Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-24

A Genuine Shore Line Railroad.

road is to be constructed through Hancock
and Washington Counties, it must follow
the shore. and the people along the route,
must take the lead and pay the bills.
The city Of Bangor on Monday last fall
ed to obtain the requisite two-thirds ma
josity by S75 votes, to aid in building the
road, to the extent of sl5O,0o0.
The vote stood Yes llls. No 749.
This may be considered as determining the
question that the Western terminus of the
road win not be at Bangor. No onein this
city. nor in the Eastern towns mourns over
the result. 1t is true the Eastern people.
have been deceived in regard to the feeling
of Bangor on this question, and we think
it possible, that the friends Of the road re-
siding in that city, may also have been de-
ceived. Certainly, many of them worked
with a will. and urged all conceivable argu-
ments to convince the voters, that their
best interests required them to aid in the
enterprise. The Wig 4 Courier has al
ways most ably and forcibly presented the
claims of the road to its readers and it Is
through no fault of theirs, that the propo-
sition has failed. 1t would have been de-
sirable, If Bangor had made her decision
at an earlier day, but as it is, We all concur
in the opinion, that Bangor has voted right.
SO far as the interests Of the road and the
interests of the East are concerned.
A fuller discussion of the subject and a
truer view of our wants, have convinced
nearly all, that the road should not extend
10 Bangor. This feeling has been growing,
and the question has been pertinently
asked. If Bangor is to be benefited more
than any town on the ronte, why should
she not aid equally with the other towns
and vote 5 per cent. of her valuationi
The strong arguments that have been
used to induce Bangor to extend her aid.
have at the same time, Influenced other
localities to give Bangor q wide berth.
For example, writer in the Wig OF April
18th, in reply to the objection that the road
will terminate at Ellsworth, uses the fol-
lowing language. IF il should stop there
we shall gain the business of that city and
make it and all its surrounding villages for
many miles, tributary TO u.s.
1t was not very consoling for us to read,
that the trade of Ellsworth and her neigh
boring towns was to be made tributary to
the city of Bangor. The conviction be-
came general, that no such siuice-way was
for our interest.
We agree with the writer of that article
that at no distant day, two trunk lines OF
railway will run through Maine. the West
ern tertnini of which will be at Portland
and the Eastern in the Provinces. The
Maine Central and E. & n. A. already con.
s,itute one. The Shore Line will. We think
constitute the other, with the advantage OF
length. freedom from obstruction and more
deviation from an air line would be unwise.
And for this reason. men of experience in
railroad matters have always condemned
the project of running to Bangor, provided
on the Penobscot.
Present indications convince us that the
road from Belfast to Bangor will be built
as early as the Shore Line road, and proba-
bly, the road from Belfast to Rockland.
Should the Shore Line road connect with
the Penobscot and Bay River road at or
near Bucksport. there would be railroad
communication with Portland, bringing
it as near Ellsworth as is Bangor.
1t is true, there will be difference in the
gauge ofthe roads, and were it practicable
uniform gauge, would be preferable; but
as it is impossible for the East to build a
uniform guage road, she must be content
TO ferry across the river and with her mar
row guage, until the Eastern terminus
reaches Halifax and the Penobscot is
bridged.
That this route is preferable to going to
Bangor SO far as the interest of Ellsworth
is concerned, cannot admit of a doubt.
LIST, The road from the East must strike
Ellsworth at the Falls village, thence fol.
lowing the river nearly to the mouth, and
would furnish just the transportation so
much needed, to say nothing of diminish
ing the large sum now annually expended
70 keep our roads even in tolerable repair.
1t Is estimated that $55, 900 is expended
every year for transportation Of lumber
from our mills.
I'd. 1t will give to the Southern towns of
the county increased facilities for business
with Ellsworth, and also eyelop resources
now unemployed.
Sd. 1t will bring to Ellsworth the trade
OF the East, which Bangor regards as so
desirable.
4th, 1t will give in great measure to
Ellsworth the benefit of the yearly increas-
ing travel to the islands and the coast. and
also the advantage of An open winter port
at no great distance.
If the connection is made on the Penob-
scot with the road On the West side of the
river, the Shore Line must necessarily pass
through the upper part Of the town Of
Penobscot and thus bring it within 10 or
ii miles of Castine, thus afiording to that
town SO DESTROYS of railroad commupics-
ton. an opportunity to connect with the
road.
II the Directors should determine on the
route above indicated for the Shore Line
road, it remains for Bucksport with her
Immense business capabilities, and Orland
with her unsurpassed water power, now
nearly useless. to determine IL they will
join hands with the East in this enterprise.
The time was when Bucksport would
gladly have done SO, but Ellsworth stood
aloof, lured by the grand promises of the
city Of Bangor, that she wouli aid i'm the
by building 70 Ellsworth and
bridging the Penobscot,
We believe that Bucksport understands
her own interests-we know, she has en-
terprise and pluck, and has shown Il, by
undertaking her road up river, and it would
be well for Us, II she is willing, TO join her
IN promoting the mutual prosperity Of
both.
One Of our minor Democratic exchaa.
ges in the interior refers to the Repub-