Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-25

ing leases and consultations OF separate
railroad corporations The New Haven
system to-day is made up OF 1853 differ
ent roads and the Boston and Maine sys-
tn includes 1853 different roads. These
consultations have been for the benefit
of the public. Passenger and freight
rates are now regulated by law, not by
competition, and competition cannot pro-
mote greater efficiency In service and
equipment or either, when the railroads
have not sufficient means, and cannot
obtain the means, to provide either better
service, or better equipment Therefore,
1t is for the advantage OF a community
in providing for transportation that there
shall be no more highways than ncces-
sary.
Moreover, 1t can be asserted, with con-
fidence, that the unihcation of the rail-
road systems of New England, incudinr
the acquisition by the New Haven rail-
road % the control of the Boston and
Maine, has been advantageous and profit
able to New England from the operating
standpoint The industries and the pub
lie <sape- gained in the character of the
service.
The management of tho Boston and
Maine railroad was assumed by the New
Haven in october. 1910 During the year
ending June 30, 1911, the value of the
property employed in steam railroad serv-
ice by the New Haven and its leased
lines, conservatively estimated. was s433,-
l1o,S6O upon which its net return from
steam railroad operation was slo 49,, sos
less than four and one-ha!f per cent. on
the capital employed.
The cost of property devoted to rail-
road purposes by the Boston and Maine
rahgoad, and leased lines, during the
year ending June 30. 1912, was approx
matey, 226,37O. 600. producing a net re-
turn of about 100000, or tour per cent.
on the capital employed.
LOWER FREIGHT RATE.
The managers of the railroad systems
of New England We're giving the public
an average freight rate much less than
the cost of similar service in other coun-
tries, and upon the whole a constantly
improving service, its efficiency and
economy being mainly due to the union
of the several corporations under one
management
There had been mistakes in the man
agement of the Boston and Maine rail-
funds to provide equipment and improve
mcnts to keep pace with the natural de-
velopment Of business. This lack, It was
the hope OF the management, and the
desire of representative business bodies
of New England to supply by the help
of the New Haven road encouraged by
the patience and forbearancc of the pub
lie.
This opportunity was denied An at
tack upon New England railroads, for
which some of the financial mistakes of
the railroads afforded a pretext, and
which seems to have gathered inspirati
from political and personal, and possibly,
stock jobbing interests, was made with
Nlgor and animositY, resulting in an hys-
terlcal condition of public opinion, and
a feeling of hostility and resentment to-
wards the railroads and their manag-
ers, making any Improvement of finan-
'cial or operating conditions impossible;
and resulting In the depreciation of the
price of the shares of the New Haven
and Boston and Maine stocks to very
much less than par compelling the pass
tune. distress, and in some instances. alb
solute want to the owners
PRESIDENT ROOSEvELT's VIEWS
President Roosevelt recognized the ad-
vantage of the practical consolidation of
the railroads of New England into one
woring system, and the impetus thereby
given to the development of New England
industries and commerce. confirming his
language to Congress that nothing could
be more foolish than to so administer
the law as to Unnecessarily interfere
with the development and operation of
our railways" Nevertheless the depart
ment of justice, Investigating through
men from distant States unacquainted
with the demands and needs of New
England business served by this CONSOLE
dalton, has invoked the Sherman law
against it, threa tens a prosecution and in
sists with the utmost strenuousness that
1t shall be dismembered, and that the
securities representing real values and
property, which. under proper manage
ment and considerate treatment. are
worth all they cost, shall be placed upon
the market and sold without regard to
i'c price lllty may DrlnR, ana the pow
erty and suffering sure to ensue
This action cannot proceed from a de-
sire to enforce the provisions of the
Sherman law, for If the principles Of
that law were applied to the railroad
situation in New England, the roads
most highly competitive would be those
first affected. For instance-the old New
York and New England. so-caled, with
Its connections running from Boston to
the Hudson river, is in direct COMPETE
ton with the Shore line of the New
Haven. These two properties would have
been separated. The Boston and Lowell,
Eastern and Boston and Maine would
have been the object of attack or the
Northern railroad of New Hampshire,
and the Fitchburg and Cheshire. operat-
ing between Boston and White River
Junction. If 1t was the aim of the de-
partment of justice to restore railroad
competition in New England. these prop
critics would have been restored to their
independent position upon the railroad
map. 1t is apparent, therefore, that while
the sherman law was invoked by the
department Of Justice In bringing the
action against the New Haven system,
the desire to enforce that law could not
have been the motive which prompted
the authorities at Washington to action.
1t Is useless for us to speculate as to
the true reason for the action of the
federal government except so far as 1t
may aid in coming to a reasonable con-
clusion In regard to the future. Whether
1t was the wish of the administration