The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-02-18
Railroad Matters.

Railroad Matters.
The railroad situation is cloudy, and
with the air filled with contradictory ru-
mors the outsider can only con lecture
the offices of managers and manipulators.
The circumstantial story of the giving up
of the Haymarket Square station OF the
3. Il NJ r. r., in Boston, and the estab-
liShment OF a union terminal on Cause
way St has brought forth an unqualified
denial from the company. OF greater inter-
consolidation scheme between the Boston
and Maine and Maine Central railroads.
This has long been talked of. but it was
we'll known that Mr.. Forbes. the manager
of the s. x NJ. was opposed to con>olida
ton His death has undoubtedly given
rise to a movement in this direction. and
it is said that if the roads are consolidated
General Manager Payson Tucker of the
Maine Central will be general manager of
the entire system. The B. 4 NJ. owns a
controlling interest in the Maine Central,
and 50 may be able to carry out this pro-
iect, but we are quite sure it is neither
for the interest of the Maine Central nor
of Maine to do this. OF the development
of the Maine Central the Boston Daily
News says:
Mr. Tucker has. in the Maine Central
r. R., erected monument of enduring
fame Originally little local road run
ming from Portland to the kennebec river,
plaStered with mortgages and debts. it has
been extended by the absorption of the
European Il North American X. r. to the
Canadian frontier at the st. Croix river
1t has practically annexed the Knox &
Lincoln R. r., opening up those two
counties. Two lines have been construct
ed through the centre of the State. one
the old route via Augusta and the Ken
nebec valley cities, the other through
Lewiston. Innllmerable branches have
been built as feeders, to Pennington. to
Skowhegan, to Bath and to Belfast
From the Mt. Desert extension the sum
mer tourist traffic pourS thousands annu-
ally into the Golfers OF the road. The
Canadian Pacific is tapped through the
Dexter branch. The latest acquisition
was that of the Portland Il Ogdensburo
through the White Mountains. giving a
direct line to the northwest.
Much as has been done. the Maine Cen
Tral has not yet attained its full growth
and Development A shore line from
Rockland to Bangor. and a direct route to
Aroostook are sure,to come at no distant
day. and Mr.. Tucker is the man to carry
out these enterprises. The Maine Leois-
lature and the Maine people will never ap-
prove OF the proposed consolidation.
OF no less interest are the affairs of the
proposed Bangor and Aroostook railroad.
A correspondent who is on the inside says
OF the opposition in Bangor to the lease
of the Bangor 4 Piscataquis "They
should not lose sight of the fact that the
B. * 4. can build to Oldtown in lieu OF
to Brownville and do all the business and
let Bangor keep her b. X F.. in which
case the deficiency will be much more,
and for all time This is not all. for the
Bangor a Aroosto"k is a road to develope
Maine, and the company could drop all
Bangor subscriptions and then get enough
70 build the road Should the b. 4 A.
build to Oldtown the interest on the cost
would be less than what is offered for The
i. * =. Bangor had better consider. fol
if the i. Il A. does not lease its road it
must become OF no value.
The gossip to the effect that the Maine
tntral is behind the 500 900 subscri,,-
zion Of the American Express Company
10 the stock of the Bangor x Aroostouk
may OF may not be true. If true it will
he accepted by many as an assurance that
the road will be built The co-operation
of the Maine Central is essential. and the
TWO roads can prevent the diverting of
traffic to Canadian ports by foreign cor
poration, the Canadian Pacific, which is
now being done to a considerable extent.
Looked at from every standpoint the
building of the Bangor & Aroostook is a
necessity, and We know Of no similar en-
terprise which has before it such promise
of substantial rewards.