Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-20
important Railroad Conference.
The LAKE MEGANTIc RoUTE-CoNFERENc OF
OFFICERS OF THE LINES INTERESTED.

On Tuesday J. II. Pope, NJ. P. of Cookshire'
Province of Quebec, President of the Lake Me-
gantic Railroad and c. c. Colby, M. r., OF Stan
stead, a Director arrived in this city and held n
cons ultation with the Directors Of the Bangor
& Piscataquis road, at which the Mayor and num-
erous citizens of Bangor were present. On We'd
nesdav delegation arrived composed of e. w.
Porter, Esq, of St. Stephen, y. Il President OF
the St. Croix & Penobscot X. r., w. w. Sawyer,
of Calais, Manager of that road, C.. d. Rounds,
ESQ, member of aud delegate from the City
Government of Calais, and Geo. A. Curran, Esq,
City Solicitor. These gentlemen bad long con-
ference with the officers of the Lake Megantic
Co. and of the Bangor 4 Piscataquis, which was
also attended by Hons. j. w. Porter of Burling-
ton, John Morrison of Corintb, VI. 5. Dummond,
w. Ii. McCrllis and other citizens of Bangor.
This Is the first time the various parties inter
ested in the Megsntic project have met for con-
sultaiion. The purpose was to compare notes as
to what was done and what remained to be done
and to agree upon some general plan and united
action on the part Of all interested in the project
in order that the desired results be speedily ac-
complished. The general purpose is TO establish
the shortest possible through route from Montreal
to some good port in Tie Maritime Provinces.
With the present roads Montreal Is now 500 miles
from the Provincial port OF llahfix, through
which trade and intercourse win Europe Is main
tanned. II Is claimed that By the Meganuc pro-
iect Montreal can be placed within 500 miles IRON
A good Piovlnc.al seaport on the St. CrolN, and
that by this route even Halifax would De 1853
miles nearer 20 Montreal, and St. John would be
35l miles nearer than they now are by the Inter-
colonial road 1t is claimed that this great saw
ing in distance TO be traversed by the nei colonial
trade and the trade Of the Upper Provinces with
Europe, would cause such saving OF time and
money as would result in bringing all the business
over the new road
This road is now built from Montreal nearly to
Lake Megantic and its officers say they have the
ability to bring it TO our State line. There Is then
about sixty miles to build to connect 1t with the
Bangor and Plscataqus road. Inc latter road
for a distance of about AZ miles would be used As
part of the through line and then 1t is proposed
that the line should be built from the vicinity oil
La Grange TO Passadumkeag and thence through
Burlington, Lowell, ETC., distance Of Is miles 10
Princeton, connecting there with the ST. Crolx X
Pensbscot to Calais and ST. stephen and thence
to ST. Andrews ST. John or such other ports as
may be desired. This route Is SAID to be the
straightest possible line from Montreal TO St.
John or Halifax and it is also claimed that ST. An
drews is the nearest aud best Provincial port tor
the upper Provinces. All present at the meeting
were OF the opinion that this line would benefit
Bangor by greatly increasing the value of the
Bangor q Piscataquis road and by opening large
area OF fine timber land near Lake Meganlic, the
product OF which must OF necessity come to this
city, ii being 40 miles nearer than any other polt.
The MeganIic Directors also assert that this road
will make Bangor the supply depot whence would
be taken all tue merchandise purchased III the
States for large section Of the Province OF Que
bee. They are also OF the opinion that the ex
tension OF the Bangor Il Pscalaqus road to Green
vile would pay tins city, because, among other
reasons, 1t is IN the line Of the desired connection
and would promote the building of the through
line. 1t twas agreed by all present that the Me
gantic was most feasible enterprise, the success
of which was well assured If those most interest
ed would unite in earnest efforts, and the confer
ence resulted In awakening much enthusiasm and
confidence on the part of those interested, which
will undoubtedly be followed by practical results
in the near future.-BangOr Wing and Courier.