Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-10
Should Abandon the Trolley Lines
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 Continued from Page One.) nine years have been wasteful in the extreme and that the methods by which those operations have been con- ducted are unnecessarily involved and complex. The reason for this is as apparent as the fact itself. The pres ent management of that company started out with the purpose of con trolling the transportation facilities of New England. In the mplishment of this purpose it bought what must be had and paid what must be paid. To this purpose and its attempted execution can be traced every one of these financial misfortunes and dere- lictions.''
 Soivency Not Impaired.
 Tt seems proper to add that while the financial operations of this com pany have resulted in heavy losses there is nothing to indicate that its solvency has been impaired. The company has expended in the last mert over s50.0 .000 a mile, g sum al- most equal to the average capita.liza ton of the railroads of the United States at the beginning of that period. While this expenditure has been made with a free hand, there is nothing to show that it has not been wisely made and much to indicate that the result has fully Justified the outlay. The out side properties of the New Haven have been acquired at extravagant prices. They are for the most part of substantial value, and in many in- stances are a kind of property the value of which should improve. The financial condition of the company calls for careful consideration and prudent actions. but gives no occasion for hysteria." Should Divest Itself of Trolley Lines.
 
 should divest itself of it's trolley lines. The acquisition of trolley lines as we'll as steam lines which are competitive is already prohibited but this does not reach the root of the matter
 It is suggested that control by the New Haven of existing trolley lines probably would be used to prevent the construction of other and competing lines in the future, although the ac- quisition of existing lines might not be violation of the Sherman Act.
 We feel that the public" says the Commission, may well protect itself against the control of trolley lines and the prevention of competition in that field. Such competition is not deStruc- tive of railroad business proper" In that connection, the report adds: $1o0,O0o to Mold Public Opinion. Ut is worthy of remark that the general counsel of the New Haven com pany testified that, while the legtsla- ture of Connecticut did finally vote lr1- animously in favor of the New Haven ownership of trolley lines, sentiment was at the outset the other way, and it was only after $10O,000 had been expended in 'molding the opinion of the legislature that the final result was attained.''
 The so-called merger between the New Haven and the Boston & Maine is discussed at length but no opinion is given.
 Upon the whole the record shows that the performance of the passenger trains of the New Haven is good, dis tinctly better than that upon any other system operating in the state of New York; while that upon the Bos- ton & Maine is fully equal to that upon any New York system. While England should be well satisfied upon the whole with the passenger per- formance of these lines under investi- gation."
 l Adverse criticism is made of the passenger train equipment of both the | New Haven and the Boston 6 Maine. l It is said by statistics to be not up to date. Both roads lack steel cars and vestibuled cars, both of which make for comfort and safety of travellers. It l is shown that other lines, in these re- spects, are far better equipped thaa
 
 1 Shortcomings in Freight SerVtss. The serious complaint of the freight service, particularly of the Boston & Maine, demonstrated" the report says, beyond question, that in many 1 cases there had been a most serious short coming In the quality of the service rendered. It raised pre- 1 sumption that the service of the Boa l ton & Maine, as a whole, and that of l the New Haven to a more limited ex- 1 tent, should be vigorously condemned" ," | Our general conclusion is that 1 freight service upon the New Haven 1 be- although fairly comparing with l that in other sections where condt- tions are substantially the same; that the freight service upon the Boston & Maine during the period covered was extremely poor and justified in great measure the criticisms it received 1 No satisfactory condition can b0 l brought about at many points on the Boston & Maine, however, until inn l facilities at those points. There must 1 be a betterment in the physical condi- 1 ton of the property before there can | be an altogether satisfactory freight service
 Passenger Fares Favorable to Public, Summarizing the passenger flare situation in New England, Conamis- sioner Prouty says:
 1 Its passenger fares have been more | favorable to the local travehng public | than in any other portion of the Unit 1 ed States The recent decision of the United States Supreme Court sustain = 1 ing the statutory two-cent per mile fares fin several states will tend to ] hot fo