Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-03-20
THE ROAD TO sKowHEGAS,

| THE ROAD TO sKowHEGAN.
! We copy the following from the Kennebec
Journal containing many valuable facts and
suggestions in regard to an enterprise in which
this community has deep interest:
! The importance of this enterprise is be-
coming more ard more appreciated, with
every DAYS consideration, by business men
on The route. Not only throughout Somer-
set county, but by the best informed and
most intelligent men on the lower kennebec
men who are entirely conversant with rail.
roads and railroad statstcs-this route is re-
garded as one of the most promising now
projected liz New England. So far as any
thing is certain IN these matters, railroad
connecting the central part of Somerset
county, in the most direct line, with the tide
waters of the kennebec, with Augusta, Hal
lowell, Gardiner, Richmond, Brunswick,
Bath, Portland, and Boston, must prove
paying enterprise. 1t will have a vast ex-
tent of the most fertile country in New
England directly tributary TO 1.-THE busi-
ness of which cannot be Drawn in any other
direction. The entire numbering and agri-
cultural resources of The Upper Kennebec
which are now unopened and undeveloped,
will naturally be poured into this channel,
and will seek this shortest route 10 ports for
shipment.
The proposition that the Kennebec and
Portland COMPANY shall offer to take a lease
oitlls road, we know is looked upon by some
OF the stockholders as involving some risk to
the Company. But if the necessary funds
cannot be raised without such an agreement
On The part of the X. and P. Company, we
must say we deem il decidedly for their in
terest TO do 1t. We believe II would Prove
most excellent business operation for them :;
and we are decidedly of the opinion that the
chances OF profit very far outweigh the risk
of loss
We can make no estimate, even the low
est, of tie probable business To be brought
upon the X. and p. Road by this extension,
which does not yield handsome profit.
We will give a single estimate for the con-
sideratlon aud examination of obiectors-
Inc passenger business of the X. and P
Road, during the season OF The least travel of
The year-slnce the opening of the road to
Richmond, has averaged, we are told, rs
passengers each way. from and to Rich
mond: and II is certainly within bounds to
suppose that as large an average number
would be received on 10 our road from the
whole Upper Kennebec region. b. railroad
~ 1hOnutSDU, YET TtluGU 10 u Nv the
same route for the ,ehoie year. The And.
and Ken. road averages better than that for
the whole year, we think, although running
only to Warerville.
Throwing uur, then, everything which
might be received by way OF freight, let us
see what these 25 passengers each way to
aud from Portland, would be worth to the
X. aud P. Road. The extra cost of trans
mn ii 10 xyt,nI no
that nearly everything from that source 10
lie way ct passengers, may he put down as
net profit. BY the present arran cement W til
the Portland and Portsmouth Company, the
X. aud p. Co. receive, we believe, one halt
the fare through 10 Boston. The fare in the
winter from this city would be So, 80 at least,
half of which is Sl.75. In the summer,
$3.50, or say even $500. The average of
all the through passengers for the year would
pay certainly $3.50; this would allow the X.
and P. Company Sl,25 each. Thus 80 pas
sengers per day, tor 3l2 days, would weld TO
the K. and Z. Company an income of : o.
500. The extra cost of carrying that num-
her would be mere trifle. II we add to
This low estimate of the through travel, S4,-
800 only for the way travel of up river pas
sengers between this city and Tie towns aud
$4,000 for all the freight received from
above, we get The ,chole amount of the SIX
per cent. we promise 10 pay, viz: 1886 900,
land we believe the road can be built for less
than S600,000)
A II the profit which the Skowhegan road
itself shall pay, will then 90 to swell the div.
ldends TO our own iockhulders, and we reli-
gousy believe it will pay over rather than
under six per cent. after the first year. The
AT. and ST. l.. Road for the As IN lies between
Portland and So. Paris, paid at the rate of
per cent on Sl,500000 for the six months
ending Dec. 81 and this road Of 80 miles,
will undoubtedly pay well on 100000
especially when we take into consideration
the fact that we can run it much cheaper by
using our own and engines, than if 1t
were operated by a separate company. who
would have 10 furnish complete equipment
for il.
We hope the Directors will report at once
upon the propositions referred TO them at the
recent stockholders meeting. There is "a
general feeling of earnesrness in the commu-
nifty upon this subject, and n conviction that
Oh M h,I