Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-11
Maine Public Utilities Will CO.
Operate in Railroad Work

railroads Will be able to furnish eQu1P
ment and transportation for all frelght
which may be offered in the near lut-
ure THESE two exceptions refer ~
transportation of potatoes from Aroos-
took county and the transportation OF
coal from Portland for Distribution
throughout interior points OF the Stale.
So far as movement of potatoes is con-
cerned if the producers were 70 scat
ter their shipmcnts over INC months IN
teryeninc between the harvest and the
horinning of the next season our rail-
roads could furnish sufficient heatei
cars to care for the shipments. But
very naturally the farmer prefers 10
wait until market conditions are riSht
and then there is likely to he a ue-
mand for more cars than our ralltoa1s
would naturally be expected 10 nave
immediately available. When that tine
comes there will undoubtedly lie
shortage Of cars and partial laEuie
in prompt transportation. Arrange
,nents are such, however, that stor-
age capacity is ample and railroads as
sure us that in anticipa tion Of thus con-
dition they are making all tie &lfahEe-
man.s Which car be made TO meet We
/ situation when II ar'Aes
AZ 10 the coal situation Art Portland
il seems probable that it will snoFtlT
. Lc lc.%rtltC as uncccnomlca' 10 ma
coal for Maine come all rail :ioin the
mines, ami undoubtedly wate- snip
n..nis will be made 70 FortIani To-!
! distribution by the Maine Centfai anu
I other railroads to points Wlthll tle
State Of Maine. This will require con-
eidera BILE number Of coal cars. pro.';tots
! more than the Maine Central ana 1hc
other railroads in Maine VII! be dnle
TO immediately furnish. We are as
! sured, however, that Wneu lnat tHiie
comes fat cars with sides End ENDS can
be used and although the lodun'S VIII
he much less than would &c possible Ill
regular coal cars the matte o. trans
( portatiou can thus be met ana success
! fully carried out.
! Although the matter of electric trans
! uortation is not involved in Your telc-
| gran, if NAV not BE- entirely GnprCnt-
! able 10 call attention 50 the fac. ,Fat
/ almost al Of our electric railroads are
! actually ENGAGED in ..Jme form OF
| freight TRANSFORMATION. Several OF
them lave actual connection with
! steam railroads and go out to quite
1
! tically paraleling the steam railroads
! and in other Instances going oil at
/ ;,ngents thereto. If the transportation
! situation in Maine should become acute
we have authority under 4 .erent law
| to require physical connection between
! steam and electric railroads, and
while we have no authority to require
: a steam railroad 70 short haui itself
] 10 n nt11l :
! TO the authority Of the federal govern
ment with reference to interstate trans
! portation, and we believe that even IN
| the absence of any law both the :tcaE1
! and electric railroads would N this
! emergency waive their exact rights ana
enter fully into the effort of relieving
any unfortunate condition.
The situation in Maine has been such
/ trat this commission has not felt t,itt
| the time had arrived when it could hc
OF any constructive assistance to Oul
/ transportation managers. If we were
! looking for public communication only
we might find opportunities to step in
7 and Interfere, i'll a protested attempt
| TO be of assistance; but we have felt
! that so long as the managers of our
| railroads were properly and adequately
! performing their service this regulatory
commission would merely be under foot
! if it undertook to offer or render assist
ance which would be as needless and
| unwelcome as an entire stranger at a
! private funeral. We have. therefore
/ upon inquiry, found that our assist
/ ance was not vet needed and we have
! refr@ined from insisting on attempt
i ing to he of assistance at a time wher
/ our railroad managers need every mo-
! ment of their time and every ounce
Of their energy and patience, unham-
/! percd by the efforts Of mere mcddlers
If. however. your department feels that
/ there is anything which we could do ol
should do, or if the time arrives whel
/ We ind that We can be of materid
assistance, our personal services and
! those of our entire staff are at your dis
! poSal.
| Permit us to express the belief thai
with the polling Of equipment and the
unhampercd routing of all freight tho
| existing conditions Will undoubtedly he
! relieved. if not entirely obviated. The
! government will he in tho position Of
/ man who has a sufficient number OF
carts upon his premises but has beer
| hampcred by an inability to use indis-
criminatelv all the rights of way
through which these carts might be
| hauled. Now he has this ample equip
ment Of carts and perfect right to
l raul them over any of the many rights
4 OF way To suit his own convenience.
lnder separate railroad opera ton il
( was but natural that each companv
should insist upon keeping carload
/ or tranload of freight upon its own
! rails ar long as possible. in order to OBJ
! tam the longest haul and the greatest
revenue. This practice as is, vol,
. known, caused the congestion at several
( important sate-ways. This can be and
/ Will be relieved under government con-
, troll of the matter of routing.
Very sincerely yours.
! MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES CON-
MISSION