New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-11
MELLEN OPPOSED
OPENING RIVER
Improving Upper Conecti-
cut Discussed in Let
ter Read.
T. E. BYRNES URGED
TO HOLD 1T UP
New Haven Didn't Want to Re-
build Bridges Above Hartford,
Ex-Presldent Testified.

Persons living along tho Connecticut
River above Hartford may sometimes
wonder why their waterway In. never
been opened up To steamboat nnyign-
ton ns far north ms their front yards
saving Thorn the necessity Of travelling
down 10 Hartford by tho New Haven
Railroad II they wanted 90 take u sail.
This question was discussed briefly yas
terday nj the trial Of tho eleven former
New Haven directors charged with con
npifing 10 monopolila New England
railroad and steamboat transportation.
The discussion was brought about by
tho following l0tter, written on Jauu-
AIRY 20. 1904. by Charles 8. Mollen.
whom president II tho Now Haven. 10
Timothy T.. Byrnes. known ma Nellen's
handy man In legislative mAtterst
your favor Of tho 26th relative 10
the Improvement Of the Connecticut
River between Hartford and Springfield
is ut hand You understand want you
10 keep track Of this matter and keep
rio advised as TO tho situation and do
tho best you know how 10 hold IL up
and In such n way that this company
may not be suspected Of having any
part In tho transaction.
"You will take such interest In the
matter from time TO time as may occur
10 you, and bear in mind that am de-
pending on you solely TO look out Tor
our interests. Senator Plat, Of Con
necticut. will unquestionably cooperate
with you In any way you may desire If
you will call upon him"
There was then read in evidence
memorandum prepared by Mellen for
the board Of directors Of the New Ha-
ven recommending the purchase of the
New England Navigation and Old Col
only Steamboat companies, TO be con-
solidated under the former title, to be
followed by an enlargement II its SER
vice.
The same memorandum also advocat
ed the purchase of the Hartford and
New York Transportation Company,
which Mellen described as the only line
serving points in New England not
served by the New Ravens purchase,
the New England Navigation Company.
what points did you mean in that
memorandum that the Hartford and
New York Transportation Company
touched not served by the New Eng
land Navigation Company? asked r.
l.. Bats, of government counsel.
81 meant service from New York TO
POINTS on the Connecticut River as far
north as Hartford Mellen replied.
He said further there never was any
steamboat service above Hartford Of
the nature given by this line.
"Was there ever any question of
dredging the river above Hartford so
as to open it to this sort Of naviga
ton" Bats asked.
Eyes, there had been an agitation
about 1t for twenty-five years." Mellen
replied.
"Did the question Of competition by
river traffic above Hartford enter as a
consideration in making your report?''
he was asked.
Not one iota," Mellen replied. 81 felt
it my duty as president of the road
and In the public interest to oppose
opening the river. There were num-
Der Of bridges across the river we
would have had 10 rebuild, but did not
consider the matter from the point OF
view of steamboat competition"
Mr.. Byrnes, he said. was looking
after our interests at Washington al
the time, but | do not recall any ac-
tivity IN regard to this matter"
The counsel for the defence strongly
opposed the introduction as evidence
of the Mellen letter to Byrnes, and
finally the court ordered it stricken out