The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-05-15
MERGER ADVOCATED
BY LUCIUS TUTTLE
President Of B. & NJ. Makes Plea Before
Committee Of Massachusetts
Legislature.
SAYS UNIFICATION WILL
BENEFIT ALL SHIPPERS

the legislative committee on railroads
at the state house, and advocated the
merger of the New York. New Haven
& Hartford and Boston & Maine rail
roads.
Mr.. Tuttle said:
1T is unquestionably true that a
considerable number OF owners OF
Boston e. Maine railroad stock be-
lieved that unfication i'm some form OF
their separate interests with those Of
others who owned New Haven rail-
road stock, through a greater common
interest in the two properties, would
produce results beneficial not only to
themselves but. i'm a like or greater de-
gree. to their CustOmers-the general
public | am quite certain that they
believed such unification would result
in many improvements in the joint SER
vice. and that In many ways the needs
of these customers of both roads
throughout New England would be
better served and their commercial
welfare stimulated and improved.
mo actual sale Of Boston & Maine
stock was contemplated, but simply as
exchange Of It. share for share, for
New Haven stock, and the owners or
the two properties would have re-
mained practically unchanged In their
personnel. and those who exchanged
would have perpetuated their owner
ship and interest. although perhaps
under different corporate title.
"The consensus OF opinion OF those
who oppose any further uniilcation' OF
interest between these two great sys-
tens seems to be based upon the be
lief and the fear that the creation OF
a monopoly of transportation through
out New England will result In large
and widespread increases or transpor-
tation rates, together with decreased
competition and facilities. to the con
seauent disadvantage Of New Eng
lands commerce and trade.
81 recognize the impossibility OF pre-
dieting with any degree of assurance
what those who may be hereafter
charged with the administration or
these properties may think 1t neces-
sary or wise to do I'm regard to their
charge for their service; but 1t seems
10 me that, reasoning from analogy,
md taking what has been done In the
past as a guide TO what Is likely 10 De
done i'm the future, an examination Oh
New England railroad history for the
last 40 years will be reassuring In this
connection.
Tells Of First Consolidation.
"One of the first New England rail
road consultations attempted was
that of the New York & New Haven
with the Hartford 81 New Haven In
1872. The consolidation OF these two
properties absorbed the attention OF
the Connecticut legislature during It's
entire session of the year 1872, and
the strenuousness with which the mat
ter was contested was not unlike what
Is going on as to the matter now un-
der discussion.
THE legislature granted the per
mission and the two roads were put
together, and when that had been
done quiet and Contentment resumed
their sway, and everybody wondered
what the contention had really been
about. The results accruing from the
ioint operation of these two roads ap-
pear to have been SO satisfactory that
when. I'm 1882, the New Haven leased
the Air line, competitor extending
from New Haven to Willimantic; in
1887, the New Haven a. Northampton,
another competitor paralleling it tothe
northward, the Naugatuck, and the
Connecticut Valley; in 1892, the New
York, Providence & Boston and the
Housatonic; i'm 1898. the Old Colony;
and i'm 1898 the New England, there
was hardly a ripple of protest from
any one.
I'm northern New England, unitica-
ton of railroad interests began in 1884
by proposal TO lease the Eastern
railroad to the Boston a Maine. There
was also a bitter legislative contest
about this. The Boston & Maine was
to "gobble up the Eastern; they were
competitors, not only between Bos-
ton and Portland. but at many inter
mediate points; the Eastern rail
roads customers predicted that If the
lease were permitted. much of their
train service would be withdrawn, and
only such as would give most meagre
accommodation would be supplied, and
that would be concentrated upon the
Boston g. Maine. II was predicted that
rates would be raised and that indus
tries located along the line of the
Eastern would be Obliged TO so out of
business or move TO some more fav
ored region The courts as well as
the legislature were appealed to. and
the contest was prolonged.
"The consolidation was. however
finally permitted. and improvements
through better distribution of the
competitive train service, were a.
once instituted; uniform rates upor
the two systems were established