The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-21

New Haven. March 2l.-The recent Of
acial reorganization OF the New York.
New Haven and Hartford Railroad com
pany, as result OF which that prop
erty was handed over 10 the care OF
practical railroad men, has attracted
much attention in financial and railroad
circles For the greater part Of its life
q provincial corporation. managed with
extreme conservatism. II is today gov
ing signs OF taking it's place among the
progressive roads OF the country.
This is due in largo degree TO the
selection OF a man for president who
IS by training railroad expert Charles
8 Meilen Up to the time OF the election
Of Charles p. Clark as president that
road has been operated along lines which
threatened to land in the hands of some
one Of the big roads with which II did
q large but. IN a way, dependent bust-
ness.
Had Il not been for his foresight and
bigness OF outlook it Is now appreciated
that the company would have been swal-
lowed probably by the Pennsylvania
IL was In the Hartford speech that he
declared Publicity and not secrecy wal
win hereafter, and laws will be construed
by their intent and not by their letter
Otherwise" he declared, public utilities
viii be owned and operated 10y the people
who created them, even though the ser
vice he less efficient and results be less
satisfactory from financial standpoint
Nor does the commercial future Of
New England as st is written in a closer
trade union with the Dominion OF
Canada. escape his attention. All Of
these matters have To do In hts mind
with the immediate management OF the
road, and n was To obtain his views on
these lines that an interview was sought.
RECEIPTS FALLING OFF.
What are tho conditions which de-
| rnand the discharge OF 40 many en-
ployes? Were there too many OF them
"1 am not prepared to say ther Dad
has had too many employees For the
business It has therefore had 10 do.
About January l q condition confronted
mo which required immediate action, and
that condition was . very serious falling
off in the receipts OF the company, both
from passengers and freight
II waited for some time hoping the
falling of would be only temporary that
there would be n recovery after the
ssvere weather had passed. but after
waiting about three weeks I found there
was no apparent recovery In sight and
was forced 10 reduce the expenses 10y tho
discharge Of employees and by holding
up work that had been recommended be-
of trains be reduced at this time. when
the general business OF the country Is
sood?"
us the general business OF tho country
GOOD? Such reports as reach me indi-
cate decided stagnation Ia lines OF busi-
ness. and | find very general complaint
OF a falling of In the volume as COM
pared with previous years. not only here.
but elsewhere.
ut has been my idea I'm reductions
made that the accommodations fur
nished 90 the public should be affected
last, and II Is only the fact that the
receipts OF the road are still considerably
reduced. as compared with last year, that
j am compelled 20 resort 20 the second
step IN making reductions. which is tne
curtailment OF the company's passenger
service.
SLUMP rs a FACT.
us there any connection between these
alleged necessities from a railroad point
Of view and the general alleged slump IN
business throughout New England from
q commercial point of view?''
There IL every connection The slunr
IN business Is not only alleged. 10 is n
fact without ~ there would have been
no necessity for ne reduction They have
pecesssrily Followed The slump"