Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-12-02
LINCOLN TELEGRAPH.
Both, nle.
THURSDAY MORNING. DEC. 2, Is41.
Rail Road to Portland.

zens to the continuation of the Railroad from
Portland easterly, passing through this town
At this time we intend merely to notice the great
objections that have been urged against this route,
by those who were unacquainted with our river
1t seems 10 be conceded on all hands that were
it not for crossing the Kennebec river in the win
ter the road should by all means pass through this
town. l. is known, 10 all our people at least, that
a steam ferry boat has crossed the Kennebee at
our village, for more than four years but which,
we believe, has never yet been detained
hour on account of the ice. Last winter gem
tleman (who had heard of the difficulties of pass
ing our river in the winter travelled through our
village eastward in the stage and passed in it over
the steam ferry, but as the stage was closed he
did not notice when he crossed it ! On his ar
rival at Wiscasset he asked the driver, where was
that dreodf Kennebec ferry, and was much as
tonished on being informed that he had passed it
at our village. There many entertaining the
same mistaken idea of that gentleman, and their
surprise would equal his, were they TO pass this
way in the winter
The only difficulty in crossing our river in the
winter, is, where it is narrow, and the current
very rapid with large quantity of floating ice !;
in such case it is difficult, because the boat has
no opportunity of acquiring good Storage way
before she is among the ice, which is, in such
places very solid and compact but even there
suitable boats might cross; the expense, however,
would be very considerable. At our village, how
ever the rveris very wide; and the floating ice at
ter passing hro' Arnold narrows ,abou, two miles
above this, from the of the tide and other
causes, separates before it reaches village !;
and when it arrives here, where the tide is by
rapid, it sepa rates over large surace, or
ferng but very little obstruction to the steamers
passing.
Sometimes however, at slack tide in the night
time, it freezes over at the village, but never so
that the steam ferry boat cannot 90 through it.
Once within the last four years, people have
ed over the ice at our village, but the ferry boat
then made her trips as usual. Sometimes the ice
jams above our village at Winslows rocks but
then it is always clear of ice here and some
times below at Fddler's reach, where it accumu-
lates up as far and even above our village. From
this proceeds the only real difficulty of pass
ing the river at our village in the winter But
this Jam has never been known TO be so firmly
set that steam ferry boat could not Immediately
break it up and let it at once go free.
Such has been the experience of winter crossing
here and if it is at all safe 20 rely on the wisdom
of experience, or to Judge Of the future from the
past then this great objection, can influence only
those who wish TO be Influenced by it. Then it
is established beyond the possibility of doubt that
the Rail Road boat might even in the winter sea-
son, cross the Kennebec with ease, safety, and
punctuality at Bath village.
We believe we have fully shown that the pass
age of the Kennebec offers impediments to the
extension of the Portland Rail Road through this
place ; and we hope the Directors of that Road
will view this route before deciding to extend it
in any other direction.
In our next, we shall endeavor to show that
this would be a more profitable route at present,
than any in the state, as well nealer, as level
and more direct to Bangor, than any other.
Since writing the above, we have received the
following communication, on the subject, from a
gentleman in Waldo county, whose general in
formation, and knowledge Of the different loca-
tons proposed, entitle him to attentive bearing
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