The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-03-20
RAILROAD WAR IN
new ENGLAND TO
COST $3O,OOO,OOO
Grand Trunk and New Haven
in Struggle to Control
Grain Shipments
NEW LONDON TOBE
SEABOARD OUTLET
Central Vermont System Will Be
Double Tracked for Distance
of 800 Miles

New York, March 20-In a war of
competition for the enormous grain |
carrying traffic of Canada improve
ments a gigantic scale have been
begun or are projected by the Grand
Trunk and the New York, New Haven
& Hartford railroads, with New Lon
don as the principal outlet on the
New England seaboard. The cost of
these improvements will exceed $780,
900, GOO.
The New Haven road was first in
the field with a project to defect the
commerce with which the Canadian
lines are freighted from the ports of
that country to New England, and
with strong bid to divide the pas
senger traffic of the New York Cen
trail between Montreal and other Ca
madam points and this city. Proposed
improvements of practically the entire
system west of New London and a
shorter route from this city and Con-
necticut points to Montreal were an
nounced.
Now the Grand Trunk is to meet the
bid of the New Haven with improve
ments of the Central Vermont its New
England line, which is not equipped
for handling the business which, it is
| anticipated, will flow to New London
| with the contemplated development of
| that port for ocean trade. The Grand
! Trunk will double track the Central
! Vermont from New London to St AL
| bans, VT, a distance of three hundred
| miles, and thence its own line to Mon
! treaI The Grand Trunk controls the
| Central Vermont absolutely under a
| 999 year lease
WILL SPEND $25,OOO,OOO.
The New Ravens projected improve
ments involve an expenditure of more
| than $25, 900, 600. OF this $40, 600 900 will
| be spent in shortening and improving
4 the route to Montreal from this city
4 7 ,d0T7 i7oI he
extension of the New York, Westches-
| ter and Boston road from White
Plains to Danbury, Conn, and the
| double tracking and Strengthening of
the Berkshire division.
Almost So, 900, 900 will be spent in i'm
provements IN and near New London
These include the construction of
new bridge across the Thames River,
the double tracking and shortening of
the route between Mantle River, nine
miles west of New London, and West
erIy R: L nineteen miles east; the
elevation of the tracks through New
London and the construction of new
passenger and freight stations.
The official announcement of the
New Haven road says the route is to
be shortened by tunneling under New
London, but it is reported that it has
| been decided to abandon the tunnel
project and elevate the tracks along
the water front.
NEW STATION IN NEW HAVEN.
The building of a new passenger
station in New Haven, the elimination
of the cut through which the present
station is approached and collateral
improvements will cost S6,OOO,ooO
The installation of new signal systems
and minor improvements will cost ST.
100000 more.
All these improvements will pro-
coed simultaneously, and, it is expect
ed may be com pleted in two years
Other millions will be spent IN cleo
trifying the main line from Stamford
to New Haven, but these are not in
cIuded in the $25. 100000 to be de-
frayed in a bid for Canadian trans
shipments.
The Grand Trunk will spend S.
100000 in double tracking and in
building grain elevators in New Lon
don In a year the Grand Trunks
coast to coast road will be completed.
The Canadian government is bearing
| one-half of the cost of building this
| great transcontinentaI line from the
| Pacific coast to Winnipeg, and it has
! Guaranteed the bonds issued to con-
| struct the line from Winnipeg to Hall
| fax.
The State of Connecticut took the
| initiative in the project to make New
London a great ocean port by appro-
priating 100000 for the building Of
piers and a grain elevator there.
! MORGAN IS INTERESTED.
! Both the New Haven and the Grand
Trunk have waterfront rights in New
London, ample for their own piers
and grain elevators. The two roads
are working in conjunction with the
! Connecticut Rivers and Harbors Com
| mission in the development of fac1li-
ties to attract big steamship lines
! Members of the commission have been
| in conference with J. P. Morgan, Jr.,
with reference to the White Star line
making New London it's American
port. 1t is known that Morgan inter-
| ests are back of the New Ravens
| great projects.
1t is said 81 a ton can be saved on
! freight to New London from any
| foreign port
+ All notions of a Grand Trunk ana
! New Haven agreement in New Eng
land have been abandoned. the
J Grand Trunk was about to begin work
J on an extension from Palmer, Mass,
! TO Providence, where it had obtained
/ liberal concessions, when the project
was suddenly given up, and 1T was an
uounced that in lieu of this existence
| which would have cost the Grand
| Trunk many millions, the New Haven
| would handle it's traffic to PROVIDENCE
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has tabooed this agreement, and now
if will be open competition between
the two roads for all classes of traffic
SAPIRSTEIN'S RECITAL