The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-12-11

Plains 10 So Rive. md crossing u nvn u
% The town q Balauh about II o. mns
sbovs GoaldS lslan4 ~ -.
nv. o. ydnt - li,s prscsss o. TIA -
side d ne yfvef, pssslng Che oreas fAiis MO
Hiram, and thsncs near The highway 70 hlrsm
brSdre. % Il.lOO miles from Ssco. We cross
ths Ayer again, st Q favorable place tor . bridge
-snoss 500 a. above Hiram bridge, and then
oontinue near the highway leading to fryeoarg,
crossing Il several times, passing through the
town Of Brovuheld. and along on the eastsrly
dope Of Beach Hill. and thence over plains and
lands nearly level, 70 fryeburg village. where
the line Of the survey ends. near warren's
Steam NH, 48 miles from Saco.
Tho financial crash then impending. and
which sa.s upon ~ In 1857, caused . saspsn-
sion Of al active efforts to forward the enter
priss. siDes which time the subject has remain
cd In repoee. Tho estimated cost Of the whole
route was laid down at S9l6.3l8.36, with an
average cost Per mile Of SO ,089. 80.
q Il b nos our purpose thh week 20 advocate the
building ofthe Rod to Rrysburg. Perhaps the
subject may assume such shape that Il viii be
done 1t some future time. Bur We wish to call
the sttsntson Of the people OF Saco and Bldde-
ford TO the net that on the compilation Of the
Portland and Rochester X X to thelstter place,
these txo towns will become an island in bust
ncss point of view. Prior to the building OF the
York and Cumberland rosd 10 Buxton, these
towns received the trade Of the large resion
north Of US, this port being the legitimate mar.
ket Of al the towns above us and on the line OF
the Saco river, trade and produce naturally fo'-
lowing the river 10 Its outlet. ,,,
But the completion Of the road to Bar Mills
interfered with this trade. and took more than
half Of Il to Portland. thus enriching that local.
~ at oar expense. There was no way possible
for our business men to make % profitable an
investment at that time rs to have pushed Tor
ward the River road TO Buxton, even had II been
extended nofArther. Now the moiety remaining
Of our M country trade Is threatened to be
drawn away from us a. soon Is tho p. & X. K
r Is built further through the county towards
New Hampshire. When the line Is completed
through Alfred and Springvale, all above that
line will pass 10 Portland or to points towards
Boston, unless wo,have some means OF eommu-
nication and conveyance from this place to meet
that road. This Is fact 30 plainly demonstrate
ed that Il neeis no argument; and our only sur
prise h, that our business men are not working
with tremendous energy 10 avert . threatening
evil.
There are two routes from which selection
may Be- Made, 10 meet the p. q r r. r.. One
d On the vsst side of the river to Water6oro' ,
and the other. the old survey Of the Saco River
route. The argument In favor OF the west
ruute. Is. 10 run up TO the centre Oft County
- far ~ possible. and because this route could
30 constructed at less expense. The eastern
route claims the probable exiensionof the branch
road, at some future time. into the interior. per-
haps to Fryeburg, or further 10 point Of in
tersecton with the Grand Trunk road at Cor
ham, N. II.
We shall content ourselves this week with
giving the cost Of building the ruad to salmon
Falls, based upon the estimate before alluded