Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-15


| York. Ontario & Western by the
Grand Trunk, afterwards modified to
| the control of the New London North
ern by the New Haven, and the con-
troll of the New York. Ontario & West
| ern by the Grand Trunk.
1.-THE New Haven wanted at all
times while l was connected with it,
an arrangement with the Grand Trunk
for the distribution of business com
ing by way of that road in the terri
tory served by the New Ravens lines.
1t wanted fer its manufactures and
industries the benefit of the Grand
Trunks differential rates, but its bus
mess was so tied up with the trunk
lines, notably the Pennsylvania and
the New York Central, that every eff
fort to open the territory of the New
Haven to these differential rates met
with decided opposition on the part
of the trunk lines and these lines were
potent in the affairs of the New Ha-
ven and were represented on its board
of directors and by substantial hold
ings of its capital stock.
These interests were apprehensive
of the effect upon the traffic they en-
joyed with the New Haven Railroad if
an additional participant with low
er basis of rates were permitted in the
territory in question.
There never was a time probably
during my administration of the New
Haven road, when l could have sue
cessfully put into effect a traffic in
| terchange with the Grand Trunk on
its differential rates basis until the
threatened extension into Providence
came before my board for considera-
ton. Then l have no doubt it could
have been done and l acted upon that
basis in the arrangements and nego-
tiations or attempted negotiations
with Mr.. Chamberlain. Mr.. Hays sue
cessor, which were interrupted just as
they were apparently on the point of
success by the action of the depart
ment of justice in its indictment of
Mr.. Chamberlin, Mr.. Smithers and
myself, for an alleged conspiracy in
stopping the extension of the Grand
Trunks line from Palmer to Provi-
dence.
At no time during the period the
Grand Trunk was apparently construct
ing its line from Palmer to Providence
was / impressed with the good faith or
intentions of the Grand Trunk people to
actually construct such a line. 1 al
ways believed and do believe at the
present time. the original and primary
intention was simply to force a very
good trade for the interchange of busi-
ness between the New Haven and the
Grand Trunk on terms which would APP
peal to the Grand Trunk people, but
would cause the New Haven a very seri-
ON through he eli ha
Haven would have been under of read
justing the relations with all its connec-
tons In saying this, l am not unmind-
full of the fact that ultimately financial
considerations caused by the depression
in Europe occasioned by the Balkan
war. brought about the cessation of the
project in 1872
MY belief that the Grand Trunk
never contemplated constructing the
projected lines for which it had obtained
charters in the several New England
states is justified by statements made by
Mr.. Hays in correspondence (which has
come to my attention
Tt has been stated that I used all the
force at my command to prevent the
raGnd Trunk from getting its charters
for parallel OF the New Haven and
Boston & Maine lines.
This is incorrect. So far as the
lines in Rhode Island were concerned
my record is clear, my instructions
were explicit to all my subordinates
to oppose the Grand Trunk in no way
except the following:
First, that they should not be per-
mitted to take or use any portion of
the property of the New Haven rail-
road necessary for its own use.
Second, that they should not be per-
mitted to cross highways at grade.
Third, that if the New Haven
should electrify it's lines in Providence
that the same system of identification
should be required to electrify its
lines at the same time.
1.-THE first reason was that the New
Haven's property was already seri'
ously congested and had to be enlarg
ed to accommodate its own business
To have required it to accommodate
a tenant upon it's expensive property
would have been the equivalent of re
curing the New Haven to furnish the
capital to enable the Grand Trunk tt
compete with it.
ITO have allowed the Grand Trunl
to have made grade crossings on high
ways with it's railroads would have
eventually meant that the state would
have had to participate in the cost o.
the elimination of these crossings ant
the taxes of the state would thereby
have been greatly increased and thu
New Haven was one of the largest ta'
payers in the state, therefore, it woult
have been an assessment of the New
Haven to have facilitated the Crane
Trunks entering into competition
with it."
1.-The New Haven had had in con
temptation for several years the cleo
trification of its main line between
New York and Boston. This would
have necessitated the electritication o
the Union station and approaches il
Providence. If it should electrify it
line it did not want another line IL
that station as it's tenant that wa
using steam. Two kinds of electrified
ton within the same station were i'm
possible. therefore it asked that an.
other tenant ShOuld adODt the electri