Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-08
in this State. We have increased in valuation

| ia this State. We have increased In valuation
from about 500, 200, COO to some 1920, ZOO, 900,
and that this increase has been almost entire.
| ly confined TO those sections Of the State
where railroads have been built, we can but
feel their necessity, and that it stands this,
and every Legislature in hand to encourage
their construction to the fullest extent Our
soil probably does not compare with the soil
of many of the western States; but we have
water power and coast line superior to any
other State IN the Union. Therefore it is
very evident that what need is lines of
| ruiroad To connect our various water powers
| with the coast. Without them We never can
| prosper; with them we have the means of
| prosperity equal To the most favored sections.
! And now the inquiry is made; how shall those
| goads be built! 10 this, think there is but
| one answer: and that is, they must be built
| oy the towns which will be benefited by them.
| lniiyiluals in the State have not the capital
| necessary tor such undertakings, and we can
| aVt cNpNCt parties ont of the State to do this
work for rs =; consequently the only course Is,
| for individuals Interested to make SUI bscrlp-
| lions to such an amount as they are able, and
! hen vote the credit OF the towns for the bal
lance.
| Lot the towns loan their credit in proper.
| ton to the advantages which they will re-
ceive. Those towns through which the road
is located, may with safety put III 20 or 80
per cent. of their valuation; and other towns
IN proportion, as they are to be benefited.
1t will he asked is this safe? answer yes,
if properly guarded. No town should loan
| its credit for any sum, without a two-thlrds
vote; nor unless the road is properly located;
and through country that needs a road; nor
| l. m adj fbr
With such security, on road that shows a
fair prospect for business, even 80 per cent.
of the valuation of Il town may be loaned with
| perfect safety. In every case, when road
would pay only running expenses for the trst
year or two, eventually it would pay the i'll
terest on the bonds and make the loan safe.
But if 4 case should occur, where road did
not pay the whole interest on the loan, doubt
less 1t would be good investment for the
town, because any town can afford to be as
scssed a large sum annually for the benefits
| conferred by Il railroad; but this would occur
but seldom. 1t is always necessary for some
towns to put in much larger sums than others.
Towns that railroads are located through,
and through which they run for long dis
| lance, must expect to put in their loans tor
large amount; and it is perfectly safe, for
they will be largely beneftted and without
their substantial aid, such roads cannot be
| built
Take for example the towns of Whitefcld
| or China on the proposed road from Wiscas-
set to Pittsheld, with great natural resources,
but their valuation is low because they have
no facilities for transportation, and the build
ing of road through them would at once
double or quadruple their valuation. This
road runs through those towns some ten miles
each: it will open them to the coast, and
doubtless, unless it is built, they must for
years to come remain without railroad facili-
ties. Now no one would say that the neces-
sity of very large loan on their valuation
should be any obstacle to the success Of the
road; for without doubt, every decade, this
road will benefit those towns as much as their
proportion OF the cost of the whole road.
Another matter of Importance 10 this rail-
road question, is that of gauge, especially in
this State, where many roads are needed, and
our means are small.
AT this late day the question as to what is
the true gauge for railroads is not settled.
Broad gauges have proved expensive in con-
>truciion and in operation, and are being
abandoned. Where narrow gauges have been
tried, they have proved perfectly satisfactory.
Even two feet gauge roads are in operation
with abundant success. Now 1t is admitted
that three feet gauge railroad can be built
at about half the cost of the common gauge.
anu run III ua!l TIE expense, Taxing into coll
slderation the wear an. tear-doing the BUSH
ness OF country as well as the other. There
fore this question of gauge is an important
one, as many sections can support road at
$1,000 mule where they could not support
one at $50 900; and am glad to learn that
il is 10 be tested in this proposed road that
have referred to before. If this proves a
success, see no reason why all sections OF
the State cannot be opened t. the coast, and
cur whole water power developed y.