Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-24

is too high, bu. if they have saved that
amount. while they have paid freight over II
miles of railroad, how much will they save if |
they can be let out on the short route of 2t |
miles? Certainly, it would be little enough
to say they would save ten or fifteen thou
sand dollars a year more than now. Now, |
the question is, will this Legislature say to
these people you shall not save this amount,
and you shall forever contribute ten or fifteen
thousand dollars year for the benefit of the
b. & L. Railroad and the merchants and 9TH
ers of Bangor.
The Senator from Bangor pleads for the
poor city Of Bangor, and asks if the State
don't owe them something If the State does
owe them she cannot pay for she has already
given to Bangor all her wild land and all
her money, and Bangor has taken it and used
II Tor her own special benefit.
This State has been liberal with Bangor,
she has granted her all the charters she has
asked for, and millions of land and money.
NOW must we go further and say that no town
or towns shall have railroad in the vicinity
of Bangor, unless Bangor consents. Shall we
say that FoXcroft and Dover shall be denied
the humble privilege Of building twelve miles
OF railroad because by SO doing Bangor will
not have the business carried to, or through
their place, and those poor towns compelled
would have to over the short route.
Some years ago Bangor started the idea
that the State wanted better means of
transporting troops in case of war, to the
Eastern frontier. a railroad could have
been built through comparatively pop
uious part of the State from Bangor to Els
worth, and so on through Franklin, Cherry
field, Columbia, harrington, Jonesboro', Ma
chias, East Machias, Dennysville. Pembroke
o,,1 Il
at point where troops would be needed, and
at the same time accommodating eight thous-
and people on and near the line of the road,
but that route would not answer. Calais and
the long string of towns on the shore route
might get part of the benefits which Bangor
wanted the whole of. There was another
route suggested, which was short and easy
route of 90 odd miles from Passadumkeag or
from Lincoln along near the western st. Croix
Lakes, to Princeton. But this was not accept
able to Bangor, because Calais would be
benefited by being the terminus of the road,
and the meeting point between the Provinces
and the States; besides Calais would not be
cut off from her trade with Houton. No, the
only route the State could be allowed to give
her lands apd money to, was the up river,
ox-bow route which could be of no benefit to
the eastern towns of the State, no benefit to
any one east of the Penobscot, and this route
would cut off Calais from a part, if not all
her trade with Aroostook. This route would
bring passengers from Halifax and St. John
| up round through, the most God forsaken
| wastes on the face of the earth, so that
| the first sign of civilization to be met
WITH would be the Penobscot river near Ban
| gor, and Bangor would get the benefit and
| all the glory. This route, the Bangor people
| asked the State to aid by giving the $500, 900
| due from the United States, and all, or near
| ly all the lands then belonging the State,
worth, say Sl,000,o00 or $4,000 900. The
State acceded to the wishes OF Bangor, grant
ed the money and laad, and the roundabout
road is now built, accommodating nobody
| east of Bangor, excepting the passengers to
and from Halifax and St. John. Now l wish
| it to be remembered that the short route from
Lincoln to Princeton could have been built
| for 81 900 900, and this route would have ac-
| complished the purpose of the State, and the
| State would now have been the owner of all
the lands, and the part owner of the short
| railroad. But this would not have suited
Bangor. Bangor / think, has had all the
charters, and all the money, and all the lands
she has ever asked for, from the State, very
much to the disadvantage and humiliation of
all the people of the Eastern section of the
State, and yet she is not satisfied; she now
asks the State to withhold a charter for twenty
or twenty-five miles of road, and compel
| Dover and Foxcroft and half dozen little
poverty stricken towns to pay $4,000 or
Sl5, 900 annually for the benefit of the Ban
gor & Piscataqus railroad
Does Bangor call for our sympathy? Is
the State of Maine under more obligation to
the city of Bangor than to any and all other
places it the State? Is Bangor languishing !?
Does she need to have other places contribute
for her benefit? Is it necessity that compels
her to ask these poor towns in Piscataqus to
pay tribute to her? No. she is prosperous
and powerful, she has always been prosperous
and powerful and she means to continue to be
so, no matter what becomes of Dover and
| Foxcroft and other towns in that vicinity. or
| what becomes of any towns in other parts of
| the State; she must have her own way, and if
she cannot get it directly by her own strength
she gets it by coming to the Legislature to get
| help.
She has already got all the States fortune
and now she comes and asks, that nothing
which has or can pay tribute to her shall be
let off, and asks that these few, poor little
| towns shall be held to go II miles round
| through Bangor forever, and not have an
| outlet 50 miles nearer.
There never was a charter, and there never
will be one, which ought to be granted, if
| if this one ought not to be.
l