The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-12
RIDING ON THE RAIL.


roads, public rights and interests cannot
be ignored, neither would it pe good
policy on the part of the managers to at
tempt it. The most successful manage
ment is where private and public in
terests are both subserved. Fortunately
| there is no incompatibility between the
| two. The same line of policy which pro-
| notes the one necessarily tends to pro-
mote the other.
| The success which has attended the
management of some of the larger lines
| of railroad in the state, in the past, has
we believe, been largely due to the fact
| that those in charge OF such properties
have recognized the public wants and
| needs, and have provided for each as
| exigencies arose.
| We trust the financial depression now
prevailing, disastrous in its effects as it
may be, will not lead the managers of
| railroads in this state into the narrow
and mistaken policy of trying to get
the most money out of the public, while,
in return, giving the least and poorest
| service in order, as, they may believe, to
save for stockholders the customary an
nual or semi-annual dividend.
The newspapers have published as a
fact, apparently on authority, that 1T was
| the intention of the managers of some of
| the larger lines of railroad to take off or
discontinue all trains that did not yield
a profit over and above expenses. Logic
| ally, if such line of policy should be
pursued to the end, every train on some
| lines of railroad and branchsssslines of
| others, would be taken off during the
| coming winter months.
| It is needless to remark, that such a
result would not be tolerated. Nor. is it
necessary to say that the public will not
! be content with railroad accommodation
| and facilities such as were afforded
| fifteen or twenty years ago. Modes of
travel and methods of doing business
! have materially changed within the
| time mentioned. What was not thought
| of twenty years ago,..is now demanded.
| We believe it is for the interest of the
| stockholders, as well as that of the pub
lie, that railroad corporations give
within the limits of their ability, the
best service and the most liberal terms.
Hoping that the business and financial
depression, which is now prevalent
throughout the country may not be of
long duration, we trust and feel conf
dent that during its continuance, no
mistaken or narrow minded policy in
railroad management will be adopted as
a remedy.
Railroads, Old and New.
In 1860, as appears by the report of the
railroad commissioners for that year,
there were ABOUT 40 miles of railroad in
Maine. This mileage was made up of
several lines of railroad and managed by
different corporations as follows: The
Androscoggin. with a line extending
from Leeds Junction to Pennington; The
Androscoggin and Kennebec, with a line
extending from Danyille Junction to
Waterville; Fhe Penobscot and Kenne-
bee, with al1ine extending from Water
vile to Bangor; The Kennebec and Port
land with line extending from Port
land, via Brunswick to Augusta, also
from Brunswick to Bath; The Somerset
and Kennebec with a line extending
from Augusta to Skowhegan. These
several lines are now consolidated and
constitute portion of the Maine Cen
trail railroad system.
The other railroads then in operation
were the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth,
with line extending from Portland to
Portsmouth,; The Boston and Maine,
with line extending into this state only
about two miles and connecting with the
Portland, Saco and Portsmouth at South
Berwick Junction; The Great Falls and
South Berwick with line extending
from Great Falls in New Hampshire to
distance of about six miles. These lines
are now portion of and included in the
Boston and Maine system.
The remaining lines of railroad then
existing and in operation were, The At
lantic and StLawrence (now a portion
of the GrandssTFunk railway with line
extending from the state boundary near
berland now part of the Portland and
Rochester railroad; The ST. Croix and
Penobscot, then known as the Calais and
Barring railroad, with line extending
from Calais to Princeton; and the Ban
gor, OldJown and Milford railroad, with
line extending from Bangor to Old
town, and across the Penobscot river to
Milford, distance of twelve miles.
The railroad mileage in Maine now is
about 1 400 miles. This does not include
the Bangor and Aroostook, the extension
of the Portland and Rumford Falls and
the Georges Valley railroads, all of
which are now nearly if not quite, COM
pleted. and which will,give an additional
mileage of la miles.
BY the consolidation of the corp ora
tions and lines of railroad above men
toned, the many additional lines since
constructed and now largely under one
management, the public are afforded
better and cheaper railroad facilities,
and saved the Inconvenience of changing
cars at many points as formerly.
From 1850 to 1890 the population of the
state increased but about $4,000, or
about five per cent. Although the popu-
lation during that time increased but
slightly we are led to believe that, by
reason of the consolidation aforesaid
and the construction of additional lines
of railroad throughout the state, the
many water powers have been developed
and utilized by manufacturers; the agri-
cultural and timber lands opened to
commerce; and easy access afforded to
the many and unsurpassed mountainssand
sea shore resorts; and the valuation of
the state, as will be seen by the follow
ing statistics, nearly doubled.
In 1860 the state valuation was S164, ia
1863, and in 1899 it was 1914, $50, 1871. In
1860 the railroads of Maine carried 74S,-
506 passengers and 453, 900 tons of freight.
In the year ending June 30, 1885, the rail
roads carried 6,332,355 passengers and
4, 1875, 06s tons of freight The train mile
age in 1850 was as follows: Passenger
trains 564, 442 miles and for all other
trains /, 524, 747 miles. In 1892 the train
mileage was, passengers trains ares, 842
miles and FIR all other trains 4,42s, 1872
miles. The receipts of railroad COM
panies from all sources in 1860 were $685.
49, 10. In 1892 they were SO, 931, 2Oa. "a.
During all these years there has been a
continual and marked decrease. in rates
IF fare and in fraierht ahor0ac ~, oil I;rae