Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-11-18
NORWAY BRANCH RAILROAD
A RAILROAD WHOLLY ~ OXFORD CorN-
TY.-A NORWAY ENTERPRISE. 49, y
MILE AND A HALF OF TRACK.-A BIG
THING FOR NORWAY.

village with the Grand Trunk, would be
of great benefit to the town. As an
increase of business in any town conduces
to the welfare Of the whole county, our
readers are all interested in this road.
There are few, if any railroads, run
ming wholly in Maine, which do a paying
business, as the cost of constructing and
operating is generally enormous, owing
to the hill country and long snowy win
ters. In this respect, however, the pro
posed Norway road was very fortunate,
for notwithstanding there is a high hill
between the South Paris depot and Nor
way village, by swinging 10 the south and
westward, a perfectly level route could be
obtained.
After looking the field over carefully,
the managers, who had determined that
road should be built, called town meet
Ing to consider what action the town
would take. At this meeting it was
voted to expend 100000 in aid Of the
project, and to raise the money by issu-
ing town bonds for that amount. 1t was
estimated that the road would cost Sl0,-
10000, and the balance was TO be secured
/ by subscriptions.
Negotiations were entered into by the
directors Of the Norway Company, with
the managers of the Grand Trunk, which
resulted in the final arrangement by which
the road was built For the sum Of
100000 the Grand Trunk people built
the road, leaving for the Norway Com
pany only the expense Of securing right
of way-that IS. they were 20 pay the
land damages The Grand Trunk fur
nishcs the rolling stock, makes all repairs
and operates the road.
The Directors Of the Norway Branch
Railroad Company are Gen. George L.
Bcal, John l.. Horne, II. VI. Bcarcc, j.
O. Croker, W. II. Whitcomb On their
petition, the County Commissioners of Ok.
ford County went over the road ON Thurs
day last. 20 assess the damage, sustained
by parties who owned land over which
the railroad passed Quite a numbcr Of
interested parties and spectator, passed
over the course with the Commissioners.
some member, of the shovel brigade, az
work on the road, unmindul Of the Ga.-
y1' dignity Of the crowd, suggested that
we were pluuiu- for a walking match.
and they were ri.ht-though the unusual
course OF measuring the distance as .t
was ,nmpcd ot, wa, pursued.
The Norway Branch strike, oft from
the Grand Trunk d short distance south
OF the county road, which va, the old
stage route from Portland TO Augusta.
and swings with quite sharp curve 20
the westward. The ground i, sandy, and
over nearly the whole distance 1t ha, been
necessary only 20 dig few inche, in
order 10 find proper material for the road
bed The track CROSSES the turnpike just
cas-, of Peter Fr5sts residence, and cuts
up his little patch of land in bad shape
The county road here. should be four rod,
wide. but only two rods have been
wrought In order 20 make the cfossiug
safe. the Commissioners have ordered the
road 70 be- widcncd, and the r. r. has
commenced to clear out the brush and
small trees which grow here in l dense
thickct, obs;ructing the view from teams
and of foot passcrs. When this work is
finished, the crossing viii be fully as safe
as the one near the So. Pan, depot.
The railroad, from this point, runs
nearly due west From here, the road
passes back of number of small houses,
mos, Of which have been erected during
the past few years, and crosses alpine
Street, which is the Norway end of the
Rumtord road. or High Street, as it Is
called, from South Paris up. Shortly
after crossing Alpine Street, quagmirc
i, reached. This hollow bears every APP
pcamucc of having once been the bed Of
a pond. It Is grown over with bushes,
and it threatened to furnish the contract
ors with a difficult task. But. FORUM
atcly, after work was commenced, they
discovered it was not the bottomlcSs pit
\ few inches below the surface was a
I1ItA. sil44u D1Llp44lr VA Nl4lht4 VIC lNits'A
was constructed by simply filling with
sand. No pile driving was necessary
This piece is about 900 feet in length,
and runs close to the rear OF the village
Soon after leaving 1.-THE bog we come
to switch which opens into a branch
track running to the yard OF EIorne's tan
merry. Mr.. Horne constructs this branch,
for his own use. Cars loaded with bark
will be switched off and run to the tan
merry
The whole road Is fenced on both sides
with galvanized wire.
Here the road has taken another turn,
and runs over piece of trcstle work,
nearly due north, crossing the tanncry
brook, and running parallel with the main
village street to the iuncture Of Beal and
Cottage Streets, where the depo,s are to
located. Cottage street runs nearly east
and west, and a new road has been laid
out, as a continuation of this street, from
it to the Rumtord road in Paris. Beal
Street runs angling from Cottage Street,
and comes out by a little brown house on
the Paris Road. near the fair ground
This is a fine street for house lots, being
level and clear on both sides: and there
is a good view from all parts of it. We
predict that this part Of the town will
soon be built mp.
At this place there are two acres taken
for the Railroad buildings. First in i'm
.nrnn LII he thn na.snn.rnr lnrnt This