The Portland daily press., 1897-11-05

rates Is complex and difficult one to
adjust. If there has been any discrimina-
tion in rates on the part of the Portland
and Rumford Falls railway, it should at
once cease. Railroads, although private
property are yet common carriers and
public servants. They receive their
charters from the state, and are given the
right OF eminent domain as for public
USES Unjust discrimination then by rail-
road companies in the matter of passenger
or freight rates, whenever it occurs,
should not be tolerated. OF course, as we
have said, the adjustment of rates to be
entirely fair and just to all parties, re-
quires sound judgment and good business
methods; and even then it is often at
tended by criticism where it is not de-
served.
If, however, in any case there should be
such discrimination as to work hardship
to any industry, the building of COM
peting railroad is neither the shortest nor
best remedy.
A further and more important consider
alton is urged, that another railroad
through the proposed territory is necessary
for the purpose of transporting logs to
the several industries at Rumford Falls.
1t is urged that within few years the
supply of logs in the territory where they
are now obtained will not be sufficient for
the industries at Rumford Falls, and it Is
IoPICcSDucu buhb tllSS0 DIS HOW
constructed, and to be soon enlarged, will
| consume about thirty million feet of
spruce logs per year; but it was in evil
denoe that the estimate of spruce logs in
| the territory covered by the proposed road
was only ninety lone million feet, and 1t
certainly could hardly be believed that a
| road which is to cost over five hundred
thousand dollars would be built to trans
port ninety-one million feet of logs.
Besides, railroad already chartered,
has made a location into the territory
north of Andover, which is designed to
connect with the Rumford Falls and
| Rangeley Lakes railroad, and to take the
lumber from that region to Rumford
Falls over the latter road.
| II the foregoing considerations are not
| sufficient to Justify the conclusion to
which we have arrived, there Is another
which we feel must control our action in
| this matter In January, A. d, 1887, a
company was organized under the general
law, known as the Rumford Falls, An
dover and Rangeley Lakes railroad COM
pony, to build railroad from Bryant's
Pond to Rumford Falls, over substantial
~ the same route proposed in the location
now asked for. The intention, undoubted-
| ~, Was to eventually construct branches
through the town of Andover to the
Lakes, because from the legislature then
in session certain legislation was OBJ.
tdlu6fty iOUklus5 10 UQlS purpose.
| By chapter 24S of the Private and
| Special Laws of 1887 the above named
company was authorized to make traffic
contract with or lease It's rights to the
Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, and to
issue its bonds for the purpose of con-
structing said road. 1t was, however,
provided by the same act that the powers
granted should not be exercised prior to
January 1st, A. D.. 1888, and not then If
the Rumford Falls and Buckfeld Rail
road company, then having its terminus
at Canton, should extend its railroad to
Rumford Falls before the first day Of
january, 1888. This act was approved
March IL, 1887.
By the following act of the same year,
approved the same day, chapter 249, 1t
was enacted as follows:
The Runford Falls and Buckheld
railroad company, or any corporation Or
ganlzed with it's consent to extend salo
| railroad from Canton to Rumford Falls
and through the towns of Andover, hoX-
bury or Byron, to the lakes or to any
point between Canton and the aforesaid
points. may lease it's railroad, or may
make traffic contract with or obtain
guaranty of it's bonds from any other rail-
road corporation, and secure the same py
| mortgage of its property and franchises.
By the first act the legislature dellper-
ately denied the powers asked for py the
proposed road from Bryant's pond to
Rumford Falls, if the Rumford Falls ana
Buckfeld road should be extended to
Rumford Falls by January LIST, A. u,
1898; and by chapter 249 the legislature Us
deliberately granted the same rights un-
conditionaIly to the Rumford Falls ana
Buckfeld road.
Thus plainly did the legislature declare
tn at if the Rumford Falls and Buckneld
road should be extended to RumIord
Falls it should not by any legislative
act be hampered by any competing line
into the same territory without its con-
sent And by chapter 249 it seems to have
been implied that any corporation or
ganized to extend a railroad into An
dover, Roxbury or Blyon to the Lakes,
should do so only with the consent OF inc
Rumford Falls and Buckfield railroad
The legislature practically invited the
Ruinford Falls and Buckfield railroad to
extend its road to Rumford Falls, ana py
plain Implication pledged the latter rail-