Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-09-16
BOSTON & MAINE MERGED.
day-orders MIX Rate Reduced and
liberalization Of Hoosae Tunnel.

An important development in New Eng
land railroad circles took place Tuesday,
| when Lucius futile of Boston retired
from the presidency of the Boston &
Maine Railroad company and President
Charles S. Melen Of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford company was made
acting president Of the Boston & Maine
system with full powers of president
| The change came I'm the monthly meet
ing of the board Of directors of the Bos-
ton q Maine company, President futile
declining recollection because of III
health and because he believed the New
Haven company should assume direct re-
sponsiblity Of the Boston & Maine. He
was given a leave of absence for the re-
naming months Of his term He has been
at the head Of the Boston & Maine sys-
tenn II years
The placing of Mr.. Mellen at the head
of the Boston & Maine means the practical
consummation of the merger Of that road
with the New Haven railroad, which has
generally been accepted as a fact for the
past year or more. The movement for
this merger began when the New Haven
railroad bought controlling ownership of
the Boston & Maine stock. When the
Massachusetts, courts practically forced IL
TO relinquish this stock II was sold to
John l.. Billiard of Meriden, Conn. and
later was acquired by the Boston Rail
road Holding company, the organization
Tor which this express purpose was au-
thorized by the last session Of the Massa -
chusetts Legislature. Holding this stock
as security, the holding company was au-
thorized to issue bonds to the amount Of
$4,000 600, the proceeds OF their sale to be
used for the improvement of the propertv
OF the Boston & Maine company. These
bonds by the terms Of the legislative act
could be sold to any railroad company op-
Grating i'm New England, and they were
bought by the New Haven company. Thus
the New Haven railroad is owner i'm all
but name Of the Boston & Maine
The first official acts OF President Mel
len upon assuming control OF the Boston
N Maine were to order a reduction OF Is
per cent in the milk rate and the imme-
date electrifcation Of the Hoosac tun
mel which indicate the aggressive policy
he has planned The reduction Of tho
milk rate in substance carries out tho
original purposes Of the Saunders bill ac-
cording to the interpreta ton nut upon II
by those who believed when il was en-
acted that it would solve the milk prob
lem. The new rate, II Is reported. will
be based upon the New Haven car rate
with reduction in the can rate TO tho
car rate basis. The effect Of this will be
10 give the farmer the same rate on his
Shipment OF one or more cans as that maid
by the large contractor per can for bie
carload In other words. II is what the
FARMERS have been demanding and what
they tried to secure by legislation in the
saunders bill. Upon receipt Of the news
that reduction in the rate had been
ordered the BOSTON Co-opera tive Muk
producers company issued statement
TO the effect that the immediate emergen-
cy in the milk situation had been solved
ana the threatened heavy loss to pro-
ducers averted
The order for the identification Of
Hoosac tunnel means that trains will run
through the tunnel by electric power
me condition OF the tunnel was called
10 mind wildly by an accident July 40
when train left the rails while passing
through the tunnel. compelling the pass
engers, none OF whom were hurt TO re-
main more than two hours in unventilated
cars. '''
soon after taking up his additional du-
Ties President Mellen issued a statement
IN which he said, in part: We have re-
celved many complaints in regard to SER
wee furnished the people OF Ma ssa chusetts
ana New England by the Boston G. Maine
ranroad The governor OF the state has
called on us. as controlling that railroad
10 give the people better service and soc
that the conditions upon that property are
promptly improved. The people have a
right TO good service and we will trv 70
satisfy them" ~