Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-02
The "Harris0n Road" Case.

OxtOru ana Cumberland COuntlcs, Oh u
petition of the town Of Oxford, for dis
continuance Of that part OF the Harrison
Road, so called. between the "Webbcr
road" and the County road, near MIR. ).
s. Smiths: while it states some things
cor: Getty, does not tell the "whole TRUTH
in justification of The Inhabitants OF Ok.
ford. rs petitioners ut said hearing. II is
true, there was long and severe contest
before said road was finally located and
built; the towns Of Oxioid, Norway and
Otisfeld, resisting the location. The
towns in Western Oxford and Northern
Cumberland, which originally petitioned
for the opening oil this road. did not ask
for it on account OF the public travel"
but they peti,ioned for il solely 10 get a
"bettcr and nearer route" to the Grand
Tcunk Railway-originally known as the
Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad. IL
is true that "incidcntal' public travel was
generally named at the hearings "-some
five or six of which were had before the
road was finally located and built but the
main, and in fact the only argument
seriously urged upon the locating boards.
was nearer and better route 10 the Rail.
road. This involved the question of n
new Depot on the railroad. near S. S.
Smiths. and it WAS admitted by both
petitioners and rcmonstrants. that whether
/ the G.. /. Railway would or would not
build such II Depot with incidental ac-
commodations, was the hinge upon which
the whole matter turned. This view of
the ease was not only taken by all the
parties interested. but by every Board OF
/ Commissioners who heard it.
The petitioners for the road. contcnded
that they had a sufficient guarantee from
the officers OF the e.. I. R., TO Justify an
opinion that Depot would be built while
the rcmonstrants rs earnestly argued that
their assurances were all subject to this
contingency: that unless the Iew business
10 come TO the road would make it a
paying remmeratire operation TO the
corporation, it never would erect n new
station.
The petitioners finally succeeded in
convincing a majority of the two Boards
tina, depot would be made, aud the road
was located from the Bridgton and South
Paris stage road, about mile and half
castcrly from Crooked river 10 the c. +.
X. near 5. 5. Smiths; and should here
add. that the petitioners not only gave
assurances That the depot would be built.
but equal guarantees that the freight
coming from the West" would all come
here. and. also that the Fryeburg. Bridg.
ton and Harrison stage line would strike
the Railroad at this new station. The
town OF Oxford, although they had no
faith in these assurances and guarantees.
at last surrendered accepted the situation
and built the road, which included n
fourth bridge over the Little Andres.
coggin river, at n large and heavy eN
pen>c. The road was built and the citi.
zcuS of Oxford heavily taxed to do it,
Now mark the sequel:
Although it has been about ten years
since the Harrison road" WAS made. not
single Increment to'card he erection Of
Depot has crer been made Thus the
Harrison road" became n to.Gl failure
all the stages, all the freight and all of
the travel from the West to the railroad,
went to South Paris, just rs ii did before
the Harrison road was made.
Every man of sense. will sec al a glance
TINT the town OF Oxford was forced to
build this road, solely in consequence of
the fuse representations made TO the
locating Boards. Could the truth have
been seen at the view and hearing rs it
now is seen. no location would have been
made, and the inhabitants Of Oxford
would hare saved some two thousand
dollars eNt0rted out Of their pockets UNI
der false pretences. although honestly
made by the petitioners at the time.
In 1869, the bridge over the Little An
droscoggin was destroyed by the frcshets,
and the inhabitants of Oxford 10 save
themselves some fifteen or sixteen hun
pred dollars additional expense to rebuild
it. pctitioncd the joint board Of Oxford
and Cumberland TO discontinue that part
of the Harrison Road" lying between the
Wcbber Road and S. S. Smiths, which
included the Bridge and about mile and
90 rods of said road This left all OF the
Harrison Road" open to public travel to
the Weber Road and all which is OF any
use to the travelling public. When the
travel from the West" strikes the Web
Der Road. it has perfectly level route TO
Norway, South Paris, and Paris Ill.,
more than mile nearer than To 90 by
way of the broken down bridge and S.
S. Smiths. and if when striking said
Webber Road. travellers desire to go the
other way to Welchvilc, Mechanic Falls
or Lewiston, good road is already made
via Oxford village, only % rods further
than by the Bridge and Smiths route
A hearing was had in the Fall of co, two
of the Commissioners from each County
being present. and the joint Board was
equally divided-two being for discon-
tinuance and two against. Oxford again
pctitioncd for discontinuanee of the