Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-03-27
Report of the Bangor r. r. Committee.

Mr. Paine then came forward and read
the report, which is Is follows;
REPORT or THE COMMITTEE.
The Committee appointed to investigate
and report upon the subject of the City
aiding in the construction of the Shore
Line Railroad TO East Machias. beg leave
TO
REPORT -
The utility and almost absolute necessity
of railroads to the permanent prosperity OF
any city have become a matter of such
universal recognition as to be an axiom of
political economy. The history of every
place of Importance in the country is a
demonstration of its truth. And your
Committee feel that with reference to the
desirableness of the enterprise in question
there Is such unanimity of sentiment
among our citizens as 10 require NJ word
of argument in its favor. The single ques-
ton remains-"How shall the object be
accomplished Ii can be done only BY a
stock subscription by citizens on the route
or by municipal aid. That such stock
subscription sufficiently large TO effect the
object can be secured, is TOO plainly i'm
possible to receive moments considera-
ton. The whole history OF railroading in
Maine. almost without exception. shows
the inter futility of any such proposition.
MUNICIPAL AID NECESSARY
Municipal aid can alone be depended up
on TO accomplish the result. Shall this
aid be rendered by a subscription TO its
stock or by pledge of credit? The latter
involves a prior stock subscription a. Il
basis sufficient to make the pledge or in
dorsement perfectly safe, for unless ii be
SO the city would be eminently better off
as subscriber than as endorser for
necessarily much larger amount. But, as
already remarked. such stock subscription
is impossible and hence the pledge-of-
credit proposition falls to the ground
The conclusion is inevitable that munich
pal stock subscription is the only prac-
ticable mode of effecting the object. and
the question then arises, whether it is
desir able for the city to become such "A
subscriber in the manner proposed.
PROPOSITION.
The proposition now before the citizens
is, that in order to secure the proposed
road from the Eastern bank of the Penob-
scot river, opposite the city to East Ma
chias, with the necessary equipment. the
city must subscribe for stock to the amount
of $50. 600, the towns along the line hay
ing already voted to subscribe the further
amount of 100000. The proposition
contemplates the adoption of what is
known as the narrow gauge, and includes
the erection of all necessary depOts, sta
tion-houses, turntables, side-tracks and
necessary rolling stock for the immediate
working of the road. With such SUBJ
scriDtion your Committee are assured the
road can be secured, and that without it the
enterprise Of making this city its terminus
must be abandoned and the contemplated
road from the East be compelled to seek
another outlet at Bucksport.
STATEMENT OF FACTS.
In order to ascertain the facts bearing
upon the question, your Committee depu-
tized portion Of its members to attend
the meeting OF the Corporation at Cherry
field on the 18th Of February. From in
formation received there and at other |
points on the line they are convinced thar |
the people of the section are determinad |
speedily to have a road as contemnlafed
and that they are sufficiently assured Of
means TO make the enterprise successfuI:
hat unless this subscription is made by
bur city the Bucksport terminus will be |
adopted and that measures to that end |