Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-03-31

1
teria interests, and thus holding our population.
| What has made Worcester in Massachusetts, so
wealthy and in every way prosperousf Because
| it is in such close and direct communication with
centre of the Republic east of the Rocky Noun
tains. Liverpool will be the gateway Of the com.
merce of the east in time to come. To these grand
centres steamers must 60 to carry the produce and
manufactures Of the country. And we must be
near these centres. What will place Augusta near
| to New York! line of steamers from the har-
| Dor of Wiscasset to New York. The great God
above us has made track cheaper than you can
make with iron rails or drive it with an engine.
Eighty miles to New York is saved by this route.
| He spoke of the growth of the Dominion of Can
ada. Lower Canada had population of 200, 600.
Quebec had not stood still. Its population has
doubled since 1850. 1t had a prosperity far beyond
that of the State of Maine. He asked why it was
that the manufacturers of Fall River and Lowell
are selling goods in England and South America.
Because of the facilities afford by line of
steamers. Why cannot we transport our goods :
because we have line of steamers between Bos-
ton and New York to carry them, and are obliged
to send them by the way of Liverpool. We were
go engrossed in the war that we had no time to
establish lines of steamers.
He showed the ne ccssity of inland counties, like
Kennebec, finding an outlet to the ocean. The
question comes to us whether we are willing to
build the nineteen miles of road from Augusta to
West Watervilie; whether the three towns on the
route will be triple ow ners that will bring this
way the west Somerset trade, and whether we will
do part in building this connecting link of the
grand enterprise. He had no doubt that the time
will come and there are those living who will see
it, when we shall be connected by the way of
Wiscasset with line of steamers to Liverpool
and Glasgow.
Capt. Joseph Tucker of Wiscasset, gave sailors
view Of the advantages offered by the harbor of
that place, where the water is sixty feet at low
tides-t being but twenty-eight feet in the harbor
of New York. Seguln, Monhegan and Matinicus
stand grand sentinels and guide-boards to the
approaches Of the harbor.
MIR. James Patton, Vice President Of the Lewis
& kennebec Railroad, was the next speaker. lie
returned thanks for the kind manner in which he
and his countrymen had been received since COM
ing into the State. Courtesy had been extended
to them in keeping with the character OF the true
American gentleman He gave in brief history
of the railroad with which he was connected.
The bonds of the company had been recently
successfully placed in the London market. He
thought this the proper time to undertake the en-
terprise at this end of the route. He remarked
"If you don't do so speedily, we shall annex you
to Canada and build the road ourselves" g.
E. F. Pillsbury, Esq, said he was not a practical
railroad man, but was much interested in the pro-
posed railroad line, and deemed it worthy of care
full consideration and of our best efforts. Once
open highway of this kind and it becomes
blessing for all time to the country though which
it passes. What advantage will it be to US If this
road is opened it is asked. Some one had said
that it is singular fact that all great rivers run
by large towns and cities. These rivers by natural
causes and the commerce that comes from them
benefit the communities through which they pass.
The profits Of commerce result in building up
towns and cities. Just with lines of railway;
you cannot have them without receiving their
benefits lie anticipated no remarkable and sud-
den growth here account of this enterprise, but
it would be gradual and lasting. 1t is too late to
argue that great thoroughfare is not a blessing.
lie saw not only financial and physical benefits to
be derived from this, but 1t would be the means OF
a more social and friendly intercourse, and would
tend to harmony, peace and prosperity.
Hon. A. X. Anglers, Attorney General OF the
Dominion of Canada, was the next speaker. He
had travelled some four hundred miles to visit Au-
gusta, and he hardly knew how to express himself
in a language not his own. He was glad to hear
that the people in Maine were prosperous even
during the season of the depression OF business,
especially in that of the lumber trade. He was
encouraged to know that where few years ago
stood the lumberman's shanty hourishing towns
and cities are now established. The future prom
ises still better things. You have now neighbor
waiting at the boundary line, not mounted on
charger, with hemlet down and spear poised, but
with the offers of peace and wealth, the true way
in which men should show valor and courage.
You are teachers in the building of railways.
What have you done since the great peace jubilee
of 1851 He would not shock the natural nodes
ty of the American people by asking the question.
1t would be easier far 10 tell what you have not
Continent, the journey is now made
so easily and quickly that you scarcely
stop to bid your family good bye before starting.
We have profted by the lesson and are pushing
lines of railway from Quebec to the Upper Canada,
and shall soon have our own Pacific. We now
propose to make short cut from Ottawa to Que
bee, and from thence where, We will leave that
for you to decide. With Quebec harbor closed to
navigation five months in the year, and the people
on the other side of the ocean waiting for the
", hat he laid w m st
have an outlet by railroad. The Lewis & kenne-
bee railroad has been granted a government sub
sidy and will certainly be butt: Standing at the
line we shai. have a switch and siding for you to
come on and meet u.s. and there will be no teles
coping. The locomotive will stand there steam
ed up and whstling until you come. For your
sake and for ours, you must take advantage OF this
means of connection and not compel us to go by
the way OF st. John.
One hundred years ago last December, a man
passing through Maine, Arnold crossed the line
and made the first survey of the Lewis & kenne-
bee railroad The gallant general who is your
Governor may be your leader in crossing the line
to-day, but with a different purpose from that
which actuated Arnold.
Col. A. w. Wildes, one of the Railroad Com
missoners, was called upon, and spoke OF the sur
veys of the different connecting lines which he
had made, and which he pronounced easy and
feasible. Our Canadian nelghbors have offered to
meet us half way, aud we could do no less than to
recprocate. 1t depends now with the towns along
the line to say whether this great enterprise shall
be accomplished. Material and labor is cheap,
and the road can now De built very advantageous
ly.
Ira d. Sturgis, Esq, of Augusta, was intro
duced as ,corker. He said we had been we'll in
formed in regard to the enterprise from both ends
of the line. Friends have come here from Can
ada to ask help for their side, but to see what
the prospect is here. lie never heard of city or
town being bankrupt on account of building
railroad. He sure the DAD would build up
large local trade id bringing lumber.to our ship
yards. The road will run through country lined
with hard wood timber, and he was not sure but
what the local trade would pay for the road out
side of the consideration that it is to be great
national highway. The great question is, will
Augusta issue its bonds for the amount of $780,
600 for the building of the road to West Water
Vile That is the upshot of the whole matter.
Look the thing over and vote intelligently. The
Canadian railway can go to the home government
and float its bonds but we have no home to go to
and must depend upon ourselves.
The meeting then closed with three cheers for
our Canadian visitors, given with will. All the
speakers of the evening were roundly applauded
And thus closed the meetings that have been
largely attended by interested and intelligent vot-
crs and that must be very gratifying to the friends