The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-08-18
OUR RAILROAD. WHAT IS NEEDED.

The situation Of the city and people of Bel
fast in relation to the railroad enterprise in
which they are engaged is well known. If
the road is completed and in running order
by the first day of November, it will 90 I'M
der a lease to the Maine Central which will
pay $4,000, or very nearly six per cent. on
its cost. The importance Of this question to
the city cannot be Ovcrestimated.
AS a matter of Fact the road should be
done to-day, and the remainder of the ten
weeks be devoted 10 making the slight
changes and improvements if any might be
found necessary to make a completed first
class road. There is now barely time to fin
ISL the road, by day work taking the ordinary
chances of weather and accidents. If Il long
rainy spell sets in, or our engines are disabled,
there will be no help for us.
In this emergency, as one of the Directors,
we feel il to be our duty to say to the people
greater energy be put into the prosecution of
the work. An additional engine and ears
will be this week added to the force AT
the Burnham emil There should be at once
organized and set at work double gangs of
men, one to work by night and one by day.
This is not our opinion alone Last week we
addressed a note to Col. Willes on this sub
lect, and his reply is Given below
Belfast, AUG. 10, 1870.
W. Fl. SIMPSON, Esq, Director, Ne.
DEAR SIR : In reply n Your h"ic 81 ms date m
qurins rs to the proprirty and necessity OF work
ing night gravel train. upon this road, have To-
say, that in my opinion it n of the utmost import
anre and should not be delayed. The trains should
be worked upon that portion of the road where the
track has been raised tours very truly
A. W. WILpEs, Chief Engineer.
This is the View OF the experienced and
skilled gentleman upon whom the company
relies to see that the work is properly and
seasonably done. The able resident engin-
Ger, Capt. auckland, is constantly urging in
creased activity. We feel that we should be
derelct in orr duty if we withheld from our
people this statement of the condition nl the
road We are sorry to say that there WAS
not proper alacrty shown in increasing the
force, when the backward condition OF the
road became definitely known, some three
up the loss of time, but it can only he dome
in the manner indicated ~ the Chief Enoin-
ecr.
The stake which our city has in this matter
is too great, and the consequences too no
mentous, to admit Of doubt OF tritling. 1t is
whether the city shall receive S4S 900 yearly,
for fifty years, or be taxed nearly that
amount. 1t is 4 question to Us OF two mil
lions and four hundred thousand dollars
yes, it is double that--it is a question mvolv-
ing nearly FIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
We say to the people Of this city that this
road should be supplied with all needed
machinery, and be made to swarm with men
until it is thoroughly completed If the
course advised by the Chief Engineer is not
taken at once, the people of Belfast should
hold public meetings. organize themselves,
and see that the steps to complete the road
are at once taken. The city that has contrib
uted so literally of its means, and has 50
deep an interest in the enterprise, has the
moral, il not the legal right to do this. And
no consequences can possibly outweigh the
risk of the loss of the lease. The Maine
Central will not fail take ADVANTAGE of
such lapse on oul part.
We are in no danger, il we follow the adj
vice of the engineers If we do not, we
shall be in great peril. The road should be
beyond all doubt, completed on October 18TH,
and to that end the work should 90 forward,
NIGHTS, DAYS AND SUNDAYS
The steamer City OF Richmond had collision on
Wednesday morning, IL the river Sandy Point
She was coming down with the strong cbb tide in
thick fog, blowing thu usual whistle SIGNALS, when
her officers heard the same signals from another
steamer ahead. soon tncN got from the other boat
the customary two short whistles for putting the
wheel to starboard, which was at once done, and
| the Richmond's course changed. Immediately the
other boat, still hidden by the dense foe, sounded