The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-24


business Of Aroostook has morelthan quadrup-
led since 1869, and that the importation OF
merchandise amounts to more than 1900 tons
annually. If then we are to Tbe compelled TO
bringthis freight over 413 miles OF ra lroad tthe
distance if brought through New Brunswick,
instead Of 300imles the distance via Danforth
and Houlton, or 298 miles by the way OF Dex-
ter, and supposing the price of freight be $40
per ton, then the cost over the New Brunswick
railway will be $137 rs. or with the additional
price now charged over the New Brunswick,
portion of the road nearf $500 per ton. This
will be $4,000 additional to what the freight
would be- if it came to us wholly upon our own
soil. This, with the extra expense upon our
outgoingIfreight and the enhanced passenger
tariff could not be less than $3.50 600 annually for
the luxury of paying tribute TO our dominion
neighbors. It is a tax which Will drain OH the
wealth of the most favored portion OF the State
in every thing else except in railroad commu-
nications. The tendency OF this state OF things
will be to make the Aroostook Valley what Ire
land is to Great Britain, and the Queen OF the
Antilles is to Spain. Our masters will live in
st. John, Montreal, and in New York. And
If we at any time shall be inclined to rebsl
against the extortion of railroad owned and
managed by foreign capitalists, we can have
the sweet revenge upon them, OF going on foot
with our packs upon our backs.
Aroostook extends fir ON the east line of the
State west to the Canada line at the northeast
Mattawamkeag north to its most remote point
in No. 20. 18th range from the east line of the
State 1872 miles. 1t embraces lS2 townships,
648O square miles and A. PAT 600 acres. Its area
is more then one-tfth OF that OF the whole
State. 1t is a magnificent domain; too grand
In its proportions, too important TO the rest OF
the State to be left to be occupied by foreigners
who seek TO control its destiny by owning It's
arteries of travel and commerce and d1ctaGing
to us in great measure the price OF what we
hat ch1I hrIn W
with all We shall be clothed. Ii we must pay
tribute we choose 10 pay to those OF our own
State to Portland and Bangor, rather than to
st John, Montreal, New York and London.
Forty-seven years ago, when the northeastern
boundary question was the topic for discussion,
the writer of this heard Hon. John Holmes re-
mark that "It would be for the best interest Of
Maine to let the British have all the land upon
the waters OF the st. john" For, said ne,
surrounded as it is on three sides by British
territory, in case of an outbreak with England
it would at once be occupied by British troops.
Its money value is nothing, the natural course
of its trade is down the st. John, the Prov
inces will supply our currency. and all Maine
will get to pay us for maintaining JURISDICTION
over 1t will be to maintain courts to enforce our
municipal laws and provide prisons or homes
for our criminals"
Is not this prediction of Mr.. Holmes already
nearly verified, and will 1t not be fully SO
when the valley Of the Aroostook shall be left
with no other route TO tn6 cpfunerCli oIupof-
ium of our State than from Presque Isle to
Caribou, Fort Fairfield and from thence 70
Woodstock, 107 miles, then to Vanceb orc At
miles further to again reach our own tate? LII
is very evident that the owners OF the New
Brunswick Railway regard Pressure Isle as
very important point. Their depot in this
village just mpleted is $50 feet in length by
AZ feet in width, much larger than any other
depot upon their line or upon any line this
side OF Bangor. They are pushing forward
their road with dispatch and intend to soon
run their trains over it from Caribou. There
is large business awaiting its completion, land
it is said that next year thay intend to con-
tinue their road towards if not to Houlton. II
they reach that point, still our people must
lay tribute to New Brunswick, unless some
body makes US road to Danforth and even
then Aroostook will be opened by road run
in the interest of foreigners. Recently en-
gineers in the employ of the Maine Central
have been engaged in making survey for a
railroad from this village up the Aroostook
river in the direction of Dexter, via Patten,
the Saboin country, the Katahdin Iron Works
and Brownville Slate quarries. We are look
ing to this road, or one by the way OF Bangor
for emancipation from the thraldom OF being
compelled to travel 1913 miles, the distance
from Fort Fairfield to Vanceboro, in foreign
land to visit our neghbors and friends in Ban
gor and Portland. ID. 3.
Pressure Isle, Nov. II h.