Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-25
MAINE RAILROADS.
Repart OF Commissioners-Cond and
Progress Of all the Natiroads-Iht~rest
ing Facts.

FoS
year, their present condition, and many practical
suggestions as to the future. The Commissioner
have faithfully performed their duties in the ex
animation of tracks, rolling stock, bridges, via
duct, and culyerts. The roads and rolling stock
as general thing, are in good condition. There
have been no "serious accidents" the past year, oil
startling catastrophe.
There arc oSG SO miles Of railroad in the State
whole length of main lines operated 3o5l o3 miles
, This shows about one mile Of railroad TO each 3.
miles Of territory, to each 1921, 600 Of property
and to every GA Of population.
Xoulton BraneA-1hs branch OF the New
Brunswick and Canada Railroad extends from De
bee station, on the n. L. i c. road, in New Brun'
wick, to Houlton, miles, being within the state
The business at the lloulton station is relatively
large. The trains run with great reg u'afi'y' any
the road is very carefully managed. The ne"
axe-box Of Mr.. Osburn, applied TO the Trains,
seems to work admirably.
ST. Croig d, Penobscoi Rauroad-Extcnds from
! Calais to Princeton; main track u miles. II was
commenced in 1850 and finished in 1856. is bus
mess i, LARGELY the trar-poltatio Of sawed lnm-
| Der from the mills to tide water, the trains run
| ming slowly and carefully. Bridges have been
| strengthened and repaired, and much work done
| upon the road the past year. The ldea Is sun en-
I 1900
s.rean II miles, to secure the business Of the tam
| merry there. and with the ultimate view OF con-
nection with the Z. x \. a. The cost of the con
structcn of the road about S569 ,0O0, earnings
the past year $50 III 50; cost OF operating about
CO per cent OF the earnings funded debt S2l1 100
| lVhitneyriNe d. .uachiasport Ra'iroad-1'.
miles loI q built at cost of $1,000 for the pur-
pose of uan,poiting saved lumber from the mills
III Whitneyvilie, TO Machiaspolt, for shipment IL
has earued BY the transportation OF lumber and
| goods, So 600.
| Consolidated European d North Amer7cdn
| Haiheay, Bangor and P.scataqus Rd'froad, and
Bucksport and Bangor Eai(rodd-Embraces the
| European and North American Railway IN Name,
extending from Bangor to the State line Ia miles
and the western extension in New brunswick,
extending from Faiville Station, near ST. John to
| Nanccboro', IS miles. Operates the Bangor x
| Plscataquis road, extending from Oldtown to Ab-
| bot-54 10 miles-under contract OF lease, but
! which Is practically purchase and the Buchsport
| K Bangor road, which extends from Bucksport 10
! BangSr-lS 10 miles-belng 30 miles IN al.
The consolidated road is in very fair and safe coz
ition. Tue rolling stock is adequate to the pres
cnt condition Of the road, except that some thirty
box cars more are needed. The time of both pas
| senger and freight trains has been heightened,
winch Will make great difference IN the strain
| upon the road. The funded Indebtedness of the
consolidated read is as follows An issue OF $50
| 600 OF per cent. 20 year currency bonds, dated
Aug L. 1863. S26l 900 ofthe,e have been called in,
leaving Sl9 900 outstanding. An issue by the city
of Bangor of 81 900, 900 twenty-five year 8 per
emit currency bonds, dated Jan. /, 1859. These
bond, were all sold An issue by the company OF
| So 900 900 gold bonds dated March /, 1869. Ut
| these ST 9S6 900 have been disposed OF, leaving
Sl4 600 un.old, but pledged at the Bangor Saw
n.s Bank as collateral security for loans. AN rs
soe by the New Brunswick Railway Co., OF + l.
! co., of 80 year per cent gold bonds, dated July
/, 1867. Sold and outstanding f36l 900, leaving
unsold f49 400, which are pledged as security tor
! leafs in London. Dec. S. 1872. after consoldat-
| ing with the New brunswick Co., an issue Of &c.
