Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-08-04
Observation-Disclosures.

We have received circular address
ed ITO the people Of Maine The
writer and signers are opposed to the
consolidation Of the Maine Central and
Kennebec railroads. and ask all inter
csted to cooperate in calling upon our
State Government to act without DELAY
against the secret compact recently de-
veloped &c.
We have already said what we
thought of consolidation, and now see
no reason to change orr views. We
repeat. that we cannot see any reason
for alarm in consolidating the present
lines of railroad, and in making a uni
form gauge, but think We see many adj
yantages TO the public. But as we
gave our views quite deliberately last
winter we are content now TO copy the
following sensible views from the Ban
gor Whig:-
We are not al all persuaded that the
proposed change will prove inimical To
the interests oi Portland, and doubt if
such apprehcnsions are entertained by a
majoiii: ot her business men. but that
the general interests of the State. and
those OF our city IN particular viii be
greatly advanced by the facilities of I'M
interrupted through communications.
we regard as beyond a question.
The system OF through routes of trans
poriation is rapidly developing through
out the whole country, and uuobstiuct-
ed communication with the great lines
of freight traffic are now Indispensable
10 the bu>iues, prosperity OF coumuui-
ties-e>pec!allv those in sections re
mole from the great central markets of
the cuuniry-and the delay and expense
resulting rom lack Of thi, continuous
connection are among the heaviest aud
most discouraging taxes imposed upon
our domestic industries.
The question OF gauges has been thor
ouglils tested, and whether the argu-
mcnl> "a !avnr oi the narrow gauge are
SQUAD or detective. the tact that 1t has
been almost universally adopted
Throughout tao United States shows The
absuidIft ~ adhering in Maine 10 a
y stem Which subjects III 10 a compare
tive isolation, 10y mecessitaiing the stop
page aud il.in>hipmeni OF goods before
crossing the Stale line.
Ii l. obvious that the interests of our
Stale Will br >nb>ervcd by the adoption
OF hines uniform with those throughout
the country. and II the change required
10 effect TINS involves expenditure aud
eNcrtlou. we should congratulate our
selves that the management oi two OF
orr longest and most important lines
have been sufficiently tar sighted to CON
suit their own future profit and benefit
the community by promptly taking steps
10 accomplish the desired Improvement.
Ourconncction with the British Prov
inces viii soon be completed, and then.
more than ever. we shall feel the necrs-
silN oi unirnpeded transit westward:
and with the change in the gauge OF the
t.. X y a. X. H.. which will bc de-
mandcd Nv the same eNigencic> OF trade,
the break oi gauge could be made east
OF OR hurter-uHtil annexation or tie
demands ofbnsine>- induced acontorm
ty OF The Provincial line, with the rail
roads oi the Coniiuent-and with the
great line Accommodation leading from
IT. John across our STATE, and sweep
ing unchecked through the country To
's' a. ill., 'tif ANY itItt-t- winch IN isl
accrue can hardly be ovcr-csiimatcl
At present, We are cut of bv break
OF gauge from the whole Of the valley uf
the keunebec. and on the Maine Cen
trail. dependent upon another corpora
ton Tor an entrance to Portland, where
again We are exposed TO the delay and
expense OF transhipment while the con-
solidaiion OF the two roads will give u
"A choice OF routes and unbrokcn CON
hection with the South and West.