Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-26
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EASTERN RAILROAD.
Terminal Freight Facilities.

In our recent notice Of the Eastern Railroad,
reference was made to the heavy expenditures in
CURED by the road on account of enlarged room
and facilities for handling freight. 1t is under.
stood that about two million dollars were laid out
IN buying the grounds at Charlestown including
some sixty acres Of flats and nine acres Of upland.
This is OF the heaviest OF the recent OUTLAWS Of
the company for extraordinary purposes, and the
one that has perhaps more than any other, excit-
ed comment and criticism. The fact Of the case
is, however that the property lay in such shape
to ownership that to get possession of any or at
least anything like an adequate amount, it was
necessary to buy all that was bought 1t is only
a little time since the grounds at East Boston, were
supposed to be ample beyond all possible demands
of the business of the road. Yet they are and
were entirely outgrowr. The experience of other
railroads has been similar to this. Where one
has bought too much station room, score have
had to lament buying too little. The signs are,
that the Eastern road, in the comparatively near
future, will find its provision not at all extravaganza
Already nine hundred cars, freight and passenger,
enter ard leave its Boston stations daily. These,
as well as the teams for moving goods, require a
great deal OF room. The population of the cities
and towns traversed by the main line OF the road
bctwixt Boston and Portland is now 10000. Sew
era OF the municipalities, after long period OF
comparative industrial stagnation, have entered
upon a prosperous career of manufacturing ac-
tivity and growth. The fact that the road carried
over six million passengers last ear more than
any other in the state, is proof oft rapid socie-
tary circulation established along the line of the
road. In he same year the road took and left at
Boston alone 422. 600 tons of merchandise, which
represents trade OF sixty or seventy million dol
lars. The managers are confident that this show
ing will be decidedly exceeded year by year.
Their purpose has been to make provision accor-
dinghy.
The road now has accommodations for hand
ling freight at this point Of unsurpassed capacity
and convenience, For the coarser goods that
need no housing an extensive system of tracks has
already been laid, and Is extending. Or course
there is room for indefinite expansion in this di-
rection. The grounds are so shaped that freight
houses of great length can be erected as needed.
The one just completed is nearly a fourth of a
mile long, with ample space for teams on one side
and the rail-tracks on the other. The width of
the building is but thirty feet and this represents,
accordingly, the distance goods have TO be moved
between cart and car.
The building, which is of brick, with slated
roof, is divided into seven compartments by brick
partitions and iron doors. Halls sprinkling tube
work runs its entire length and can thoroughly
wet down any section of the whole interior at a
moments notice. The structure is thus strictly
fire proof. The floors are raised to convenient
height for moving goods between and dray.
As a result of these arrangements the expense Of
handling merchandise and the risks of fire are re-
duced to figure that may challenge comparison
from any quarter. 1t may be added that the site
is convenient of access, being within less than n
mile of the State House.
The old freight grounds of this road at East Bos-
ton, embracing nearly twenty acres extend into
tide water by wharf about thousand feet long
of which four hundred feet are solid FILL The pres
ent depth of water alongside is eighteenfeet at ex
treme low tide. Fifty feet beyond the end of the
wharf is the main channel, with depth of sixty
feet. BY q comparatively small amount of dredg
ing, the largest steamers afoat can be put close
beside the rail tracks, both sides Of the wharf
and at the end. The old freight station the solid
brick walls of which still standing, can be at
small cost concerted into rst-class bonded ware
house. The company, by alliance with the Port
land K Ogdensburg Railroad, have provided, as is
well known, for independent route to Montreal.
Their very superior advantages for transhlpment
of exports and imports at East Boston will enable
Them they believe, to attract trans trade
via this port 1t is thought also that in so far as
the Grand Trunk Railway may find ii advantage
Gus to make transfer betwixt rail and water at
Boston, the site unsurpassed for the purpose is at
the docks named.
The improvements above referred to, notably
those at Chsrlestown are of interest to our own
people, but have special importance to the COM
munities East, in Maine, New Hampshire, and to
some extent in the maritime provinces. The
business betwixt this city and Maine jim particular,
is already large. As that great State becomes de-
veloped, it cannot fail to become very large.
The manufactures of Maine already sum nearly
one hundred million dollars per year. \
general movement for the more active prosecution
OF diversified industries is making in all directions
in the State. Boston is deeply concerned to con-
tinue the set of the trade of Maine this way, and
to hold it against attractions elsewhere. The
strongest security for success in this effort will be
by cutting down time and cost betwixt her mar
kets and our warehouses to the lowest figure pos
sble. This in turn is to be effected by charging
| and perfecting facilities for communication. In
this direction the Eastern Railroad has done, as
we believe wise work for itself, and work of
marked importance for Boston.-Bosto~ ddrer-
tiSer.