Republican farmer., 1909-04-02

PkUfO,ED STEAMSHIP
 MERGER AFFECTING
 LOCAL COMPANIES Co.,, and the Central Vermont railroad, current reports have it, are going in to the water freight transportation business on a gigantic scale and are ven & Hartford railroad and the New England Navigation Go. a battle in territory which they have practically controlled for several years. The business is going to be. it is claimed, a branching out of the business of the Bridgeport & New York Transporta- tion line. which is backed by H. H. Rogers, and a consolidation of 12 other lines along Long Island Sound.
 According to tf is story. the Bridge port line of boats to New York, the boat route from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson, the New Haven line landing at the City wharf here, the New Lon don line of steamers now directed by the Grand Trunk, a Providence line of boats, a line of shallow draft boats up the HouSa tonic river to Derby, Shelton and Ansonia, and a Hudson river line of steamers are to be merged into one proposition-a community of interests to cover freighting, and later on pas senger traffic, from all prominent shore points along the Sound.
 This possibility it is said, is causing the New Haven road managers to sit up and take notice.
 Just what the details of the plan are have not yet fully materialized. It is known, however, that men, believed to be in the employ of the New England Navigation Go. have been here for weeks. inspecting the loaoing and un- loading of the New York business of indicating that there is some anxiety on the part of outside interests to keep track of the work of the new compe- tition.
 They are also taking cognizance. it is said, of the fact that the Bridge port and New York Transportation line is considering the introduction of boats up the Housatonic river to Der by, as indicated above, to act as feed CTS for the new combination either at New Haven or Bridgeport; that the freight service of the concern at New Haven will be added to quickly by the putting on of two New York propellers of 1000 tons burden to make daily trips from each end of the route; that the John H. Starin line to that port will be absorbed by the new concern.
 It is calculated that the undertak- ing marks the beginning of a competi-
 
 tant than has ever been known before. as it will be line which will be fed by trolley freights along the Shore Line section in eastern Connecticut, is made p&usible by the fact that Mor- ton F. Plant, the eastern Connecticut who is largely interested in New England trolleys is also a firm
 And back of this comes another story. If the Vermont Central railroad Is behind this move, as is commonly believed. 1t is a well known fact that the Grand Trunk is its packer. For years the only outlet which the Grand Trunk has had to the Sound is via the .. ", by the way of Brattleboro, Will limantfc and New London. At New London the Central Vermont has built the finest ocean pier in this state. It was calculated entirely for the recep- ion and shipping of the heaviest of steamship cargoes and that freight trains are running night and day from New London to carry freight in ship steamers to the Grand Trunk, and thus forward it to the west. This round about line has always been thorn in the side of the New Haven road on western bound business, ,ut the New Haven has never been abIe to get hold of the little and old fashioned line of rails which the Grand
 
 London and which is said to be about he only railroad in this state which 1 he New Haven does not own
 The competition of the Grand Trunk n connection with it's western busi- 1 ness is said to be a thing zealously | by the New Haven road peo- l ,le. l
 John F. Grandfield. local agent of the 1 Bridgeport & New York Transports | ion Line, was seen at his office at the | oot of Pembroke street. this morning. l He said that he was aware that the i ,'g combine was under way. but that | he including of the Starin line in the was news to him. He said | le had received notice from the New Fork offices of the company that a arger boat would be placed on the Bridgeport line next month. to take he place of the Conohoe which was ioing more work than it was intended ,he should do.
 Arrangements have been made for he enlarging of the company's CT lere and the erection of a larger shed md freight house.
 As for the local business. MT. Grand- field said his company was bring ny nore freight from New York to this .ity than the other company but the pads from this city were much lighter. The merchants. he said. were giving he company splendid support, but that many manufacturers being obligated o the railroad company because of idetracks. continue to send all of their reight to New York by the New Eng and Navigation Co.'S lines. The side racks and the failure of other steam ,oat lines to hold on in recent years nave also caused merchants to hes ate before removing their patronage rom the company. MT. Grandfie-d is i lUite elated over the future prospects f his company. The Strattord Oyste- |o which rented portion of the ines pier .havevacated during the pas. week. to make room for the proposoSh 
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