The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-09
Railroad Meetinu,


the railroad to those towns. Haylord
Hall was crowded with an audience COM
posed of the visitors and our own citizens.
Mayor IIayford called the meeting to
order, and nominated Gen. Webster TO
the chair The chairman made some re-
marks explanatory OF the purpose of the
occasion, and called upon Mr. Burrill of
Canaan to address the people
Mr. Burrill said the town Of Canaan had no
road and hoped Belfast would conclude to hold
TO its road and not lease to HE Maine Central
We can build from Burnham to Canaan; have
subscribed $50 900, which is not one fourth OF
what we can do. (applausel We can make it
nv three times What il otherwise would. We
IRE lugging business to SkOwhegan continually.
Hold on i've years, and will agree TO lease it
one wear at $4,000 Ten men in SkoWhegan
can and will build 4 road from SkoWhcgan to
Canaan The former place has an immense
water power. is but 30 miles from the open sea,
and with railroad facilities might become I.
Lewiston She wants a cheap inlet for corn,
iron, salt and Nll heavy goods lou will make
an awful mistake if you lease to the Maine
Central If you don't lease. when you get to
Canaan your troubles are over. | am ready to
contract for SIC, 900 worth Of freight this year.
only hold on where you are, and you are all
right.
Mr. Linn WOODEN manufacturer, Of llartland,
made some remarks to the effect that the
country above is rich in business. and that the
poiicv of Belfast should be to manage the road
Itself. The policy Of the Maine Central would
be TO Ike business away instead Of bringing it.
The towns were ready to take holt As soon as
there was Il guaranty that the road would not
be leased. Once ut Canaan, the road IS sure to
be extended.
Mr. Barrett of Canaan spoke al considerable
length concerning the wealth and resources of
Canaan, which desire business connection with
Belfast But if YOU lease this road, farewell to
Won and our mutual advantage.
Mr. Webb, Of Hartland. said he came rather
70 hear than to talk. His town had felt deep
interest in this road heretofore. when the tall,
was that we We're to have an independent line
to promote business here and III the interior.
They had not expected the sad mistake of a
lease of this road, whereby ii would become
the yassal and slave of another. lie hoped now
it would not be suffered. But notwithstanding
the past, we are glad to meet you, II you are
honest in desire TO come TO Us. We don't
know what to think say. But this is true
stick to your road and you insure prosperity ;
give it UP and you are damned. Canaan is Il
wealthy agricultural town. Hartland 8 Il man
ufacturing town, with great water power In
the dry season of last summer, Mr.. Linn ran
his factories without interruption. We have Il
factory, tlnneries, ten stores, with a great deal
woodland which a road would bring to market
We must depend on railroads 10 develop the
State, or else it must go down.
Mr.. Tuttlc, Of Canaan, said they We're visited
by delegation from Belfast. who said that if
we wanted road we could have it.. Now we
are here to say that if you want US to build
from Burnham to Canaan, we will do it. Cap
plauSe.) And we assure you that il you cut
loose, we will build it. You have beautiful
city, bay and harbor. 1t was designed by ma
pm, ,b4,,,t
have Just reached the base Of greac business.
If YOU stop and let the Maine Central have it,
Whcresis the good to Bcltasts You will be lust
feeder, and will be ruined. There is an old
fable of an entertainment given by the lion in
his den to which all the animals were invited
All went except the fox, who halted outside.
''Are YOU afraid to 60 inE' asked the lion-"See
the tracks of all these who have gone in before
YOU" ''True,' replied the fox. u great many
have gone in-the trouble is. | cont see any
tracks coming outHH II you accept the offer OF
the Maine Central we shall never see your
tracks again. Nothing ever vert in there and
came out again The charter was given for lis
as well as you, and it is wrong to deprive rs of
it. Mr.. Tuttle continued at lengh, in very
forche speech, showing the BIZ siness to come
from an extension of the road. and the disas-
tro,is result of its control by the Maine Cen
tral.
