The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-29
Grand Trunk and Canadian
Line in Same Territory.
Monopoly Impossible When
Field Tapped Is Rich.
BOSTON THE OBJECTIVE POINT
President MeIlen Admits 1t to
New York Board.
Money Investigation Must Rely
on Banks Statements.

New York, Feb. 29.-Charles S.
Mellen, president of the New York.
/ New Haven & Hartford Railroad COM
pany, is quoted as having said to the
public service commission sitting at
Albany recently that he is now salts
fled that the Grand Trunk railway
Will succeed in its attempt to pene-
trate and bisect New England. The
Grand Trunk, through it's practical
control of the Central Vermont Rail
road company and the railroad whose
southern terminal is at New London,
Conn, had railroad authority in New
England long before Mr.. Mellen con-
templated unifying into one exclusive
system the railroad lines of New
England. The Grand Trunk also was
years ago the owner of a line stretch
ing from Montreal to Portland, Maine.
But it was apparently the view of
President Mellen that such railroad
terminals as the Grand Trunk possess
ed at New London or at Portland, Me-,
were not sufficient to enable the Grand
Trunk seriously to interfere with the
plans of the New Haven company. Re
Gently subsidiary railroad company
sponsored and really owned by the
Grand Trunk, but operating under
charters received from the states of
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, has
undertaken to build a line from a
point some fifteen miles east of
Springfield, Mass. to Providence, r.
l.. At the point where this new road
begins the Grand Trunk, through it's
Central Vermont alliance. is brought
into actual physical connection with
this new railroad.
Providence=it was clear to all rail-
way managers who took an interest in
the important struggle in progress in
New England-could not be the sole
objective point of the Grand Trunk.
For although Providence has a fine
harbor large commerce. by sea and
originates IS well as distributes very
large manufacturing transportation,
nevertheless the city of Providence,
with all its advantages, did not seem
to be of sufficient consequence to JUS
tlfy the desperate and at last success
full attempts made by the Grand Trunk
railroad to secure terminals there I'M
less the Grand Trunks real objective
was Boston
Now that President Mellen has con-
fesSed. as reported, to the public utili-
ties commission of New York that in
his opinion the Grand Trunk railroad
is certain to succeed in its attempt to
make great advances into New Eng
land territory, it is inevitable that
there should be very important
economic lesson in this New England
railroad activity
Competition Is Certain.
President Mellen's professed plan has
been so to concentrate and unity the rail-
way systems Of New England that
very economical service could be given to
the manufacturers and merchants OF
New England, and its manufacturing Op-
portunities be greatly developed. 1t
seemed, however, according to President
Mellen's philosophy. necessary practically
to control the entire railway systems of
New England. He has made steady and
successful approaches to the Boston &
Maine system and by means of very
close community of interest with the New
York Central has gained all the advant-
ages which he saw in the Boston & Al
bany railway and is soon to secure the
Rutland railroad.
Yet, notwithstanding President Mellen's
success in unifying and concentrating the
railway systems of New England, until
occasionally there has been heard the
plant that all of New England was to oe
dominated by a railroad monopoly, never
theless. just as Mr.. AIellen's plans are to
be fully contaminated, the Grand Trunk
Of Canada. one Of the vast railway sys-
TENS of the world, with stupendous cap
ital and resources behind it, soon to
reach across the continent, has ventured
to make advances into New England and
with intent to enter into competition with
the New Haven railroad for transpOrta-
ton business
This would seem to prove the accuracy
of the statement which has often been
made that successful railway combine
ton, whose purpose has been to secure a
monopoly of transportation in certain
zones or belts, stretching even across the
continent. is sure to develop powerful
comparatively speaking small district OF
the country. But 1t Is very rich in ac-
cumulated capital, in its manufactures, /
and it is soon to develop on a large scale !
certain lines of agriculture
Mr. Mel1en, more than any other man
in the railroad business, at least of New
England citizenship has realized the op- |
portunities which Boston offers as a sea- !
port His aim has been to stimulate the |
growth of Boston as q commercial cen |
ter and he has realized that the superb |
harbor needed only adequate docks and
piers and sufficient terminal facilities to |