Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-12

Hon. George e. Macomber Of Au-
guSta addressed the directors of the
Chamber of Commerce and about 25
other citizens of Waterville. explaining
in detail the plan for railroad concoli
dation devised by Morris Mcdonald of
the Maine Central Railroad Co.
At the very beginning Mr.. Macom-
Der explained that Congress had asked
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to investigate the possibilities of rail-
road consolidation throughout the
United States. The idea was to con-
solidate the railroads into about 20
systems. The Interstate Commerce
Commission engaged Prof. William 2.
Ripley of Harvard University to in
vestigate the situation in New Eng
land and to make a report, which he
did.
Mr.. Macomber continued that the
governors of the states have appointed
a committee to investigate and hear
evidence and make their report, and
as a result of that investigation Mr.
Storrow's report has been published.
The report provides that there shall
be a consolidation Of all New England
roads. taking in the Maine Central. the
Boston e Maine, the New York, New
Haven & Hartford. taking in all Maine
roads except the Grand Trunk and the
Canadian Pacifc. over which the gov
eminent docs not have control. The
Storrow report goes into conditions
very fully and one of the things that
Mr.. Macomber called attention to was
the fact that the physical condition of
the Maine Central and the Boston &
Maine are very similar.
Mr. Macomber spoke of several 9TH
err propositions for consolidation that
had been suggested. One of them was
that the Boston & Maine should tie up
with the Maine Central and the Bangor
& Aroostook. The objection to this. ac-
cording to the speaker, is that the IL
nancial condition of the Massachusetts
road is such that it would be serious
handicap to the State of Maine.
Mr. Macomber said There is to be
meeting of the Interstate Commerce
Commission September "a, at which
time the Storrow report will be pre-
scented, and it is hoped by Mr.. McDon-
aid and the Maine Central people that
a plan can be presented which will be
very much more of interest for the
state of Maine and its shippers than
any consolidation which will include
the Boston G. Maine and the New Ha-
ven roads"
The speaker outlined the plan is fol-
lows: THE Boston {: Maine has di-
vision called the Worcester, Nashua
& Portland line which runs from Port
land to Worcester and connects with
the Boston e Albany. The plan is for
the Maine Central to acquire this road
The Boston e Albany is owned entirely
and controlled by the New York Cen
trail. The entire middle west is COW
cred by system which is under con-
troll of the New York Central
Mr.. Macomber read the following
from the plan devised by Mr.. Nc
Donald:
1.-THE Maine Central Railroad
should get direct connections through
to the trunk line territory, New YORK
City and the West, via the New York
Central. through its leased line. the
Boston and Albany railroad. and TINS
can be brought about by taking over
the Worcester. Nashua and Portland
division of the Boston and Maine
railroad between Portland and Nor-
cester and in this consolidation the
Bangor C Aroostook should also be
included.