped with all the latest improve. ments, it carries passengers for two cents q mile and commuters for considerably less. and its freight service offers the highest inducements. for expeditions delivery and low figures, to shippers everywhere along it's lines.
 ! Those who have travelled out of the Grand Central depot for the last few years on the Consolidated have mar veled at the vast improvement under way, and will readily understand one ot the objects for the projected increase oi capital stock. The requirement of lines in which the road has a leaSehold inter est for fifty years-among which is oul own Naugatuck-is another reason fol the company's project of increasing it capitalization. There are few persons in Waterbury who have not trayeled or 1 the Naugatuck, and there is not one we believe who will not hasten to admit tht vast improvement that has been made il the service of the road sine, its lease by the Consolidated How much greater would bl the improvement if the road were pur chased outright can te easily imagined since there is always greater intefes in improving property in which there | a permanent right of ownership. Tn people of the Gaugatuck valley, with z deep sense of appreciation of what ha' already been done for their road, vii welcome the day when the Consolidate. acquires entire ownership of the line.
 The Consolidated is great railroad It is a credit to it's managers, its owner and to the state of Connecticut. Ant every citizen who has at heart the bes interests of this good old commonwealth will cheer it on in its march of improve ment, knowing that the state shares il its prosperity and takes a generous slic of its podfits. The legislature shoul, look favorably, as it Is certain to do, ol the requests of the road, and hasten t speed it on it's way.