Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-22


word If COMPLAINT from any one. But 10 have
tho road lepislated in Houlton, as was well ex.
p-essed bv the gentleman from Bucksport, at
all events is what We resist, and intend TO re-
sst to the end.
Mr.. Speaker, have no discretion in this
matter, | cannot do otherwise it would
This railroad controversy has been gong on
in Aroostook for more than year. IL mas
been by no means a holiday chat, which men
forget in an hour. 1t has been sharp and CON
slant. persistent. 1t has been the topic OF
conversation wherever men have met, Ill the
streets, the fields the forests, in our homes,
stores. shops and Offices, 1t has been dis
cussed until its pros and cons, its why's and
whereforcs are as familiar as household words
Party politics were forgotten in the election
last fall, thrown to the winds, as OF no account
whatever in comparison with tins question OF
vital Importance TO us all. Although repub-
lcan county past all pcradventure, giving
a handsome majority for Gov. Chamoer-
lain, and all the other nominees OF the repub-
lcan party, vet on this question alone. on
nothing else, a democratic Senator represents
Aroostook. by 1900 majority. in the other
chamber of this capitol, 5000 of the citizens
of Aroostouk, more than three fifths of all
the voters in that county have sent here their
respectful petitions, in aid of the Northern
Aroostook railroad BILL the gist of which Is
embodied in this amendment. Some four or
five hundred appear here in favor Of this
H1ulton scheme. Four hundred and thirteen
Of the intelligent citizens of my representative
district, in two of the towns every voter in
others, butfou or five against me, selected me
to represent them on this floor and carry out
their wishes and protect their interest
Mr.. Speaker, shall do it the seat which
have the honor to fill on this floor by the par
t,nl,, xr,., IL and as
the air of heaven, shall never be dishonored by
a recreant so long as occupy it. Twill go
home with hands us clean and pure as those
with which | came, so help me -.
Mr.. Speaker. five ont of seven of the dele
CATION of Aroostook are earnestly laborlng with
myself to have the expressed wishes OF the
people of Aroostook upon this matter regard
ed, and yet some gentlemen propose to ignore
us all, and put that whole county and all Its
great interest into the hands of the town OF
Houton. say great interest; for we nave
them. Senator Collins stated before the com
mittee, (and he knows what he AYERS relative
to the numbering business, being one of our
successful lumber merchants that 100000
annually would be saved to the lumbsring in
terest by railroad from this county to Ban
gor. And why? Simply because every thous-
and of spruce which can be sent to Bangor tor
market is worth in the woods four dollars
more than if it is sent to st. John. Every thous-
and of shingles which can be sent to Bangor
direct is worth half dollar more at least
than it is if put into the river and sent to
Fredericton.
When it is known that almost countless
millions of spruce are every year cut upon
the water. of the St. John. and sent to for
eign market at a loss of at least four dollars
on each thousand, and that 100, 100000 OF
shingles were last year sent down the st.
John, which with railroad would have gone
TO Bangor, thereby enriching both ourselves
and them. who can doubt that the statement
OF Mr.. Collins is not only true, but below the
facts? The grand and noble forests OF upper
Aroostook are being rapidly destroyed to en-
rich the city of St. John, n foreign country,
whilst Bangor which should have all the wealth
which would grow out of this immense iumper
business. looks on with Indifference wishing
that they had it, but cannot see how they can
get it. | say some Of them look on with in
difference although by no means all, whilst a
few, Il very few as | believe, favor the selfish
scheme of Houlton, to divert all the immense
wealth of the forests and fields OF upper
.Aroostook, from her own citizens and ner-
chants, TO the merchants of st. john ana
Fredericton and even Halifax.
We are told by some gentlemen that they
wish to have the corporators in this bill to tell
us Just where they intend TO make I'M" road
l have already said they do not know the pre-
else locality.
But why are they asked tn mark out their
precise line of route any more than the pro-
jectors of other railroads? have examined
the charters of nearly every railroad which
is now dead or alive in this State, and can
not find one. not one so definitely defined as
this is bv the amendment of tic gentleman
from Bucksport. The corporators OF the
Atlantic and St. Lawrence railroad had the
right to locate anywhere in the counties OF
Cumberland and Oxford, and the southwest
part Of Franklin. The Androscoggn Ken
nebec road had the right to strike the kenne-
bee river anywhere between the south line OF
Hallowell and the north line Of Watcrvillc.
The European 4 North American railroad
originally might go anywhere from the Ban
gor and Brewer bridge to the east line Of the
State. They might have gone 10 the east line
of the State at Calais, Houlton or Fort Fair
field All other railroads have had equal lat
tudc. Why, then, is this hue and cry made
about growing charter" when all we ask is
eighteen miles to rore over, and even large
portion of that we know is perfectly mac
ccssabe to a railroad!
The gentleman from Calais asks mo where
the money is to come from to build this road !?
] frankly say to him, that | do not to day
know. But one thing nave learned by eX-
perience, that the ways and means to build
railroads always come with the demand for
the road. Wealthy gentlemen Of Bangor, and
gentlemen, too, incapable of duplicity or de-
ceit in anything, tell me that soon as the
L & n. A. road is completed and ready for
travel they intend to turn their attention to
Aroostook, if a charter can be obtained which
they approve, and in which capitalists can be
induced to invest their money. Mr.. l.. G.
Dunn, who is probably one Of the wealthiest,
if not the most wealthy of any man in Aroos-
took, tells me that he is ready To invest all
that he has of surplus in such an undertaking
through central Aroostook, but he will do
nothing for this Houlton plan, because he
personally has no interest in it, and if done
it would be good for nothing. Gentlemen in
Bangor, who in the aggregate are worth their
millions, say the same. Now, Mr. Speaker.
] am not at liberty to believe that these men,
standing among the first and foremost Of the
business men of this State are guilty of du-
plcity and deception when they tell me what
they will do and what they will not do, what
they wish TO do and what they cannot do, and
when men so lower themselves down as to
charge these men with being dishonest in