Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-24
Zoral anu State Nsms.
RAILROADS OF MAINE.
Report OF the Railroad Commissioners o,
the Operations the past year.

rolling STOCK bridges, viaduct- aud culVUrts of all
the railroads in Maine, as a whole in better con-
dition than ever before; and that the portion
forming the main or trunk lines of travel through
the State are, in all essentials, inferior to none.
There has been almost entire immunity from Sc
rlous casualties creditable 10 the road. as well as
to their managers. Ifthe unwarrantablc drains to
our railroads could be stopped and disposition
manifested 10 save these corporations from losses
oil every KIND, their finances might be wonderful
ly improved Obstacles should not be nterposed
TO experimental tariff, efforts to ascertain what
rates VIII Nleld vlng profit the true interests of
the roads oelng TO carry as cheaply As possible so
as to induce The greeest amount of business and
the largtsi receipts, with the smallest expense
During the year three more of our railroads
have changed their gauge from 2 feet to feet
IL inches, making now an aggregate length of
about 900 miles Of railroad within the State upon
which the broader guage has been abandoned for
tn, present standard gauge. All the railroads of
the state have adopted this system except the "
IL miles of the Portland and Oxford Central,
which still rests under an injunction of the Su-
preme Court, and the - miles of the Aroo.took
River road. which is l-2 feet
few words are added in regard to the suicidal
and unwise contest between labor and capital Ii
Is still the conviction of the Commissioners that
the EMPLOYEES OF ROAD should have a certain
share III the success of his road, aud something
that shall awaken a possessory feeling in his heart
Total number miles railroad in State 1906 SO;
whole length main line operated, 1901 10 1t
beng about one mile OF railroad in the state to
each i3 square miles of territory; to each ss23l-
900 of property and to GA of popul ,ton
The ArOostoOk River Railroad is an extension
OF the New brunswick Railroad from the eastern
line OF the State to the village of Caribou in the
town of Lyndon. The branch to Grand Falls ba,
been completed. and opened to travel the past
summer, and the branch to Woodstock has been
extended to connection with the New Bruins wick
aud Canada road. That portion within the limits
OF The State Is cheap'y and economically constructs
ed The road is proving of great benefit to Aroo,-
took county.
The Bangor x Piscataquis Rallroa from OlE
town to Blanchard in now operated by the oriRi-
nal company. The bridges have been renewed or
strengthened. The division from Abbot to
Blanchard, eight miles in length, was opeped
for business IN May. The gauge has been mar
rowsd to the Standard gauge. The old rolling
stock has All been narrowed and put IN excellent
condition.
The Buck port n Bangor Raj road is still leased
and operated oy the Trustees of the European
& Norh American Railway. The gauge ha.
been narrowed to conform TO the standard and
put IN good condition. The bridge the Pc
nobscot river at Bangor, Is good structure.
European aud North American RAILWAY from
Bangor to the state Inc at Nanceboro Exten-
five Improvements have been made on the line of
this road. The change of gauge on the Buck.-
port branch WAS made eNpeditously and wlthon,
detliment to the business OF the road. The yali-
Gus items of repairs, and they are numerous are
all detailed in the report. The road i, now a
convenient and safe line of travel
The lIoultop Branch Of New brunswick & Car.
ada Railway has three miles within the State. The
traffic the line sad its connections has been
largely increased, and the road Is in good condi-
ton. The road is Of great nyenience to the err
terprl,ing and growing town Of Houlton and all
that portion Of Aroosook county tributary TO it,
The Knox 81 Lincoln Rsilroad from Bath to
Rockland, has been rigidly examined, and at their
last ylst the Commissioners found the track and
bridges very much improved. Further repair.
VIII be needed the comm! season. Upon a road
where there is SO large an amount of open bridg-
ing, exposed to the action of the elements. con-
slant and rapid changes are taking place. and il s
ouly by nnceasing vigilance that serious results
can be avoided The bridges have all been mate
rally strengthened the ferry boat at Bath has
heen thoroughly Overhausd and is 10 good condi-
ton.
Inc consolidated Maine Central and its branch
e., 351 miles in all. The system of improvement
which la. characterized the management OF this
road for several years, has been continued this
year. The various radical improvements are de-
tahtd 10 The report. The roads leased TO the
Maine Central are - Androscoggin, Leeds x
Pennington, BE fast 4 Moosehcad Lake Dexter
* Newport. The total length Of new bridg
built On the Maine Central aud its branches dur
ing the wear is S99 feet, and many others have
received extensive repairs. One thousand one
hundred tons OF new iron and 800 tons OF steel
have been repaired and re-.id-l3 O9l feet equal
to is 100 miles OF side and spur track has beer
built. Ninety thousand new ties have been placed
IN the track, and 900 yards of ballast put upon
the road-bed 20 mile. of new fence has been
built. Various Improvements and repairs will be
made on the road the neat season, The manage
ment OF the road has been most excellent.
Portland Il O-densbutg Railroad 81 miles in
this State great imp oyement has been made
IN this road the past year. the track and rolling
stock having been brous ht Up 10 high standard ;
the utek is IN sate condition and rides smoothly
The receipts fol the past year have been quite
gratifying.
Atlantic X St. Lawrence division of the Grand
Trunk Railway, from Portland to Island Pond
VT. But very few roads 10 the country will bear
comparison with this. New track and ties have
been put down; steel rails have been purchased
aud in the course Of delivery TO complete the
| track in this State, and the whole system in the
Atlantic district This will make complete steel
rail line from Portland, Me, TO Detroit, MichN
The route of the Grand Trunk lrsveIses rich
county, very attractive to the tourist.
Boston x Maine Railroad from Portland to
Boston, ll6 miles This road still maintains It's
reputation as well-msnaged, frst-class road.
The track is in excellent condition. and the bridge
well kept up. Numerous repairs have been made
the past year.
Portland x Rochester Railroad, from Portland
to Rochester, n. H., 50 miles This road has
shared in the general improvements of other
roads. This road is an important link in the
through liOm IOll.hnu 10 new 1OTk, con-
Meeting at Rochester, n H., with the Nashua 4
Rochester Railroad, and at Nashua with the
Nashua 4 Worcester, and by continuous ounce
| lions through 10 the city of New York.
Portland, Saco and Observation-Disclosures from
Portland, Me-. TO Portsmouth, n. H., 50 miles
81 Q 10 Maine. The road-bed is wide, well bal .
lasted, ditched and drained, and the bridges open
| waterways and culverts are in good order, with
the exception of the north end OF the arch at the
| Mousam river in Kennebunk, which is somewhat
| crushed and broken. Since the date of our last
report, there has been laid in the track 100 IL
tons Of steel rails equal to II miles and 967 feet
| of track The total length OF steel track on this
| road is now II miles; 1901 new ties have been
| put into the track, greatly improving it. The
road has been operated safely and to entire salts
faction
Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad,
| from Brooks Crossing" in South Berwick, to
| Conway, N. H., y miles, IL in Maine. This
road is also under the management of the Eastern
| Railroad Company; and, although the track is not
in so good condition as the main line of road,
STILL il safe for the service required of but
| the commissioners suggest that the track in this
State should be bsllasted raised, and ties put
into 1t.
Somerset Railroad, from West Watervillc to
Anson-25 miles. This road is in good condition,
and has been well kept up, and carefully man
AGED and "a the road he'd was wall formal hal