Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-26
MAINE CENTRAL RAILROAD,


dents. The business has been less than in
any previous year since consolidation, but
this has been on account of the severe BUSH
ness depression. But the financial Difficult
ties that begun in 1873, seem to have reached
their culminptng point in Maine, and the re-
turn of prosperity is near. Railroads are
not run solely for the benefit Of these owning
to all classes of business. The tax levied
upon railroad, is regarded as unjust and I'M
reasonable. Under the present system, rail
roads are taxed by the State upon the market
value of their stocks; their property outside
of their located way is taxed by the several
municipalities, and their bond, are taxed in
each town where the owners reside and yet
an additional tax is demanded by the State.
1t has been the endeayor of the officers to
maintain the track and equipment of the road
in every particular, in the best condition, and
the road in every way deserves the high com
mendations ii has received from the Railroad
Commits tuners and the travelling public.
Early in ISIS. the bridges were carefully eX-
anincd by Il civil engineer. and it was at once
arranged 10 put AN iron bridge over Bates ca
nal at Lewiston; three iron spans at Lewis
ton: an iron bridge over Cathancc river and
thorough repairs. amounting to rebuilding
of several smaller bridges along the line.
Earlier III the year a new iron bridge was
placed over the Little Androscoggin river;
stone culverts have been built. and other re-
pairs made All the bridges are now of iron
except the bridge at Brunswick. on the road
from Bath to Lewiston, which will be replac
ed with an iron bridge at no distant day.
Some 1000 tons of steel rail have been CON
tracted for. New stations have been built,
and others repaired. \ granite quarry at
North Jay was purchased for $1,000 the Mel
cher property at Portland, for Sl3, 205.j5,
which will be valuable for the accommoda-
ton of freight There have been built at the
company shops one passenger car two bag
gage and mail cars. and fourteen freight ears.
The advantages Of an unbrok, N guage by the
= +. and y. \. Hallway are daily seen, and in
short time the increased traffic will yindicatc
the wisdom of the company in lending it, as
sistancc to that end.
Some steps were taken during the year to
hiring about the building of II short piece of
road which would have materially lessened
the distance to the fertile regions watered by
the ST. john and Aroostouk Rivers. but the
situation of the European and North Ameri-
can RAILWAY was such, a. to its legal authori-
-
lay action until the maturing of their foreclos-
ure proceedings shall place them in a condi-
ton to proceed without embarassm
Parties in Piscataquis County have been
engaged in getting subscriptions for rail-
road from FoXcroft and Dover, on the Ban
COR \ Pistataqui, r. r.. to connect at Dex-
ter ith our Newport 4 Dexter branch They
have made >oInc progress and are confident
that their ROAD will be built. 1t will be a val
liable feeder to the Maine Central. The pro-
pie of Fran lin County have at the same time
taken steps To construct railroad Of two feet
gauge from Pennington to Phillips, and they
have secured such subscriptions as 10 render
it almost certain that during the present sea
son shall have railroad communication via
the "Sandv River Railroad to Strong and
Phillips. which will open also the whole
Rangcy Lake region In each of these pro-
jcots, the Maine Central Railroad has a deep
interest
The Treasurer of the road. John $. Cush-
ing. Esq. presents the following figures,
showing the receipts and expenditures Of the
road for the year ending Dec. 3lst. ISIS
RECEIPTS
From Passenger transporta-
rromFretsht transportatio",'g9.o's o
" L>ir" Baggage :. 81 Is
"Car use 1.,7t6 81
( Total trans portation earning, Sl,i34 ,Gs. 81
From Rents aud harfige. J.is1 -
dividends Dexter & Newport L. Il. stock, 100 "
Total earnings. $l,4io,6Gl 81
Les operating eXpenst.as pc. schedule Is, sio7o4 -
Net earnings s5.p.s5e a
RECEIPTS FROM OTHER SOURCES.
FROM exchange of NJ e. Consol'd Bond. for
Portland kenncbec L. X. stock and