The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-25


will be as markedly regular and safe as they
have been the Fast year."
Aroostook RiUer Railroad: This is the name
Of the three miles of new railroad from the
state line to Fort Fairfield. 1t is 3aft. gauge,
and is operated by the New Brunswick Rail-
road Co. 1t is proposed to extend the road to
Caribou. The commissioners are evidently not
well pleased at the idea of the "Provincials''
entering Maine with their railroads by the
back way and getting the trade of our most
fleurshlng county, but make the best of it by
saying that SO as they develop the country
no reasonable objection can be made. They
find measure of relief by saying: "But by
and by, when railroad, starting from the
vicinity of Danforth, it may be, shall run we'll
up north through the first range of townships
the trade OF this border country, like Rip Van
Wrinkles dog Snyder, will recognize its old
master, and follow him back into the market
places of the state and the Union"
Somerset Railroad: This road extends from
West Waterville to North Arson and was
opened to the latter place in December. The
road is good and safe one, creditable to the
managers for the economical manner in which
it has been built. The whole cost of the road
to North Arson is $613,39O.
Kno1 & Lincoln; The commissioners report
that they have given unusual attention to this
road because it was reported to them that some
of the numerous pile bridges were unsafe.
They made most critical examination in Sep
TENDER last In one place they found the piles
somewhat decayed, but those were quickly re-
placed, and now the commissioners say the
road is not only safe but in fair order for the
work required of it. Considerable work has
been done along the line. Several bridges will
require extensive repairs next season. The
earnings of the road were $149,O2S.s0
Portland C. Ogdensburg: The condition of
this road is good. The reports of the officers
of this road so recently published embrace all
the matters of interest given in the report.
Maine Central and Branches: The commits.
sioners say: "Under the admirable manage
ment of the past season, this road has been
operated with great regularity and safety to
the travelling public, and we are happy to re-
cord another year in which no accident or in
jury has occurred to the patrons of this road
The two main lines of road between Portland
and Watervlle, one by the way of Brunswick
and Augusta, and the other divergng from
the first named at Cumberland Junction, and
passing by Lewiston and Winthrop, are with
two or three exceptions, in excellent condition.
So also are the combinations of the lines from
Wateryille to Bangor and Skowhegan Much
attention has been given to the permanent i'm
provemenJ of the road bed, in the way of grad
ing and dtching. A large amount of new
steel and iron rails, together with new ties,
have been laid in the track, considerable ma
sonry rebuilt, and new structures added. Two
new spans Of Whipple iron truss have been
built in the important bridge over the Andros-
coggln at Lewiston, and the road throughout
its entire length between the termini, Portland
and Bangor. will compare very favoraby in
track, r0ad-bed and general structures, with
any road in this country; and it seems to be the
aim of the managers to spare no effort or ex-
pense in perfecting it as rapidly as their means
and opportunities will allow" They further
state that on account of the prudent manage
ment OF the road, its net receipts will compare
favorably with past years though business has
been considerably lighter The whole Maine
Central cost 1892, 419.5S. The receipts as
shown by the last return were 81, 786, 877.S6.
Belfast C Moosehead Lake: The road is in
fair condition, but little has been done to i'm
prove it the past gear. Repairs at various
points are suggested. The road is,operated by
the Maine Central
DEXTER C Newport: The road is in good con-
dition and tracks and road bed well main
tanned. The road is leased to the Maine Gen.
trail and pays fair interest on an investment of
$500, O0O
Androscoggin, FdrnainJton & Leeds: This
road is included in the Maine Central 1t ex.
tends from Brunswick to Leeds junction with
branch to Lewiston and from Leeds junction
to Farmington-n all 7OA miles. The road bed
has been greatly improved the past year.
Several new bridges have been built. The por-
ton of the road between Crowleys Junction
and Leeds junction, while better than last
year, is in dilapidated condition and must
either be put in better condition or entirely
abandoned. The commissioners will insist
soon that one course or the other shall be
adopted The commissioners conclude their
notice of the Maine Central and its branches
as follows:
Dusing the past year there has been laid in
the track of the Maine Central Railroad and
its branches, 497 tons of steel rails, go pounds
to the yard), equal to ST miles of track; 1856
tons re-roled iron rails $50 pounds to the yard),
equal to 20 63-100 miles of new rails; 1O,S93
rails have been repaired and re-laid, equal to
81 74-100 miles of track; 70,99S new sleepers
and $4,000 yards of gravel have been placed
under 1873 miles OF track; S,l69 feet of new
side track has been laid, and 80 97-10O miles of
fence built; 545 iineal feet of new bridges aud
235a yards of masonry, have been built. Ia
addition to the above, there have been large
number OF new buildings erected the most i'm
portant of which is the new brick building at
Portland, for the general offices of the compa.
ny, and the large brick engine house at Water
vile. The building at Portland is 48x60 feet
and two stories above the pavement The new
brick engine house at Waterville is very fine,
building, and when completed is arranged to
accommodate 48 engines: IL pits have been COM
pleted this year, and the iron turn-tabe built
by the Keystone Bridge Company of Pittsburg,
d., Nha hr;1
built by Messrs. Clarke, Reeves & Co., of Phil
adephia, and is a first-class bridge 1t is 16
feet from center to center of trusses aud %
feet high. The track drops feet below the
top chords The spans are 164 and 1853 feet
from center to center.
Since the year 1871 125 3-100 miles of track
have been laid with new rails, equal to 38 22-1O0
per cent. of the whole road, and 1877 1886 new
sleepers, equal to 3S 15-100 of the whole num-
Der in the track; 142 34-100 miles of fence, equal
to % 72-100 per cent. of the entire line, and
6028 lineal feet of new bridges, equal to % 43.
100 per cent of the whole length of bridging
upon the road. The rolling stock is in good
condition, and statement of the amount with
other items of interest, will be found in the
TreasurerS returns.
The commissioners pay the following fitting
tribute to Elk Gov. Coburn-rather unusual in
an official report, and consequently all the more
noticeable:
of President of the Maine Central Railroad
Company has long been known as one of the
most honorable and successful business men of
Maine After many years of untiring atten-
ton to the minutest details of his extensive
business, and as a result, the accumulation of
a large property, and having filled acceptably
the highest office in the gift of the people Of
this state, he now, in the closing years of life,
with faculties unimpaired, sets an example of
industry and devotion to the great interests of
the state, worthy of his past record.
ACCIDENTS.
But few accidents have occurred during the |
past year. There have been two collisions the !
past year-one on the Grand Trunk between
regular and wild train, and another between |
an irregular train on the Maine Central and a |
hand car The balance of the accidents we're
mostly due to the carelessness of the individ- |
uals who suffered by them.
RAILROAD PROFITS.
The commissioners consider at length the
subject of railroad profits, but the most of the |
suggestions under this head are of interest |
alone to railway managers. One of the sug-
gestions made for the consideration of railway |
managers is that of making the equipment of |
H.. l.. l. 1-k--