New Britain herald., 1930-04-03

relation to the best interests of New England, particularly those of in- dustry and agriculture and did not limit the studies to the single ques- tion of consolidation, important as that problem is.
 "New England has long shore line with numerous good harbors and ports already well developed, but capable of much greater develop ment and offering limitless possibili- ties as avenues of domestic and for eign trade. Many of our industries are active in such trade, it being an important portion of their business, and there is every reason why this side of New England business should increase and expand to the general profit of the area. It is the hope of the council that the committee will consider the coordination of rail and water transportation with view to the development of both domestic England gateways, both land and sea.
 New England's railroads have gone through an almost continual now know as the New Haven and Boston & Maine were 40 years ago a much larger number of separate and independent railroads. These consultations heretofore have come about largely upon the initiative of the railroads themselves, and were based presumably upon practical considerations of earnings and serv- ice. To assume that the present stage of evolution in this field is the last word therein, is fallacious. It is not reasonable to expect that the present setup of our railroads will remain indefinitely. This is one of the most improbable outcomes of the possibilities in the situation.
 Outside Interests Control B. X M.
 "The New Haven and >Pennsyl- vania interests are doubtless in a position, if they wish, to exercise effective control over the Boston & Maine. New England ownership in the Maine Central has substantially diminished. New Englanders own- ed in 1928 less than half as much Bangor and Aroostook stock as they owned in 1924. -four New England people are not retaining such own ership of these railroads as they formerly had, how can they expect to control the future of these prop critics. or expect that things can re- main as they are?
 By their achievements in reha- bllitation, the homogeneous of our railroads have rendered magnificent service to New England and it's commerce and industry. They have also by their accomplishments made cur railroad securities much more attractive. Interests outside New England see the progress we are making, commercially and indus trially. They see us producing in the years to come increasing freight tonnage, profitable not only to our roads, but to those connect ing lines which can place themselves | in best position to share in it's rev. enues. New England is a rich mar ket and there are outside interests | who will not hesitate to invest in | our properties for the sake of their yield and as a means of strengthen ing their own position for the fu- | ture.
 Have we reason to believe that | there is no room for further inn provement of our railroad transpor- 1 tation facilities and services? Ger | tainly our railroad executives would be the last to say so. Neither would | our business interests, if they an- l swered the question frankly. Are we 10 assume that our present railroad arrangements represent exhaustion of the ingenuity, creative ability 1 and resourcefulness of their man agements or of New England bus | mess men? We appreciate the l pi SoSllI uS5 iSC u IOOptl among our several railroads, but we also know that needed improve ments and services have been ham. pered by the difficulties of bring. ing about cooperation between our independent railroad systems.
 No Unified Policy In N. E.
 Throughout the country. changes
 in rate structure and rate relation ships, far reaching in their effect
 upon New England industries, are taking place. New England has>not
 had, and has not now, any single
 unified policy with respect to these
 changes, actual or proposed. Neither
 has it any effective agency, repre-.
 sentative of either of our severa
 railroads, our six states, or theil
 business interests, to present its
 views and fight it's battles in trans.