The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-22
Fitchburg Railroad Should
Remain as an Integral
Part as at Present
SEPARATION FROM
THE NEW HAVEN ROAD
Two Main Recommendations from the
Public Service Commission of Massa-
Separate Trolley Lines.

BOSTON, Jan. 21-That the Boston
Maine railroad should at once be
fully separated from the New Haven
system, and that the Fitchburp rail
road should remain an integral part
Of the Boston 4 Maine system, are two
of the recommendations contained in
the important annual report of the
public service commission to the legis-
ature. The report deals at length,
with the railroad conditions in the
state and six points are made along
lines Of recommendations, briefly as
follows:
First: That the Boston & Maine
aud New Haven systems at once sep
arate so that the Boston 81 Maine shall
be operated by a management having
neither motive or interest. direct or
Indirect. with any other railroad sys
ten, and shall not divert TO any other
railroad any trati1c or profits that ought
70 accrue TO its own treasury.
The Boston 4 Maine should be a
northern New ngland railroad system.
1t should make such affiliations IN
northern New England railroad system.
American and Canadian trunk lines as
il finds most for its advantage and the
advantage of its community.
4 Il should make no affiliations or con
tracts with the New Haven, PenEsyl-
vaTia or other southern trunk lines,
unless such affiliations appear Ia be
reasonably demanded in the interest oi
4 the public Or the Boston & Maine road
Second: That the Fitchburg rail
road he retained as am integral part oI
the Boston < Iaine system, prov idee
/; he two lines can lie operated toget he1
on terms Just and reasonable to the
holders OF securities of both lines Th'
itchburg railroad should compete fo1
through western traffic with the Bostor
\ Albany ana other lines TO the soutl
Of Fitchburg
The -o-called partnership outracr
made in February 1911. between the
New York Central and the New llaver
. With reference TO the operation of tht
Boston & Albany on joint accoun
should bc terminated.
The report says: ~ We understan,
that steps have been taken for tha
termination. Actual and wholesom
competition should be re.estabiishei
between the Boston < Albany in tn
center, the Fitchburg on the north an
the New Haven ON the south. Thi
recommendation is not to he under
J stood as condemning proper traffic 81
rangements between the Boston & A
hany and other connecting lines,
Third: The commission hold tina
public interest il best served by tn
separation of trolley lines from tn
steam road lines.
Fourth; The outside steamship line
from Boston should not be conduete
by the New Haven railroad. Whole
some competition between rail an
water should be established.
Fifth The statement does not e,
press an opinion as to what part
! should control the steamship lines, b'
cause the interstate commerce commits
sion has to pass on that matter unde
: the Panama act.
Z Sixth: Assuming that the Boston
! Maine is to be separated from the Ne
: Haven, the Boston 4 Maine require
a radical reorganization. 1t is organ
: icallv unsound in the fdisproportion {
it's fixed charges to its normal incom
) At par value, the stockholders of til
Boston & Maine hold only about
! per cent of the capital stock of th
! entire system. Many, if not ALL {
! the leased lines of the Boston x MaiI
! should have been consolidated with ii
: parent company. 1t is unsound to pc
! NIT one corporation to guarantee DIV
: dends on the stocks of about 20 otnt
! corporations. many of which are {
! inferior earning capacity.
+. The report then goes on to diseu
! the general Boston & Maine situate
: and urges a reorganization at II
! earliest mo.nent. as notes are due al
! must be paid to keep the road solven
1t is better. the commission states,
) have the stockholders and the manag
: ment come together by agreement thu
! To- have compulsory action taken. II
stockholders and the management mu
! face the serious facts now before thel