New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-21
MELLEN DEFENDS COURSE
United Service Would Benefit
New England, He Says.
SECTION AT DISADVANTAGE
Tells Why Ontario e. Western
and Rutland Roads Were Sc
cured-Rlames Brandeis.
by Telegraph 10 The Tribune.

BY Telegraph 10 The Tribuucl
Boston. Dec. 20.--Defending the policy
Of the New York. New Haven & Hartford
Railroad Company. Charles 5. Mcllen.
president Of that road. gave out to-day
statement TO the newspapers, in which
he sets forth his reasons for his acts as
head of the big corporation.
Mr. Mellen says he has studied every
hill and valley OF New England and Is
an enthusiastic believer i'm the ability Of
the section 10 sustain. if need he, far
larger population than its present 1000
600 inhabitants. As one who has conf
dcnce in the future of New England he
believes that il should have every pos
shle outlet by land and sea. Now Eng
lands incoming and outgoing freight ne
SAYS, is competitive in all the markets of
America, and It should he made so In
every market in the world. But New
England, he contends Is at a disadvan-
tagc i'm this contest, as the states lie
furthest east ard must haul their supplies
and raw material from remote points,
while the trunk lines find ii better TO
dump their freight into New York. both
for export and domestic consumption. than
to permit the New England lines TO par
ticipate in the through rates.
The contest Mr.. Mellen says, can best
be carried on by a united transportation
system east Of the Hudson River, and
next TO that by our Canadian neighbors
and our lines of transportation BY water
east south and west"
Mr. Mcllen declares that il was TO pro-
teot New Enslands hard coal supplies
and to give a water outlet to the west
that control OF the New York. Ontario q
Western and Rutland roads was So
cured, and it was to insure prompt de-
livery Of freight that the steamship lines
through Long Island Sound are main
tanned.
Guards Against Canadian Monopoly
In further explanation Of his policy Mr..
Mellen said in part:
The Canadian lines aye committed TO tho
DEVELOPMENT of their own scapOrtS and
have ben largely subsidized by their own
government To- that erd. Every dlCtate OF
loyalty and patriotism commands them 10
work first for thar purpose
| want the railroads OF CANADA 10 nav,
clear and fair opportunity To- transact
business ali over New England. ! DO not
want 10 give monopoly Of 'thduIau
transportation 70 one city or one port OF
TO ten railroad stations out OF the l""
now existent In New England.
When the Grand Trunk proposed 10 Co"l'
into Providence and occupy the NJ"
Haven company S rdlls ana lcIiniiid ~,
thus forcing uG T. provide the capithl loI
its accommodation. present ana futuTe'
would have been unfdithful 10 my uuS'
had J not protested. -
The agitation 10 msledd 'ac p'op'
started with my refusal {" pay an aDholr
NAL price for q privately held block OF
Boston e. Maine shares.
The most widely spread and decply
rooted Islander against me Nv iiS' a..
that / agreed i'm writing. through Mt.
Choate. our attorney at the Massachu t.
state House. never to buy any NOR VA
ton properties in Massachusetts any
later broke this agreement. no SUE"
promise or agreement was ever made,
What was agreed TO was that. pending
consid Grafton Of proposed legislation that
would enable the New York. New Haven
A. Hartford Railroad Company 10 give tnt
Teople of Western Massachusetts greatE
Increased transportation facilities by PEI
hitting the New Haven as Massachnu-
setts corporation, TO own shares IN uoilrH
Iiuss. the New Haven would tax" no fuI
ther proceedings in this development
while the matter was uhdcf tohSiutId-
ton by the committee ana the LtkIs-
lature except as specified Tor certain
construction work and contracts theh uh
der way. ..-,,.,. ,i,,,
In brief. | may say that no trolley me
has been bought by the Ne" haven ro"u
10 suppress competition.
The New Haven Railroad IS accused OF
having promised identification FOR Boston
and breaking that promise. Nhen inrI
ger of the Boston a Maine ana the New
Haven was under consideration the New
Haven said that il II We're permitted 10
merge the properties Il would agree that
within five years II would electTltN the
railroads within the metropolitan district
10
ommend the plan Of the New Haven com
panv.
Steamship Lines Do Not Pay.
Tho New Haven has been criticised for
rs ownership OF steamboat lines, par
ticularlv on the Sound. Practically all
steamboat lines operated BY the Ne"
Haven on the Sound came within us
leased lines. and were extensions or those
leased lines to New York, and they were
mostly acquired before the advent OF the
present administration.
New York is a series OF cues uhdeI one
name If we could handle all our buSi-
ress AZ one terminal, IL would very much
reduce our expenses. Our pier rentals
and charges. not including labor ara
cost of operation. are In excess or ono
nCiiiion dollars per annum. These steam
boat lines do not in themselves pay.
They can only be justified In connection
Nth q business like the railroads. which
they can help. and when can rehe'e I'S
congestion through them
Revertlng to the attacks. Mr. Mellen
concludes. that when for Interior pur-
noses the integrity OF the management il
assailed and when accidents still beyond
the reach Of human invention have car
ried trusted employees and those in their
charge TO death and such mlsfortuncs
are used to brighten and 10 demoralize
the transportation and traffic OF New
England. | ask the public, who have the
most AT stake IN this matter, II the time
has not now arrived when. in their own
interest, they should can HAT