Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-03-09

section must compete with those in other
parts of the country. A freight rate today
is a very considerable factor In the price of
almost every article, as it is laid down to
the consumer. While the effect of our high
freight rates in New England may not be
immediate, 1t is none the less sure. Old
industries with expensive plants will con-
tinue TO do business. Now and then a
new industry may be established, but New
England as a territory cannot expect TO
hold It's own, as compared with the Middle
West, unless it enjoys as favorable freight
rates, and much better rates than 1t now
has. ! would be glad to join, and | hope
to join with the Boston q Maine road, and
other roads in giving to New England a
lower freight rate than it has now, and in
stu further decreasing that rate as time
advances, and hope 10 do this, not out of
any sentiment, but as matter of good
policy, because / believe that low rate Is
necessary to stimulate business and there
fore increase the volume Of traffic and that
such increased volume Of traffic, would, in
the end, increase the net revenues of our
companies. But this has not been done on
our system in the past, and it will not be
done in the future If you are permitted to
further monopoize the railroad situation"
Boston is the only one of the large cities
OF the Atlantic seaboard which has in
creased its exports steadily in the last 10
years and Mr.. Clement believes the reason
is due to the competition of the city's rail-
roads. He finds that the Boston d. Maine
| and New York, New Haven d Hartford
have done very little of this business, the
| Boston d Albany and the Fitchburg being
the roads which have given Boston her
prosperity in this respect, the Fitchburg
carrying IS per cent of all the grain ex-
| ported from Boston last year.
| Mr.. Clement speaks of the improbable
ty of any trunk line being constructed in
New England, and says whatever develop
ment comes must take place through the
| systems now in operation. He points out
that the location of the Fitchburg is such
that comparatively little new construc-
ton would take it to many of the promi-
nent cities of New England, where there
is, today, no competition, and that fact
makes the Independent existence of the
| Fitchburg a continual menace to its COM
petitors, which at present control this ter
ritory. The absorption of the Fitchburg
by the Boston & Maine would end compe-
tition and New England would have moth
ing to hope for from that source.
After referring to the possibility of a
single interest dominating every avenue
into New England and through New Eng
land to the seaboard, Mr.. Clement closes
by saying:
"You may say that the present manage
ment of the Boston IL Maine is liberal and
satisfactory to its patrons. The best gov
eminent in the world is a despotism, with
the right sort of despot. Nevertheless
this country has not chosen that form OF
government, and call your attention once
more to the fact that the territory under
your control, even with your beneficent
rule, has a higher freight rate than any
other part of the United States, excepting
only the territory under the equally benef
cent despotism of the New York, New Ha
ven Il Hartford. Without questioning the
Justice of your own administration, wha
assurance can you give that your successor
will be equally just? Men die and man
agements change, but human nature re
mains the same, and it is an everlastin!
law of human action that monopoly pro
duces high prices and competition Low
prices. The state of New York, al
, though it pays for freight less than hal
per ton per mile the amount which i
charged in New England, is now about ex
pending $50, 900, 600 on its waterways t
I extend and make permanent competition.
4 Before the people of the state of Massa
chusetts vote TO wipe out the last vestig
of genuine competition between its raj
: ways, l believe that they should pause an
seriously consider the consequences for a
= time to come"