Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-04

Boston. Oct. 5.-Thc Interstate Com
mercc Commission resumed today The
hearings begun here last week on the
question of consolidation of New Eng
land railroads. Commissioners Henry
9. Han Of Colorado. Frederick |. Cox
Of New Jersey and Joseph Il. Eastman
OF Massachusetts were present with
Examiner Thomas 3. Healy and Pro-
fcssor William z. Ripley of Harvard
University, who is attached to the COM
mission as a railroad expert.
c. i. Andrews. general counse! of
the New York. Ontario &; Western. told
the commission that his road was op-
posed to the suggestion that any part
of it be included in any consolidation.
Charles A. Andrews. representing
tho executive committee of the Assoc
ciatcd Industries of Massachusetts.
summarized his statement made at
Saturdays session m which he opposed
New England railroad system, and
said consolidation with trunk lines was
preferable.
Mr.. Andrews said the members OF
his body believed that by consolidation
INTO large systems. high operating
costs might be spread and diffuscd 50
that no one road would be compelled
I" bear the brunt of such costs The
Andrews plan would consolidate all
roads In the so-Callcd eastern di-
vision" recognized by tho Interstate
Commerce Commission as rate-mak-
ing division This lies cas-: Of the
Mississippi and north Of the Ohio and
Potomac rivers.
We don't fear the loss of gateways
If the trunk lines own the New Eng
land roads" Mr.. Andrews said, nor do
We fear that a trunk line would mo-
nopolz" traffic 70 me exclusion Of
competitors
AS We have heard from Mr. VII
lard Daniel Willard. president CT the
Baltimore Il Ohio, reasonable people
don't DO business that way The rail-
roads would not start out irritating
each other and irritating the New Eng
land public. F'urt hermore there is am
PIE legal provision for the protection
OF the public by the Interstate COM
merce Commission which would not
permit routes or gatcways to be re-
moved if against the public interest. !"
"A New England system would be
financially weak" Mr. Andrews said
it''i IA II~ tlltiplIN, ana NOIlu
thus defeat in part the great purpose
Of the transportation act. The New
ENGLAND railroads would stop at the
Hudson river. but our traffic doesn't
stop there. 1t goes to the far parts
of the country.
I'VE are bound to have better service
If VIC are consolidated with the lines
which run to the points when our raw
materials come and whore we ant our
products to go New England. more
than any other section of the United
States, is dependent upon the rest of
the country for what she gets and what
she gives"
Mr.. Andrews further pointed out
that the port of Boston would be aided
in its development if served by more
than one line reaching beyond the Hud-
son. the Boston e Albany being at
present its sole trunk line connection.
Elton D. Sargent of Nashua, " H.,
president of the Now Hampshire Man
ufaCturing Association. which includes
in its membership so manufacturing
concerns in that state. presented a res
olutiOn unanimously adopted by the di-
rcCtors of the association September
81 endorsing the position of the New
Hampshire section of the joint New
England railroad committee. The New
Hampshire section opposed any con-
solidatiGn at the present time. OK
pressing belief that the two major
roads Of New England can attain re-
Mobilization by the so-Called Storrow
plan. but that if consolidation should
follow it should be with trunk lines
Mr., Sargent said the directors of the
Rotary Club of Nashua took the same
position.
This witness introduced a new note
into tho evidence when he advocated
development of the Great Lakes-St.
Lawrence waterway. He said:
The people 7 represent believe that
some consideration should be shown
to the development Of toh Great Lakes
St. Lawrence waterway. Trunk line
consolidation might help to bring this
about"
Mr., Sargent said he was aware that
the trunk lines had opposed the water
way project but said they might sup
port it as \ good second line of defense.
He named as one of its main advan-
taEcs the prospect of cheaper water