Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-29
UTXFIELD.

To the Editor of the KenneJec JourndE
A CHARTER for A railroad from Lewiston to
Rumford Falls has been asked for. from the
Legislature this winter. The notice was pub
lished in the Lewiston journal, previous to
the session of tho present Legislature. The
people in this section are wide-awake for tile
road. and are making every effort to obtain
the charter. large and enthusiastic meet
ing was held here on the 18th. Hon. }. b.
Ham EN- Mayor of Lewiston, and \. NJ. Jones,
Esq, were present and addressed the meet
ing Stirring remarks were made by Hon.
E. G.. Harlow, Henry w. Park, John Reed,
Esq. and some others in hearty support of the
road. The following committee was chosen
to 90 to Augusta, to urge the granting of the
charter for this newly proposed road Lewis
ton, w. z. Frye n Dingley Jr., and j. G.
Coburn; Auburn, J. W. Perkins, S. Cakes;
Turner. Philo Clark Livcrmore, Lee Strick-
land; Canton, J. ID. Hodge; Peru, Cyrus
Dunn; Dixfeld, J. Randall T. j. Cox;
Carthage, J. b. Staples; Weld, VIM. Robin
son; Mexico, II. w. Park; Roxbury, VIM.
V. Porter; Byron, Reuben Richmond; Rum
ford, T. Walker, A. J. Knight; Hanover,
y. X. Knapp; Andover, J. \. French, BENZ.
Poor; Franklin Plantation, Geo. Hopkins.
The people along the valley of the andre
scoggn are anxious that charter should be
granted. Their interests demand railroad.
The route is the most feasible ever proposed
in Maine. 1t passes through rich section of
nj bns tl,o l., otn pt,v or
in New England that of Rumford Falls which
is almost wholly undeyelopcd. There is quite
an extensive water power at Dixfeld, and
other minor powers near the route. Andover
is very wealthy farming town. and four miles
of new road built through the towns of Rum
ford and Roxbury, already cut through and
passable in winter, brings Andover Corner
ten miles nearer Rumford Falls than TO
Bryant's Pond. Thousands OF acres of I'M
touched pine and spruce timber land lie only
about ten or twelve miles from Rumtord Falls.
The natural outlet of all this section of coun-
try is the AndroScoggin valley, which, is dotted
all along with thriving villages, waiting for a
railroad, which will enable them to pour their
resources into the laps Of the large cities of
our State. Nature never designed that this
section of country. rich in resources, should
not have an outlet by rail, or that the eXten-
sive water power at Rumford Falls should for
ever lie undeveloped Let US have railroad,
and that vast power will soon bear its pro-
portion of the great manufacturing interests
of New England, and the level tract of land
near the Falls, which is now comparatively
wilderness, will soon echo forth the hum of
thousands of spindles, and the now silent air
will ring with the merry voice of trade. Pc
titions are in circulation among the several
towns, asking for a charter for the road, and
will in few days be presented to the Legs
l,ture bearing the signatures of nearly every
citizen of the towns to which they have been
sent. Another meeting will be held here the
Goth of this month, and if the weather is pleas
ant probably there will be a large crowd of
people present, for there is deep interest
manifested here for the road. In this age of
progress and improvement, the wants Of the
people demand a railroad, and if charter
can be granted by our present Legislature,
before three years roll over our heads we shall
see the iron horse coursing his way up the
beautiful vail of the Androscoggin, and the
largest water power in New England thus con-
nected with the large cities of DER State.