Mr. Hayiorl, President of tle road. gave Il
history of the attempts to take freight over
the road to points on the Maine Central.
and of the prohibitory discrin inatlon made by
the latter The tendency of such control as the
Maine Central could exercise vas TO draw bus
mess away from Belfast. Mr.. II. gave details
of facts and figures
At this point. Gen. Webster, being called
away, resigned the chair TO ehemiah Abbott,
Esq Mr.. A. said he never doubted that it was
bad policy to tie up this road for 90 years. He
was happy to see our friends from the interior
here. And he had very decided opinions about
the late offer of the Maine Central. He would
not accept it. He didn't know rs he would TO
save his lite--certainly not 10 save his property
(Applause.) 1t is a gross insult. After get
ting us to build to Burnham, and getting the
benefit of the road as Il feeder, they now say
they are not bound by their contract. Can they
ford to bring themselves in collision with the
whole state: We want TO perfect our railroad
system, and carry it forward, and it will be
done Is surely As the sun rises: (Applause.)
1t will 60 TO the Lake within Is years (Ap-
pluusc.) They prevented charter to Bangor,
but they can't do it again. 1t isn't Christian,
but feel something like revenge. (Appause.(
| am provoked at our Directors for Offering the
road at $4,000. Let us make Our connections,
and promote parallel route. we can do it.
Let lis see if they can with impunity attempt to
rob us of $3.50, 900 in the fifty years, ami put it
in their pockets. (AppauSe.)
Hon. A. g. Jewctt said he regarded this AS Il
critical time in the history OF Belfast and Of this
section Of the State. Mr.. Abbott had taken, he
said, the wind out of his sails. (applausel
From the bottom of my soul thank him for
what he said. | never know him so near right
before (appause) He did not propose that
those Kennebec men should serve this road as
they had one over there, and steal it, In pro-
posalS they were to have our charter-not to
control, but to own it. II is simply saving to
US '.stand and deliver" applause Mr..
Jewett, referring to diagram, shew the
European and North American road, with its
connections westward. We are 81 miles to-
ward it. Sleepy Hollow has dug out.
Q.anghter) The Central has always opposed the
crossing of their line They told me 50 at Au-
guata, when our charter was granted, and that
we couldn't cross. I said, then Wen have n
fight. 1t is peace or war, rs you please. And
they said-Let lis have peace. (applause) Our
charter alone is worth million dollars, and
those kennebec gentlemen proposed to take it
and our road besides for $4,000 per year.
That charter authorizes the issue of i've
millions of preferred stock. In Rice's hands,
they will issue as much stock as they please,
and soon there will be none but kennebec
directors then Judge Rice becomes the repre-
sentative of both roads. But you say, ''there
is a contract to pay us $50, 900 year. Yes,
but tile new power over our road will pass a vote
to annul that He would say to our friends
from up country, don't be anxious. This city is
to show its hand next Monday. We are to
have an election, and even "A constable can't be
chosen who is in favor of accepting the offer
made. The legal situation Of affairs respecting
our road has not been understood. He had
been associate counsel for the road with Gov.
Crosby, who is now i'll. Recently be had gone
carefully over the contract for n lease, and he
found we have rs good case as we can have.
As good lawyer as II. o. Alden agreed with
him. There is no doubt of our ability to sue
| and recover. We can choose whether to en-
force The contract or for damages. The
contract is perfect. l have, rs counsel. advised
the Directors to recall their offer. We have
their agreement to pay six per cent on the road
as fast rs built, and no limit as to time except
on the lower section. After havn. come on
| their knees and begged tor the road, they now
| refuse to take it on account of few defective
| seepers. 1t is like refusing to take a house
| built under contract, on account Of defect in
| the pig-stye!
| Our friends from Canaan otierus $50 900, or
| Il road that costs that TO be ready by Noyenl-
| Der. 1t will add immensely to business on our
road. When it gets to Abbot, it will be worth
five dollars where it is now worth one dollar
We are going, God willing, into the country
| And we are going to have our rights. | have
some ireal estate here, and | will mortgage
everything | have to raise money to pay our
| debts rather than yield to that concern. OuI
taxes will be higher for year or two. But
we are going to live, and treat Judge Rice well
if he comes here. But we have a lesson to