Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-09

est contention, each road struggling to hold
what patronage it had, and to control all new
lines, building or to be built, for It's especiai
interest, through the gauge question: Inc
Somerset and hennebec road, extending from
apousta to Skowhegan, distance of 81 miles,
PASSED under the narrow gauge CONTROL ana Is
leased by the Portland and kennebec road.
IN the other hand, the Maine Central pre-
vailed in the Somerset road, now partially
built. from Waterville to Scion, and in the
Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad just
completed.
After years spent in vexatious and costly
contests, which added nothing to the roads, and
imneded the course of travel and transporta-
ton, the managers of the roads began serious
" to consider the wisdom of continuing such
worse than useless war. The last fight IN
the Legislature was in 1869, over the Somer-
set road. which was followed the next sum
mer by struggle between the corporations
about the Belfast and Moosehead road. ms
was the end of hostilities. In the fall inc
hatchet was buried, the war Of the gauges was
ended, and the two corporations came before
the last Legislature and asked to be CONSOLE
dated. Their request was not granted pu'
nevertheless Consolidation has been pract-
cally effected under the existing charters ana
statutes, and the two companies are now one
in interest, as recent operations clearly dem
onstrate.
The yielding of the Maine Central to
change of gauge is u step forced upon II ny
the general, growing and preponderating IN
auence of the narrow gauge in the country, and
it was wise to fall in with what it could notcon-
troll. The line from Atlantic to Pacific is over
the narrow gauge. The broad guage car from
Bangor only reached Portland when 1t was
brought to halt by the narrow gauge, and
its customers obliged to pay heavy tribute to
get aboard. Now Bangor passengers may 60
by the Androscoggin or the kennebec, just as
thew choose, and have no detention or ex-
pense ON account of change OF gauge until
they reach San Francisco, if they wish to go
so far: and Bangor merchants may have their
freight from the west reach them without the
trouble and cost of tran-shipment, which OF
course their customers have to pay for at last
We are not surprised that the citizens Of Ban
gor, and all eastern people who travel and
freight by the Maine Central rejoice over the
change. 1t makes them equal with the rest
of the world in the means of transportation,
throws down barrier which has stood in the
way Of their prosperity.
But the greatest advantage is one OF
broader character than any of a local nature.
This move must bring into uniformity the
gauge of all the railroads in the State, built,
building or projected. The North American
and European will adopt the narrow gauge,
and thus make the line from Halifax TO San
Francisco without break. This system es-
tabished throughout the State will give
harmony and thoroughness to railroad work
and business that has never been known here.
Railroads will increase and be located accord
ing to the natural laws of traffic and travel,
Just as fast as they are needed and will pay,
and not be under the influence OF that I'M
healthy competition which has stimulated and
damaged some of cur enterprises. We doubt
if the splendid bridge at Augusta would have
been built had it not been for Consolidation
and the change Of gauge, and surely any road
that is building now can see a better prospect
before it in a uniform system than in no sys-
TEN or two clashing systems. That 1t will
aid the growth of the State and the prosperity
of our people is beyond doubt, and If we
are to become the manufacturing community
which we may be, nothing can be more i'm
portant than good communication with the
marts of the country. The completion of
the road from Danville to Portland is necessary
to make the change thorough, but there are
improvements already felt and others soon
to be, following Immediately upon this
change of gauge.
GENERAL NE VS..