Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-08
$4,000

routes not now available. The unified
line will have it's connections with the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad at Worcester and Springfield
for New York City and beyond via the
Harlem River and Campbell Hall Gate
ways.
Routes over the Boston & Maine
Railroad to its territory and to points
west of the Hudson River through the
Rotterdam, Mechanicville, and Bellows
Falls Gateways. together with routes
operating over the Canadian Lines,
will be maintained, but of more i'm
portance is the direct line reaching
from Maine to the Hudson River and
thence New York City through the
Chatham Gateway and to the West
through the Albany Gateway via the
New York Central System. providing
much improved service, reducing car
hire costs, and furnishing access to
sources from which to draw an ade-
quate supply of cars. Unrouted traf-
fic and that obtained through solicita-
tion, together with such business as
the improved service will attract, will
FEED this direct route a very substan-
tial tonnage.
I'm the interest of the pubic. COM
petition now. existing is not only pre-
served. but new competition IL Great
ed. Existing roMes and channels Of
trade and commerce are maintained
What is of far greater Importance is
the opportunity afforded for the unin-
tcrrupted movement of traffic across
New England through channels which
will prevent serious delays Iuc to con-
gested conditions and embargoes on
other New England Lines.
THE plan takes nothing from the
public. On the contrary, the ElsI CO..
:inues what the public now has and
gives to it that which it has failed to
receive in the past, namely; adequate
Service, and leaves it optional to the
shipper to select his own preferred
route"
M. Mi,comber added:
by the way, l would say that Mr..
McDonald's idea is to have the Bangor
& Aroostook unite with the Maine
Central in carrying out this plan. Mr.
Todd of the Bangor {: Aroostook has
stated publicly that he was opposed
TO this general New England CONSOLE
dation but he thought the Maine rail-
roads ought to be allowed to run on
their own account.
1t is proposed, as I understand 1t.
to invite all the Boards of Trade
Throughout the State TO send a COM
nFttee to meet and dalt this situa-
ton over and make recommendations
1t seems to me that there can be no
question so far as the State of Mamie
is concerned, as to the advantage of
this If it can be brought. about. OF
course one of the necessary things to
do is to have at the meeting with the
Interstate Commerce Commission a
strong delegation from this State
backed by the opinion of the business
interests of the State. Just what the
committees from the Chambers of
Commerce will be able to do is an I'M
certainty but we ought to be on hand
and express our opinions and demon
strate If we can the advantage it will
be.
ut is not taking anything away
from the New York. New Haven &
Hartford. nothing they are entitled TO,
but that road is in very badsphysi-
cal condition. This committee. which
have been investigating have figured
the thing AL out in units so that each
road shows its physical as we'll as
the financial condition. The Maine
Central would have to have very lit
tie financing to carry on this plan, but
IHSlG SOl " NC a SANhS NN'' ~
financing to get the Boston and Maine
and the New York. New Haven and
Hartford back into strong physical
condition.
IF we could take care of our own
and get better routing of our freight
1t seems to me clear course of what
we should do.
II think there Is likely to be on the
part of the Massachusetts people an
objection to this plan for the reason
that they want the help of the State OF
Maine and will get it. of course. If
they can. but we are here to look out
for our own interest first and it seems
to me that this is one Of the things we
are doing when We establish this pro-
posed merger
II think the Chambers Of Commerce
here should make it certain how they
feel about the matter and then CO.
operate with the other Chambers in
bringing about what seems to be a
State of Maine project"
Directors Approve Plan
1t was the unanimous opinion of
the Board of Directors Of the Cham
Der of Commerce, that they would CO.
operate in every way possible with
other organizations in attempting to
have the Maine railroads merged in
accordance with a plan as outlined by
Morris Macdonald, former President
Of the Maine Central Railroad.
There is soon to be hearing of the
different Maine organizations. Plans
for this hearing are already being
made by the Portland Chamber OF
Commerce and as soon as the detail
ed plans are received at the Augusta
office the Board Of Directors will APP
point a committee to represent the
Augusta Chamber of Commerce at
the hearing which will be held some
time before the gath of the current
month as on the oath the hearing be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Conn.,
L 1. In, RnSfnn to