New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-11
TO GET BOSTON & MAINE
Continued from first pake.

| which is S24 miles IN length and a majority OF
| the capital stock of which the Boston & Maine
| owns The Boston q Maine operates under a
nlhety-nlne year lease, from April 1. 1887. the
Boston & Lowell; the Concord & Montreal Rail-
road under lease for ninety-one years from
April l. 1870. and the F1tchburg Railroad under
ninety-nine year lease from July l. 1890 Each
OF these three companies is itself a lesser svs-
tem' controlling several minor railway lines
New Haven. May 1O-The absence from, ,b,z
city tonight of President Charles s NreIIen of
the New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad
Company makes it impossible TO get an official
statement 10 the basis OF the reports current
that he has secured controlling interest In tbe
Boston & Maine Railroad.
AS far as known in railroad circles here this
has not been accomplished, but the opinton il
held that President Mellen would like TO obtain
control OF that system If he could get IL to pre-
vent It, on the one hand from falling into the
hands OF the New York Central and allied in
teresls, anu on the other as means OF unifyiny
the New Haven system in New England ana as
an adjunct in developing coastwise traffic by the
recently acquired steamship lines.
The New York Central recently II is stated
secured control through ownership, or through
allied interests. Of upward of sixty thousand
one-hfth Of the entire amount outstanding
Quite recently fear was expressed In high rail-
road circles here that should the New York Cen
tral get the Boston & Maine hard blow would
be struck at the New Haven system and al
though the report could not be confirmed. it is
nrmly believed here that there have been nego-
uations, not yet completed looking TO control
, OF the Boston & Maine system by the New
Haven road
II such control should be obtained. II is re-
garded here as probable that the control will not
De In the form of direct purchase Of stock. but
pFeSufnptlVeIy, IN the form OF lease. which has
Deen the method which the New York New
Haven 4 Hartford Railroad Company in almost
all cases OF acquisitions OF other large prom
critics. has adopted, followed later by actual
mergers Any actual purchase is not considered
hkely. owing 10 the wide distribution of the BoS-
ton * Maine stock and lease would have to be
made by agreement probably with the directors
stock -
In the discussion here in reference 10 the mat
ter the theory OF lease is based on a larger
return than the per cent which the Boston 4
Maine stock pays IL has also been considered
here that there might be an exchanged Of New
raven STOCK for the Boston & Maine stock
NhCh also Is in accord with the policy OF tho
New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad
company. as done notably at the time OF
the lease of the Old Colony. The New Haven
road has large powers OF making such ex-
changes under its Connecticut charter
Boston. May I0.-President Iuci,s Turtle and
the other Boston & Maine officials REFUSE 70 con-
trn the reports which have been in circulation
Tor several weeks that that system will event.
uaIIy pass into the control OF another road.
President futile has made a number OF denials
open market.
The majority OF the shares are held bv the
american Express Company Boston NIedford.
Mass Franklin. y. H, and Maine people Many
OF the largest stockholders. IL is said do noe
care 10 transfer their holdings at present market
prices so Tar as can be learned no proposition
10 lease the road has been considered
Inc Boston x Maine system controls the Maine
central washington County and other lines IN
the four New England states