Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-11-24
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER "a. 1870.
One View of Railroad Communication
from Ellsworth

One View of Railroad Communication
from Ellsworth.
The Ellsworth correspondent of thu.
Bangor Wig takes rather sombrr views
OF the result OF a railroad to Bangor from
Ellsworth; and starts queries that have
already been settled. as 70 the direction
that trade win take in the event OF raj,
communication. We give the two cx-
tracts below which contain ihc views
and speculation OF the writer:
There Is some revulsion of feclin. on
the question Of a railroad TO Bangor our
merchants are In doubt. We are now the
centre of large population In Union r.v-
cr salley.-Their trade l. all here we ne
ccived their lumber aud money. and sun
ply them with everything they consume.
The trade Is increasing. Our merchants
now keep larger and more varied storks
than ever. One indication of the cniArg-
ment l. the more complete division oi bust
ness. General stores are bcComn. les
numerous, while stores for distinctive
| branches of trade are increasing.
W hat will be- the effect ola Railroad to
Bangor, VIII 1t not carr large portion
OF this trade To Bangor when an hours
ride In the cars will carry customers 10 the
large dry goods and other business houses
of Bangor our own traders will suffer
Bangor influences will then control u la
politics and business Ellsworth will
then be tributary TO Bangor instead OF
the Independent leader or al independent
circle OF towns. The tendency of Railroads
isto benefit the larger places I'd the cN-
pense of the smaller
Our true Interests are ~ open comau-
| uication the Other way. toward Portland
and Boston. Accortin- Il arrangements
are being made 10 run a steamer frum Els
worth to Rnoklaad To- connect with ,hc
Portland and Boston steamers. aud a -
with the Knox Lincoln Railroads This
Will give ~ every facility we now appear
TO need. Portland sees how matter, are
and l. reaching out TO draw The entire
trade OF Hancock aud Washington Coan-
tic~ 20 herself The more intimate his
connection. the more marked Will De the
influence OF Portland ideas on the politics
aud bu>>lncs> OF EASTERN Maine l.rJoK.
The Whtg takes exception to tile peculiar
views OF this writer aud makes some good
/ points The idca j. prey lent. and NJ
4 think II correct one, that the old ChiLcsc
! notion OF holding 10 communication ~i,h
/ ~
| China herself ha> In measure broken oy cr
her century old laws. and has opened more
or les free port- Tor trade and ir4iilr.
! Take the point which j. alleged that tacrc
Is doubt about, thar exchanging sh- course
OF trade in the cN eut 81 \ railroad 10 Ban
| gor. and see whl, HERE j. III III Il :
simply looking AZ ~ the lnicrc>; of ..oas
merchants. rather tAau "a, good II a.i.
| Portland. Boston and New ORR - /. pur.
| chasing market. now why not ave lie
peonlc who purchase to consume ,hoicc
alsof his may De opposed "a the Chime
aud japanese theory 81 Whist j. best, but il
l. in consonance with an cnlis 4ivucd. aud
therefore more progressive Idca 81 what
Is due To the whole public. But j. ILi,
point well taken; Experience proves thai
| business follows the line of increased
facilities OF Il importation. thar wherever
there ars facilities Tor ansport4tl,a AMI
travel there local trade Viii thrive. II
Bangor thrives it j. because her Taa aud
water communication make IL thrive
Ii her merchants sell cheap Il j. because
her facilities Tor obtaining goods are ir,i
rate. II cur merchants have to pay on
tons Of goods each Spring ana Fall a
carriage bill from Bangor and Buck port.
in addition 10 the freight bin OF the slc ann
boat or railroad. their customers must
pay this additional cost. Then. by parity
OF reasoning we come To the conclu> sion.
that if Bangor having good railroad aud
steamboat communications can sell goods
at small profit, that II EIlsW orth had
ike facilities it might do the sane. Why
not: Then We do not fully believe in the
assertion "that the tendency or railroad,
Is TO benefit the larger places at the cx-
pense of the smaller" The benefits reach
all classes and all places within it, In
fuence. Where L. there :. place in Maine
through which xailroad passes taat i
not beneite,! thereby: But Ellsworth is
the largest place in Hancock County, and
according to the reasoning Of this writer
would be the place TO receive the benefit of
a road. and Yet the question is asked viii
not trade 20 TO Bangor. Trade goes TO
Bangor and Bucksport now and why: be-
cause they sell cheaper. and they SCH
cheaper because their communications
with the markets are better. with steam
boat running TO Rockland. and railroad
connection at Bangor. how much superior
would these two home markets be to Els
worth:
We would not say a word to discourage
steamboat connection with Rockland. he
cause We need such 4 connection: nor
would We do anything to bring our polii-
zeal necks into the moose that Bangor
politicians always have on hand. and
handle 50 deftIy. They are 100 irrepres-i-
bic. for us down East lambs altogether.
but in business point of view We believe
in railroads. and in the people that are
smart enough TO build them.