Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-18
TET1s AND KENNEBEC RAILWAY.

1900
tant line of railway, have now so far pro-
crossed towards the completion of the first
section of thirty miles between Lewis and the
village of St. Mary's on the Chaudiere river,
as to warrant US in stating that the section in
question will be formally opened to traffic be-
tween the 2jth and Goth Of the present month
1t is the intention, we believe of the con-
tractors to mark the occasion by celebration
worthy of such an important step towards the
better development of the splendid tract o!
country lying between us and the boundary
line; when an opportunity Will be Afforded 10
the public of realizing the value and import
ance of this road both to Quebec, Lewis and
the cerntry in question. This district is unsur
passed in fertility of soil by any part OF Low
er Canada considerable portion OF II has
long been occupied by settlers, and as soon as
the railway affords facilities for the easy con
yevance to markets in Canada and the United
States of the valuable timber now covering
the remainder, a large increase in the farming
population may be anticipated with certainty.
Already the population OF this district num-
bers one-tenth of that of the whole Province,
and the railway will open up for settlement
large area of valuable Crown Lands. 1t com
prises such long established and wealthy par
ishes as st. Henry, St. Isdore, ST. Francis,
ST. Mary, ST. Joseph. St. George. st, Ber-
nard, ST. Anselme, st. HenedIne, st. Clare,
Framp.on, Standon, Cranbourne &c. The
whole line to the boundary is 80 miles, 80 OF
which are now completed At the boundary
it will connect with the railway system OF
Maine and will form the most direct route to
Al, tpta Canadian
imports and exports, to ST. John, Frederic
ton, Halifax and Europe, and will thus COM
mand an extensive through traffic. The
Sherbrooke and Eastern Townships Railway,
now building will connect with it at st. Mary's
and will form short and direct route from
from Quebec ard Eastern Canada to Boston
and New York. Thus, in addition to the
large local traffic which will be at once Sc"
cured, considerable revenue will be derived
from the through traffic by the Sherbrooke
and Eastern Townships line. 1t must be
borne in mind, too, that the Lewis and kenne-
bee has no competing roads or water facilities
to detract from the immense business winch
it is likely to secure from the very outset,
and, on this head, we may say that It mas al
ready begun to secure it over the completed
section trains daily now taking up and down
large quantities of freight, and as many as
road must on all hands be considered the best
paving road in the Province while It's direct
bearing of advantage upon the future of Que
bee and Lewis, when pushed through to the
frontier, cannot be over estimated. More
over its construction may be said TO be COM
paratively easy-the country through which 1t
runs Offering excellent railway facilities.
Nevertheless, it must not be imagined that
the undertaking has not been SO far attended
with difficulties. On the contrary it has en-
countered many obstacles, of which the prin-
pal was the financial one, but thanks to the
tact and business talent of Mr.. Scott, coupled
with the notable paying prospects OF the road,
the latter has been successfully uded over
the English money market, when other I'M
portant enterprise of the sort utterly failed
We understand, too. that Mr. Scott has
succeeded in securing the better por-
ton of the requisite rolling stock al
ready, including the very best first
class passenger cars with all the latest inn
provements in platforms, couplings and
brakes, while the platform cars and other APP
planes of that class arc being constructed
at his partners foundry and establishment at
St. Ansclm To the steady perseverance, and
energy of both these gentlemen, in the face
Of the most discouraging influences, we owe
the CRAFTY ing amount Of success obtained so
far in the undertaking. 1t is certainly much
to be desired that their hands may be strength
cred to enable them to prosecute the work to
the end. The Government of the Province
should be the first to help them in the matter
BY such an addition to their grant per mile as
many place them in position to build with
despatch the remaining GO miles to join the
American rail great deal has been said in
favor of the liberal policy of the late Govern
ment, but when we compare the original
grant of Sl,750, per mile, with bridging and
sidings extra, with the present $500, with
the works in question included, we find that
to the railway builder there is no great advan-
tage such as is claimed over the old allowance.
At least, $4,000 per mile should be awarded
by the Government to these colonization rail.
ways, for with anything less, it is impossible
to build them. We do not say that $4,000 per
mile should be awarded to every railway pro-
ject, but there are some, like this Lewis &
Kennebec Railway, which $4,000 even per
mile would not be too much to give to secure.
1t is also the plain duty of the municipalities
through which this road has yet to pass, to
come handsomely to the assistance of the con-
tractors. Such rich parishes as ST. Joseph,
st. Francis and St. George, can well afford it,
and we hope to see them act literally in the
matter On the whole, when fully built, the
Lewis and Kenuebec will be one of the best,
if not actually the best road in the Province.
The work performed by the contractors is of
the most solid and satisfactory nature; the
splendid composite bridge--iron and wood
erected by them over the Etchemin, reflects
the greatest .credit or their engineering skill
and workmanship, and the whole undertaking
SO far is being carried out by them in man
ner which deserves to be copied by all other
enterprises of the sort throughout the country.
-QUe6ec Saturday Budget, Nor. l4h,