The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-03
The Northern Aroostook Railway,

mh. LDIrOk' Ii you can spare me tue space
would like to offer a few thoughts on this
much needed and long talked of railroad. L
notice there are variety of opinions expressed
as to the place where the road should bs laid,
which leads me to suppose the real object of
building it is not apparent, and so l may bit
wide OF the mark In my conclusions. If it is
simply to take the trade of Houlton a shorter
route to Bangor, branch road from the Euro
pean at Daniorth running to Houton will Sc
cure that end. Aud if so, the people of Houl-
ton are interested, but tha psopls of Aroossook
are not concerned aud should have nothing to
say. And SO long as there is competing line
from Boston and Portland via Eastport and the
st Andrews, it is difficult to understand how
this 40 miles Of new railroad on the extreme
border of the country, can ba made profitable
to the European, or other railroads of the
State, or to the cities Of our State, for the rea-
son that the Eastport aud ST. Andrews line
must inevitably govern freight charges, and
the peculiar location of the road could not ba
expected to develop any considerable addition
al business in that locality already provided
with railroad facilities. Houlton would BIZ
this route reap bat one perceptible advantage,
that of shorter way out, but if by this means
their connection with the st. Andrews g.
Eastport should be brokea, freight charges
would Immediately advance, for we pay the
same or little more to freight feom Bangor to
Mattawamkeag than is paid from Bangor way
round to Houlton, nearly three times thu dis
tauce And anyone know this would not be
the case if there was no competing line OF
transportation.
Now Mr.. Editor, taking into consideration
the importance of keeping on our own sids of
the hedge, aud also of short route from Houl-
ton to Bangor both of which are secured in the
Danforth Branch, yet we beg leave to offer a
more excellent way. The route from Malta
wamkeag via Salmon Stream through Beue-
dicta, Sherman, Pattep, Crystal Island Falls
aud Smyrna to Honlton is equally short and
direct, equally advantageous 10 Houlton and
above. aud vastly more beneficial to the county
and the European, If we take no broader view.
Bat 1t would seem that if the b .ston &
Name, Maine Central and Eastern railroads
are to be interested in building this road (and
they most certainly should be) they ought to
have word to say as to what benefit shall ac-
crue to the railroads and business centres of OUT
State and country from such roads, From the
very nature of things the products of Aroos-
took will bs largely such as are required in the
markets OF our cities OF New Enelan beyond
the terminus of the European at Bangor. The
hay, potatoes, starch cheese, stock and lands,
together with the hides and leather for our
tanneries, and all ths productions Of the various
other manufactures that, with a railroad
through the county, would spring into life
would bs freighed over other railroads be-
You'd the Earopean to the people of our cities
and towns. Thus iG seems as though the rail-
roads ard cities Of our state are all vtally in
terested in this matter of the Aroostook rail-
road
1t is well known that railroad to HOulton
from Dat tforth would not add the business of a
single town to the European, nor tend to de-
velop any considerable new business in the
state, and that all the business which now flows
from st. John and Fredericton to support the
extensive lumber interests of upper Aroostook
and northern Penobscot would still flow in the
same channel, while with a railroad through
the center of the country all this trade would
be turned to our own cities, Bangor and Port
land, and the carrying business would be given
to our own railroads.
The distance from Mattawamkeag to 9oul-
ton by the Danforth route is just the samo as
by the Salmon Stream route via Smyrna Mills,
and this route would open up as good country
as that on the east line of the state has proved
for tanneries, factories and all kinds of manu-
factories, and would pass through several good
towns already affording DO inconsdersble busi-
ness to the Eoropsan railroad together with
the East Branch and other lumber bus-
ness which has its headquarters at Patten and
Sherman. And all the immense lumber busi-
ness of the AroostOok river and the lakes
would be accommodated and q large portion of
the freight which now is carried on the Euro
pean road from M MAttawsmkeag all the way to
Hoalton for nothing OIL less than nothing low
ing to the st. Andrews line) or taken from the
cities of the Provinces, would then be landed
near Patten village and along the ronte
| paying profit to the railroad and Houlton'5 TO-
terests would be quite as we'll served.
For all the freight tnat would otherwise go
| over branch road from Danforth would go
over this route to Houlton and vice versa Aud
then the Salmon Stream route has the advan-
tage that it takes along with it all the business
of the section as fast as the road is completed, !,
and is located through as good section as our
state affords for developing carrying business
for the railroads of the state. Bangor, Portland,
Boston and other manufacturing cities would
thus realize growing and profitable business
from ArOostook which never can bs realized
from a railroad running up the east line of the
| state. The distance to HoultoL and vicinity
| IS the same, through a much hetter country,
nearer Presque Isle even than Houlton is when
| the road is Completed to Smyrna Mills, and it
has the advantage Of opening up a good and
large territory which today has more wealth
| and business and Can hold out more induce
| ment to a railroad company than can the towns
| through which the Danforth branch would
| pass.
In short the one accomplishes next to moth
ing for the people of Ar0ostook, nothing for the
railroads OF our state, nothing for the cities and
| citizens of our state. While the other, equally
short and direct, penetrates the heart of the
| county, accomplishes all for the county, all
for the several railroads and cities interested,
| all for the state and country at large that one
railroad ran accomplish, and does violence TO
40 section. When this road is built, the vast
business of upper Aroostook can all bs brought
| through our own borders BY building 40 miles
of road from Smyrna Mills, and I hope Bangor
and Portland will not ignore their interest in
this matter. 9.