Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-10-24
Railroad Meeting.

road question, being "almost, bu, not
fully. persuaded" Many honest doubts
affected their minds, caused by the fate (
of Rockland and Belfast, who had
plunged headlong into railroads. Then, .
too. Ellsworth pride could hardly brook
what has been called ''baby railroad,
and "wheelbarrow track, in the pro
posed three feet guage.
The claims of the proposed railroad
were fully discussed last evening in
full meeting at Hancock Hall. Chas.
F. Brown, Esq, one OF the Directors,
very clearly presented the adNanlages
al the narrow guage a. manifest IN the
smaller cost, and in the greater cheap
ness of running, while il would do all
the business. He read reports oi Den
yer and Rio Grande Railroad, most
hattering accounts of the efficiency and
safety Of the narrow guage. Mr.. Brown
also gave brief history of the Shore
Line Railroad enterprise, and stated
that the enterprise had now arrived
at the very brink OF fruition, and it,
fate was in the custody of the votcr- OF
Ellsworth.
Mr., Brown also stated the proposition
received from a well known and re>pon
sible Construction Company, consisting
of such Railroad men as Thomas Scott.
ex-Gov. Dennison and Edgar Thomp-
son, WHITLEY will take S2jo,@o of
the original stock, provided the towns
on the route, and individuals viii take
the same amount: then they are TO
build and equip a first-olass road for
sum, above the $500 900. the road i To
morgaged for one million dollars, and
these mortgage bonds are to be taken by
the Construction Company at - per
cent. in payment of their contract
&c drawn and signed lortnwlih, ana
suitable guarantys furnished and penal
ties affixed, for the fulflllment of the
contract on the part of the Cons iruction
Co. No stockholders, either individual
or corporate, hre required to pay over
any part of the sums subscribed until
an equal amounts subscribed and ready
10 be paid by the contractors, and until
the contract is signed and guaranteed by
both parties to the satisfaction of the
Directors. This, the speaker said, was
ample protection and safeguard TO the
towns, who could retain their bonds till
this was DONE
Mr., Browns siateme nis were made
in fair straightforward way that eyi-
IDENTITY had influence upon those who
listened. Indeed an entire change of
views were produced by his remarks
and repres among our citizens.
Men felt that if he was correct aud can
did, the road coHld be built aud that
Ellsworth would never be called upon
for more than the s6j, 900 now asked.
If the city votes 5 per cent to-day. as we
think il will, il will be very largly on
the repre- sensations of Mr.. Brown that
the construction company have asreed
TO and will take S250, 900 in stock and
more, will complete the road and take
their pay in Bonds OF the X. X. Co., at
s. per cent. thus freeing the bonds from
any danger of further cali Mr.. Brown
is probably the wealthjest and most re-
sponsibie of the Directors Let him see
that his promises are made good and
Ellsworth will pay her S6J, 900 cheer
fully. Bangor too will we hope, be
held to the promise made for her 10
build the Bridge across the Penobscot
and make up the balance ofthe $3.50 900
Stock subscriptions remaining after
Ellsworth has voted her share.
John c. Talbot Esq, another Direc-
tor, during The day had gathered up
all the objections urged against she
proposition, and now came forward to
answer them. He declared that the
narrow guage was the only possible one,
that wider guage was not within the
compass of our means. Ii was either
narrow guage or nothing. The break.
of bulk at Bangor was not much of a
bug bear.
The reason why the Eastern termin.
US was fixed at East Machias was that
the construction company could not
build any more miles by Dec. J, 1873.
The next year, the road would be extern
ded to Calais and thence to St. John.
Bangor at the western end was TO
make up the balance of the $3.50 900 and
build bridge in addition.
The towns were perfectly safe. and
were only risking the amount of their
subscription,as by the Charter, no stock
holder wss liable for anything more
The construction company were willing
to risk their money in the enterprise,
and the towns could afford to do the
same. The subscriptions could not be
called for until $500, 600 was taken up
in actual stock. The construction COM
pany would be equally interested, and
would bear one half the expense of land
damages, etc. They would only want
money as they proceeded, and would
put in their own money as fast as they
Scaled for the towns money.
II no contract shoulc be made with
the Construction Company then the sub
scriptions could not be called for. The |
Directors would exercise their best |
Judgment and caution in making any
contracts, and would endeavor to care
fully guard the interests of the towns