! 600 go Of bonds was authorized; 50 0O0 ooo to be
! set apart and used only for the redemption and
payment OF the 81, 900 900 fist mortgage bonds on
| The consolidated railway; the other 81 600 900 to
he used in paying debts, buying rolling stock, &C.
| Thee were per cent. bonds. forty years to ran,
in gold, dated May l. 1873. Ofthese bonds " wv
OIL " have been sold. The balance, 1924 600, are
! pledged as collateral security for loans Of money
10 the company.
| The Bangor d Piscataqais Broneh--An issue
by tie city Of Bangor TO the company OF Sooo ,OoV
thirty wear per cent. currency bonds, dated April
| / 1869. An issue by the city of Bangor to the
company of Sl22 900 per cent, currency bonds.
dated Oct /, 1871. An issue by the city of Ban
gor 10 the company of S92 900 seven per cent cur
| Iency bonds dated Dec. /, 1874. All the fore
! going have been sold and are outstanding. An
| issue by the railway company Of $500, 900 twenty
eight year per cent. gold bonds, dated Feb /,
ISL. No.e OF these sold, but they are pledged
in The Bangor Savings Bank as collateral security
for loan of $1,000 The earnings of the con-
solida,ed rt ad for the past wear S616 05l 81
operatIpg expenses $3.50 SO. The company
failed TO pay the coupons upon the Bangor loan OF
July /, 1875, and upon the land grant bonds due
the lst Of last September, and ITS paper went TO
protest. Its property was attached, and the road
was placed in the hands Of q trustee by whom it is
now operated The Bangor d FscGtdquis road
! must be extended to Moosehead Lake, and the
| KeQantic road must be made, to give over the Is.
K 2. and L. & n A. roads direct, and the short
est connection between the Canadas and the Mara
time Provinces, and between Eastern Name and
| the West. An AroostOok road. Bangor and the
state can hardly aford TO let remain much longer
uubuilt. The business of the country OF Aroos-
| took is being diverted to New Brunswick by rail-
roads built by Provincial subsidy into the State
from St. John river And State pride and State in
terests and individual enterprise, cannot long tol.
crate this unnatural diversion. This provincial
policy will be met by the construction OF better
road on a shorter route 10 better markets, from
some point on the lire of the European road into
| the valley of the Aroostook-to thus restore the
business and trade of the State to its natural and
traditional channels. There is almost urgent
necessity for the gauge of this read 10 be changed
to the narrow gauge.
BucIsDort d Bangor Railroaa-A new road,
opened last year, extending from Bucksport to
| Bangor, is $40 miles; road is not yet entirely
finished, but its track is in good condition The
last fall some 5000 were expended in work
upon it. The cost of the road. exclusive of
|
the whalf at Buckspor, has been. SO far,
$500, $50. The road is leased to Consolidated
L. i y. A. Railway for five years from Decem-
Der u, 1874, at rent of SO per cent OF earnings
aud the earnings the past wear were about W., =
600; thus giving $4,000 ,ent upon their contract.
The funded debt i, $4,000 sold Of the issue OF
$500, 900 authorized. The floating debt is $50
600, exclusive Of ali liability for depot grounds at
| Burksport.
Portland d Orford Central Raiiroad-Not OPP
Grated the past year. Notwithstanding the great
loss to the towns along its line, it would now be
difficult to find responsible parties who would un.
de, take to put the road in proper condition and
set it running.
atlantic d 81. Laurence Dirision Of the Grand
| Trunk Great Improvements have been made
upon this road during the past six years. The
track, bridges and culvert are all in good condl-
ton: new elevator has been constructed at Port
land, which has a capacity for 100000 bushels OF
| grain which re taken from cars by means Of
Sit am scrapcrs, and the CAT wharf at Portland,
has been rebuilt. The cost of rebuilding the
| wharves aud elevator was $500, 90.
! Leagistoa d 4ubarn-Exieucs from Lewiston
to the Grand Trunk, ) l , miles, AMI operated by
the Grand Trunk. TIE road is in thorough con-
| Jt;nn nd pyrells tly I'm Ii THROUGHOUT.