The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-08
The Progress of Maine Railroads.

me- EOSECSb vi
We have almost daily bulletins OF the pro-
gress of the Pacific railroad, but our OWN
State lines now under construction do not
get half the attention they deserve. Few
people realize how rapidly our railroad iacill-
ties are being increased, and how soon the
modest SIT miles of track which Maine now
boasts will become 900 miles by the compile
ton of the lines in progress and to HOO by
other lines which are projected.
As for the projected lines the latest on the
taps are these: road from some point on
the European and North American road
northward to some point on the State line;
line from West Waterville to Augusta; an
extension of the Maine Central from Dan
Vile junction to Portland; line from Ban
gor down the Penobscot; an extension north
ward from Carratunk Falls OF the Somerset
road which is now under contract; ''E. K.
Smarts" road from Biddetord to Alfred to
connect with the Rochester road; line from
Bucksport on Penobscot river to Cherryfield
in Washington county, and a branch road
from the Maine Central at Pttsfeld to Hart
land and st. Adams. Some of these roads
will be built in the not very distant future,
while others will have to wait some We ars.
The Maine Central extension from Danville
has been surveyed, the gentleman employed
in that work having reached this city last
week. As for the Bucksport road jealous
advocate of the temperance reform has
agreed to build it if the proceeds of the liquor
traffic of Washington county for one year
can be devoted to that purpose, so that the
people of that region have presented to them
the simple alternative of rum or railroads.
Inasmucn as there is no RAILROAD in Hancock
or Washington, except a lumber road from
Whitneyviile to Machiasport, it would seem
to be judicious for the good people of that
region to forego their rotations of whiskey
for single year for the sake of being con-
neeted with the outside world. Hancock
county is not touched even by any of the
projected roads, unless it is this one.
Ofthe roads in process of construction
there is favorable intelligence, with the pos.
sible exception OF the Belfast and Moose
head line, which seems subject to many I'M
fortunate bitches. 1T is even rumored, upon
what authority we know not, that Belfast
will seek railroad outlet by way of the road
up the river 10 Bangor, instead of building
The line to Newport ON the Maine Central.
Other authorities are of the opinion that the
whole forty miles of this road will be COM
pleted next year. and similar expectations
are raised with reference t. the line, also
forty miles long, from Bangor TO Milo and
Foxcr0ft known as the Bangor and Piscata-
quis rold. The Dexter and Newport road,
fourteen miles long, was begun and com
pleted this year, and is now operated under
lease by the Maine Central.
The progress of the Somerset road from
West Watervile to Carratunk Falls, was
stated in paragraph yesterday. The rival
ny between the Maine Central and the Port
land and Kennebec roads is likely to result in
a struggle in the Legislature this winter, the
latter road desiring an extension from Show
hogan to the terminus of the Somerset road
II both roads are built the people of Somerset
county will not lack railroad facilities.
In Aroostook county the people are tired
OF waiting for the advent of the European
and North American road, and Houlton has
voted the $4,000 authorized by the Legisla-
ture to build branch to the New Bruins
wick road just across the border.
The Knox and Lincoln road, from Bath to
Rockland, which, by the way, viii be one of
the most important roads in the State, is
making satisfactory progress and the Buck
field branch or Portland and Oxford Central
road which leaves the Maine Central at Me-
chanic Falls, shows signs of life again after its
many vicissitudes and is progressing to-
ward Canton.
All the lines mentioned above belong strict
ly to the State, but there are other great
routes in progress of construction or project
ed that are of great importance not only to
Maine but to the country and in fact to the
world. The European and North American.
which does not move so fast as could be wish
ed, the Portland and Rochester, which will
bring US, When its Western connections are
made complete, many hours nearer New
York than now, and last but not least the
Portland, White Mountains and Ogdensburg.
the road of the period, are sure to be carried
on to successful completion.