Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-06
ON -FOUR COUNTS.
Boston & Maine Convicted
Of Violating Statutes
Similar Gases Against New York
Central to Be Heard Today.
Boston & Maine Must Also Rebuild
Bridges at North Station.

Boston, Jan. 5.-Trial was begun be-
fore Judge Dodge and a Jury in the
United States district court here today
OF suits brought by the government
against four railroads charging viola
ton of the Interstate commerce law IN
not providing proper safety appliances
for freight cars. The complaint charg-
es Is violations by the New York
Central Railroad, five by the Boston
& Maine, three by the Union Freight
Railway and one by the New York,
New Haven & Hartford. The Boston
& Maine cases were taken up first and
counsel for the railroad, Charles T..
Fierce. admitted two of the violations
charged, those being cases of defec-
tive couplings.
Philip j. Doherty, assistant United
States district attorney conducted the
governments cases, assisted by As
sistant District Attorney Garland. The
penalty prescribed by the law for each
violation of this nature is 500.
A verdict of guilty was returned on
four of the five counts against the
Boston & Maine. One of the counts
was decided in favor OF the defendant
company by order of the court on the
ground that the evidence on that par
ticular count was insufficient To two
of the counts the company pleaded
guilty, While it was convicted on
tWosotherS.
The cases against the New York
Central Railroad will be heard tomor-
row.
The secretary of war has approved
the finding of The board OF engineers
to the effect that the Boston & Maine
bridges constitute an unreasonable
obstruction to navigation. Lieut. Col.
Edward Burr a member Of this board,
in a notice sent to the railroad COM
pany says:
1T is proposed to require the follow-
ing changes to be made In said bridges
by the 3lst day of December, 1913
''To rebuild all said bridges on stone
or iron piers
''To increase the clear height of the
draw spans in all of said bridges to
not less than % feet above mean high
water.
ITO increase the width OF the draw
extent as may be necessary, in. the
'Piih'l VI Tic SeSittdIy vi WdI, W
make navigation through the said
bridges reasonably free, easy and I'M
INSTRUCTED.
''To equip said bridges with improv-
ed modern types of draws capable of
quick operation
The question of reconstruction of
these bridges, which constitute large
portion of the train yard at the North
station, has been under consideration
for long time. No official action was
taken, however, until the fall CT 1906,
when complaint was made to the war
department of the continued obstruc-
ton to navigation. The secretary of
war then ordered an investigation by
a board Of engineers consisting of
Lieut.. Col. Burr of Boston, Col. d.
Lockwood of New York and Major
Taylor of New London.
Pending the hearing to be held on
the matter on Jan. II at the Federal
building ir this city the board of en-
gneers will consult with state and
city officials with a view to making
recommendations that will be in ac-
cordance with other proposed future
public improvements in this district.
The proposed raising of the bridges
if put into effect would necessitate a
radical remodelling Of the North sta
ton and night necessitate the en-
roor above the street level, as IS the
case at present in Philadelphia, Jersey
City and other places.