Year: 1874

clent Tor US to know that the charter was
lost or disposed of by some secret agent
in the employ of some railroad corpora
ton, and that we had lost control of 1t.
We came here again this Winter and
sought another charter, to take the place
OF the one that had been stolen from us,
and we did this for the purpose of giving
any OF our friends chance to come in and
help US build a Shore Line Railroad, and not
member Of this House opposed us. The
charter was granted. Il was charter up
on charter so to speak. and they be-
lieved that it was necessary to secure to
us the assistance required for the con-
struction OF shore-line Of railroads.


Now we are ready and willing, and we
stand here and promise, to give the Bos-
ton & Maine the privilege of coming In
under this charter and giving Us assist
ance. If they are in earnest, and anxious
for Shore Line Railroad, why don't they
come in and cooperate with us under this
charter! But no; they say it is necessary
to have forced connection with the
Eastern road or the Maine Central, In Or
der to build Shore Line.


So far, they have failed to show to me
any signs, or give me any reasons, suf-
ficicnt reasons, that in the least degree
convince me that q connection will aid the
Shore Line Railroad. Ii they could do 30,
it they could advance any good reasons,
that connection is to be the means of ac-
complishing this object would gladly do
any thing that could in favor of them and
for the Shore Line Road.


Certain men come here and attempt to
influence members Of this House. l will
not say that they influence them, but they
attempt to do so by certain statements
They profess to be the representatives of
the Penobscot Bay and River Road, and
that they are anxious for the construction
OF that line; also that it is necessary to
force connection between the Boston &
Maine and Maine Central Railroads, in
order to obtain that line. BY whom are
they sent? Do Penobscot Bay and River
people send them Do the people along
the line of the Knox & Lincoln Road send
them know nothing of their authority.
They come here of their own accord and
after laboring days and days with us, they
fail to give us any facts that lead us to
suppose even that connection such as this
bill provides, is in our interests.


Again, when we by legislation obligs
home corporation like the Maine Central
to open its track to a foreign corporation
like the Boston Il Maine, for its trains to
run upon, we shall do something that in
my judgment we ought not to do. So far
as have made observation upon this par
ticular question, have failed to discover
in any enactments of any legislature in
the Union. anything touching and en-
dorsing forced connection. There is not.
| believe upon the statutes of any State in
this Union, any law that obliges one rail-
road to connect with another in the man
ner by which it is proposed to connect the
Boston & Maine with the Maine Central.


Now If we by legislation to-day force
connection Of these two roads we shall
do what. in my Judgement viii be detri-
mental to the best interests of this State
Ii we unite them in such way that their
interests will become identical, we estab-
lish such relation of their interests, that
they will seek for their salvation consol-
idation and certainly, of all things, this
legislature should be careful not to encour-
age consolidation.


There are various branch roads in this
State that are dependent upon the line of
the Maine Central and other roads
forming under contracts the central
trnnk or line through this State
State, and assuredly it is our interest, it Is
our duty, to do all that we can to protect
these various branches, and if we can do
it by opposing any measures that look to
a consolidation, believe it is our duty to
do so. do not represent this road or that
road as such, in opposition to the great
and material interests Of the State, for all
roads tend to open up the resources of our
State, develop our strength, and increase
our wealth.


l had prepared no speech upon this mat
ter. l chose rather to present my senti-
ments in my usual way, without any Sc
rious premeditation or previous arrange.
ment of thoughts.


In reference to the bill which is now be-
fore US l have but few more words to
say. We, the opponents of this bill, have
endeavored as delegates from different
counties, to investigate the various inter-
ests involved in this railroad question:
and after free and earnest discussion and
careful investigation, and without any
members of the third branch in our
meetings, We have come to one and the
same conclusion. We believe that we are
right in our opposition to this bill, and
cannot change our minds until there be
| presented to our consideration some facts
that will convince us that we are wrong
and that it is necessary for us to change
our position.


MIR. Speaker, we believe it is for the
interests OF the Knox & Lincoln Railroad,
to go against this bill we believe il is for
the interests of the Penobscot Bay & River
Railroad to go against this bill we be.
lieve it is for the interests of the State TO
go against it. We believe it is in the In
terest OF our State to go against any and
all measures that have u tendency towards
consolidation.


II we are not right, time and circum.
stances will convince us that our position
to day is wrong. We are willing TO sub.
init to that Judgement which time will
pronounce upon us.


| We also believe that we are right in our
judgement, notwithstanding the pledges
no, they are not pledges they are but
simple declarations, made BY the Boston
IL Maine. They say to us, 1--WE are in
your interests! We desire Shore Line
Railroad; we want connection between
Portland and Bath, in order to lot US Out. :"
But is ii necessary to have this forced
connection in order to build q Shore Line
Railroad In what msnnsF is such
"a