Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-14
GROWTH or RAILROADS.

about railroad meeting in Portland, of
the growth of railroads in our State.
IL was said that the railroad men were
having meeting, and among the names
mentioned as participating was that of an
active and influential director of the Knox
and Lincoln Railroad. When the Knox
and Lincoln Railroad was struggling into
existence, some three or four years ago,
road only forty-tive miles long, and ex-
tending through some of the most flour
ishng towns in the State, it was difficult
job to make the people along the route
believe that it was possible for them to
raise the means to build the road more
difficult we think than it will be for them
TO pay for the road after it is built. lndi-
viduals were afraid and towns were shy
about their credit, although Bath stood at
one end with a valuation ofprobably seven
millions, and Rockland at the other with
valuation OF four millions, with rich towns
between, while the whole cost of the road
at the highest calculation was not more
than one and half millions. There was
much advice from outside parties and but
little encouragement. The Belfast people
thought it was rathera desperate under
taking, not dreaming that they were soon
to be engaged in pushing the Belfast and
Moosehead Lake road. Indeed they
changed their tune SO expeditiously and
effectually that they launched their Moose
head enterprise before the Knox and Lin
coin Railroad was started. And now the
Knox and Lincoln Railroad approaches
completion. 1t will probably be opened
to travel before the present year closes,
and is of so much prospective consequence
that it has voice in the broad railroad
interest of the State.
But if the building of the road were all
that had been accomplished there would
not be much to boast of We refer to it
simply to bring to mind the public feeling
at the time it was started, in relation to
the building of railroads, and contrast it
with the present general sentiment upon
that subject. That road, which was con-
sidered hazardous venture, is in Il fair
way to be soon finished, and the towns
and people who built it are not feeling
/ poorer but richer with every dollar they
supply to complete it. The Belfast and
Moosehead Lake road is also likely to be
completed at an early day. The Piscata-
quis road is opened to travel, and the
European and North American Railway is
making progress toward the boundary
line steadily and surely. But the roads in
process of construction are few in number
compared with those which are projected.
The more built the greater the stimulus
and apparent ability to build. Each one
constructed clears the way for another.
A strong effort is being made to extend
the shore road from Rockland to Winter
port, which will be successful without
doubt. Then there is another route sur
veyed little more inland by way of the
Georges river, connecting Warren and
Belfast, for which its friends are working
hopefully. A road to Winterport must
extend to Bangor, and already Hancock
and Washington counties are moving to
extend the line to Calais, carrying it to
our eastern frontier on the coast and Civ
ing us a continuous shore line from the
Piscataqua to the st. Croix. There is less
of dependency, doubt, and hesitation in
undertaking to carry out this really extern
sive job of railroading from Rockland to
Calais than there was three or four years
ago to build from Bath to Rockland. Con-
fidence has grown with each new effort.
Crackers have been silenced by the actual
approach of the locomotive. Towns have
not been crushed in aiding the work but
feel that new lite will be opened to them.
individuals find that their stock invest
ments are not thrown away, and directors
learn that they are part of system of
travel and traffic which however much
nterlaced or extended has an equal and
reciprocal interest for all.
The young and growing county of
Aroostook has caught the railroad fever.
No doubt her wishes for better communi
Cdlroi viii bauSoi anu eiiS ASSt VI eiiO
world will presently be gratified. "Where
there is will there is a way" Aroostook
has a good share of will. Bangor is also
well supplied with that quality, and the
way will be forthcoming in due season.
On the west Portland is earnestly and eff
fectually seeking to improve her commu-
nications with the western States, and
making the most of those grand natural
commercial advantages which she enjoys.
In other parts of the State there are other
railroads in progress or in contemplation.
1t was not our purpose however to make
statistical article of this, but only to call
to notice in a general manner the more
conspicuous facts which mark the growth
of railroading in this State
TAXING BONDS.
u