The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-10
ABSORPTION OF TROLLEY LINES.


that the New York, New Haven and Hartford
Railroad company, through or the other of its
affiliated corporations, will at an early date secure
control of the Rhode Island company and take over
the management and operation of the local electric
street railways.
Though this merger which will create a
practical monopoly in passenger and freight trans
portation, is on the eve of consummation, and
though it has been before the public for months as
an imminent probability, there has been, far as
known, neither agitation public protest against
II.
Usually when such a combination as is about
to be effected here is announced, there is popular
outcry against it because Of the widespread con-
viction that the establishment of a monopoly in
transportation facilities will be menace to public
interests
Nor can It be doubted that this hostility on the
part of the people is generally justified since mon
opolies usually operate to their disadvantage and
loss.
Why then is the prospect of the absorption OF
the local trolley lines by the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad company viewed
with apparent complacence by the people OF this
city and state? Is it because they too dull to
realize that il means the creation of monopoly or
because they are too inert to make protest
against it?
Neither Passivity in this case may reasonably
be attributed to the firm belief on the part of the
public that no change that can possibly be made
in the ownership and management OF the local trac
ton lines will render the service more unsatsfac
tory and inadequate than has been for years and
is at present under the ownership OF the Philade-
pha Gas Improvement syndicate and the manage
ment of Marsden J. Perry.
1t is realized also that while merger cannot
make conditions worse, it may result in some
marked and substantial improvements. Since he
became president of the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad company, Mr.. Mellen
appears to have acted on the theory that the best
way to make the railroad profitable to its stock
holders is to give the public the most satisfactory
service possible.
From the man who greatly increased the pas
senger traffic Of the New Haven road by reducing
fares over the system to two cents mile and by
making costly improvements which give passen-
gers quicker, safer and more comfortable trans
portation, cannot citizens of Providence and of
Rhode Island expect with confidence better and
more reasonable ticket transfer system than the
Perry management has established?
Can they not hope also for other needed i'm
provements in the service, among them an adequate
number of cars to meet the demands Of the traffic
an intelligent rearrangement of the time schedules
that will distribute the cars running given
route so that three or four will not be punched
together leaving those who do not happen to catch
either of them to wait 10 or Is minutes for the
arrival of another bunch the ending of freight
traffic through the ocngested thoroughfares at
least during the day time, and the equalization of
fares to suburban points so that no section will be
Disseminated against is now the case?
Evidently it is because they expect some such
needed improvements to result from it that the
people view with seeming equanmty the approach
ing absorption of the local traction companies by
the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad