Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-09-19
of Maine every year from the lack of suitable


modicum of fifty cents per acre, the sum in
VOWED would suffice to build one hundred and
nifty miles of railroad each twelve calendar
months! What Maine asks of you, stock
holders of the two Boston roads, is TO COM
bine your strength for the Development OF
this great territory. She asks you, magnan-
lmously forgetting the past, to secure har-
mony of counsels and oneness OF interest,
and then to devote the great sum you could
annually save from present outlays to the
building of feeders to your trunk line up into
the unfurnished parts of Maine, -this, of
course, primarily for your own advantage.
not for hers.
Special circumstances in the case are pro-
pitous. The European and North American
Railway is now possessed of nearly million
acres of valuable timber lands, having re-
ceived the same by gift from the State. These
lands are rich in soil, lumber, iron, limestone,
and excellent marble. But railroads must be
constructed through them to make them
avaiiable-the proposed and chartered North
Aroostook Railroad, at the outset. The
European road cannot build this extension.
But 1t is willing, it is anxious to dispose of
all It's property and rights to those who can.
1ocr companies in combination can do this
work as il were with one hand, Would you
but consent TO do il you would lay the State
of Maine under the deepest obligation. You
will open up incomparab1y the finest part of
New England lying in mass, the development
of which would enrich Maine, and directly
and indirectly greatly enlarge the business of
your roads. You would at once command
vast freight of lumber. There can be no
question that the State will co-operate9with
you IN any scheme for promoting settlement.
Nowhere else in the United States can char
coal-iroD be made in great quantities at so
low cost as amongst the gigantic hard wood
forests of Aroostook county, with the best of
ores extending for miles with limestone side
by side for fux. The slate belt of Maine,
reaching eighty miles betwixt the kennebec
and Penobscot rivers, and turning out the
best, literally the best slate in the world,
needs railway extension.
The Piscataquis branch of the European
road has been pushed into its vicinity. Short
spurs to the quarries are now indispensable to
the more rapid utilization of the deposits
The supply will last practically for ever, and
so will the demand. 1t is e permanent thing
to count upon. The railroad struggling up
the Kennebec River, above Skowbegan, wants
lift. 1t opens good country. Every mile
it advances carries it nearer the lumber region
of Moosehead Lake and its outlying terrific
ries, to say nothing of the road building to-
ward it from Quebec, and already about
opening to the State frontier. A branch to
the European road is called for up the valley
Of the Passadumkeag, to bring out the stores
of hard and soft lumber, and let daylight into
its wldness districts. The 'shore line" from
Bangor east to Machias is in sharp demand
Some 10000 people will give it their business
| They have almost strength enough to bulC
the road alone, but not quite. They will dc
their utmost with prompt alacrity. Business
| to and from the Provinces would at once en-
large greatly were the gauge of the European
and North American road brought down to
the standard of the lines west, and the bridge
at St. John built. This cannot be done with
out some help. Your roads and Boston are
deeply concerned to render that help without
delay. Letting alone, however, the question
of railroad extension into new territories, you
would find ample and perhaps more urgent
call for your helping hand in constructing
| short branches to the manufacturing sites OF
| the State, upon which diversified industries
are already established, but which are put al
disadvantage by the cost of haulage and re-
peated handling in placing their products upor
the rail. Examples of this sort are too nu-
merous to mention. Manufacturing operations
are conducted in the localities referred to ever
now with fair success. But enlargement mus
be based upon improved facilities to market
In addition to these are the numerous and
large sites already accommodated with rail
roads close at hand, but as yet only partially
or not at all improved. On the Maine Cen
trail Railroad are privileges of this class sum-
ming from one to two hundred thousand horse
power of water power, and in the first twelve
miles of the European Railroad above Bangor
are $4,000 horse power additional, of both of
which only limited use is yet made. These
sites you can greatly assist in developing,
either with your own resources or by your
influence with manufacturers and other capita
lists. You can also greatly promote their
development by adjusting freights at rates es-
pecially encouraging to the manufacturer.
Such advances with a view to future reim-
bursement your lines acting in harmony could
make on the most liberal scale. All the va
rious work thus outlined your roads can do
most efficiently together The great harvest
to be gathered from such sowing both roads
should be anxious to reap together. AS the
case now is neither road can venture to at
tempt any part of the task, Maine remains
undeyeloped and impoverished, and your
roads gather from it meagre fve-fold of
business that should be fiftyfo No change
in the relations of the case brought about by
the Intervention of courts or legislatures will
avail for peace. These forced conclusions
only inflame deeper resentments. 1t is in
your power, and as matters now stand, in
yours only, to secure substantial agreement.
Such an agreement Maine urgently entreats
you to make without delay. Certainly men
ofntelligence, men ofgood business judgment,
as doubtless most of you are, men who have so
heavy pecuniary interests at stake, must be
abletocome to an understanding upon so plain
concern. Passion aside, the calm delbera-
ton of one day would adjust all differences.
Over the work of that day there would be
just occasion for such rejoicing as has not
beenseen for many a year in MAINE.