The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-24
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.

The commissioners deprecate all antagonlsm
whether from within or without that would
make the railroads of the state the object OF
plumber or spoil, and argue that they should be
left to arrange their tariffs to suit the circum-
stances under which they are struggling, 80 as
to yield living profit. The true interest of
railroads is to carry as cheaply as possible, SO
as to induce the greatest amount of business
and the largest aggregate receipts with the
smallest percentage of attendant expenses.
During the year three more roads have
changed their gauge from So to feet 81 inches
the European and North American, ia
miles, Bangor and Piscataquis 62a miles, and
the Bangor and Bucksport, IS $40 miles. Now
all the railroads in Maine are of uniform gauge
except the 27a miles of the Portland and Oxford
Central, still resting under an Injunction OF the
Supreme Court, and the Is miles of the Aroos-
took railroad, branch of the New brunswick,
built to gauge of 81 feet
With regard to the strikes upon our railroads
the commissioners say they have been inform
ed that the managers of certain leading roads
are now giving the whole subject their very Sc
rious and deliberate attention, with view to
an immediate, practical adjustment of all
points of irritation and conflicting interests
that have been discovered or are likely to arise,
and they hope it will result in general adop-
tlOQ OIL SONIC 10TH VI bIo CUUpcEdbiNO pLiuClp1O
in which they are confident lies the foundation
of the most completely successful railroad prac-
tice. The convictions of the commissions are
strong in favor of permitting every employe of
q railroad to have certain share in the success
of the road.
The total number of miles of railroad in the
state is given as 1905 SO, the same as last year.
it being about one mile to each 80 square miles
of territory, to each 1921 900 of propsrty and to
GA of population.
l. During the past year the Grand Falls branch
of the Aroostook railroad has been opened to
to travel, and the branch to Woostock has been
extended to connection with the New Bruns-
wick and Canada road during the same time, so
that freight coming from or going to any point
in New Brunswick or ArOostOOk, undergoes
but one transshpment in connecting with the
standard gauge railroads of the United States
and Canadas. That portion within the limits
of this state is cheaply AMI economically con-
structed. The structures for the most part are
built of cedar, and all are sufficiently strong
and safe for the service required of them. The
road is growing of great value to Aroostook
County.
On the Bangor and Piscataquis road 1928
new ties have been laid, the bridges strength.
ened and the gauge changed at an expense Of
$4,000 The opening of the branch from Alb
bot to Blanchard has materially increased the
business of the road.
The Bucksport and Bangor railroad has been
repaired and improved to some extent BY bal
ments, and it is now in fair condition. The
gauge has been changed to the standard 4 feet
81 inches. The cost of this road was about
$642 900.
Extensive improvements have been made up
on the European and North American road.
The gauge has been changed, 1856 tons of new
rails laid and IS, 858 new ties laid besides extern
sive repairs to bridges. The road has been
operated abe entire year with entire freedom
from accidents. either to passengers or en-
ployees, involving loss of life or limb.
The track and bridges Of the Knox and Lin
coin road are now in better condition than for
several years past. All the requirements OF the
commissioners have been complied with and
the road is now in q good safe condition. More
repairs will be necessary the coming year how
ever.
On the Maine Central and its branches new
iron bridge 175 feet in long, over the Presump-
scot river near Falmouth, land new iron bridge
at Emerson's Stream below West Waterville,
have been built, the long iron bridge at Au-
gusta has been strengthened and granite
abutment built at the east end. Wooden
bridges have been bnilt and extensive repairs
made where necessary. A great advance has
manency and solidity in the character of the
structures, and of the road bed generally. The
total length of new bridges built on this road
during the year is 1893 feet. Eleven hundred
tons Of new iron and 500 tons of new steel rails
have been laid, 5000 old rails have been re-
paired and relaid, 81 miles of side and spur
track have been built, 10000 new ties have
been placed and 5000 yards of ballast put upon
the road bed. On the Androscoggin and Leeds
& Pennington extensions repairs have been
ton, though new bridge will soon be neces I.
sary over the Androscoggin river. The Bel
fast & Moosehead Lake branch is in good con-
dition with the exception Of the pile bridge
over the Marsh river in Brooks and the wooden
bridge at Parsons Valley road, both of which
Tho naytQr Ri Nawn0rt branch
is in excellent condition.
The Commissioners report a great improve
ment in the condition of the Portland & Og-
dengburg. The pile bridges at Fore river, the
Basin and Stroudwater, have been somewhat
strengthened and repaired, and some needed
repairs made on others at different points along
the line. The track has been much improved
by the addition of ballast ties, and small
amount of new iron. A large number of the
old, partially worn, and laminated rails have
been taken out. cut off, repaired and relaid in
the track; 40,911 new ties, 1864 tons OF new
iron have been laid in the track between Port
land and Conway. Although these amounts
are not up to the requirements as reported last
year, still the track Is in safe condition, and
rides smoothly, aud preparations are being
made for more Improvements the coming sea-
son.
The Atlantic & st. Lawrence railroad is in
superior condition in all respects, and very
high compliment is paid to the management of
Twenty-six thousand new ties and five miles of
steel rails have been laid. Enough steel rails
have been purchased and ere in course of de-
livery to complete the track in this state, max
to Detroit, Michigan. One of the companY's
wharves at Portland has been rebuilt and ex-
tensive repairs made on others. Iron bridges
are to be placed at Worthley's brook, Oxford
bridge, Swifts Creek and Bry ants Pond.
On the Boston g. Maine 1900 feet of the pile
hos haon fi11ad tho hridpas ara we'll konk mn
and track in excellent condition.
On the Portland & Rochester the changes for
the better are marked and important. A new
iron bridge between five and six hundred feet
long has been built over the Saco river at Bug
ton, 10000 new ties and 100 tons of new iron
have been laid.
On the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth 1100A
tons of steel rails have been laid, Is, 091 new
ties placed, new top has been placed on the
bridge at Portsmouth, extensive Improvements
have been made in yard and wharf property at
Portland. Marked improvements are noted in
the Somerset road and the ST. Croix and Penob-
scot road. A connection of the latter road with
the European & North American Railway at
Passadumkeag is contemplated.
The Commissioners recommend an amend
ment to the act of last year providing bridge
guards to all overhead bridges of IS feet or less,
SO that it shall apply to bridges 20 feet overhead,
and repeat suggestion of last year in regard
to requiring safety switches on all points on
main lines where switches are required away
from stations.
The,state Temperance Convenffon-Reso-
Iutions Adopted, etc.
The State Temperance Convention was held
today.
Governor Conner being indispossd, Eli Jones,
the venerable Quaker preacher, presided. The
afternoon meeting was largely attended. Gen.
Neal Dow presented extreme views in favor of
Selling liquors in process ofltrsnsportation.
Speeches were also made by Gen. James A.
Hall of Damariscotta, Rev. Father Adams of
Winslow, Major E. Rowell of Hallowell and
several reformed men.
Opposition was expressed by two of the
speakers against changing the laws relating to
temperance this year.
Governor Dingley presided at the ev ening
meeting, which was preceded by brief address.
es by reformed men, the weight of whose testi.
mony was all against the policy and principle
of allowing druggists to sell liquors.
Resolutions were reported and unanimously
passed expressing gratitude for the success at
tanned thus far in. the temperance cause, due to