Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-01-19
The Railroad Extension to Ellsworth
Malne Mining JournAl.l

The project for the extension of the Ban
gor and Bucksport Railroad has at last taken
definite form, and il now rests solely with
the residents Of that section of Hancock
county through which the proposed route
passes 10 say whether the road shall be built
The cost of the extension. exclusive of the
right Of way, station and freight houses, etc.
is estimated at 800, 900 This sum. il is
believed, the Railroad Company are willing
10 invest in It's construction, BUT beyond that
they do not care TO 90. Therefore, if proper
encouragement Is received from the land
owners along the line, it is highly probable
the road will be- built; but if the farmers Of
that section require heavy damages for the
privilege of having the value of their lands
vastly increased, the project will be perma-
nently abandoned.
Ii seems TO lis that the importance of this
enterprise to the future welfare of Eastern
Maine can scarcely be oyer-estimated. Aside
from It's mining interests, Hancock county
has resources second TO none in the State
which are yet mainly undeyeloped with fine
water-powers, extensive timber lands and
soil well adapted 10 agricultural purposes
she possesses every facility for profitable
industrial and manufacturing enterprise ex-
eept the one thing needful-easy and rapid
transportation 10 the great market centers.
And when her great mining interests, which
have already greatly benefited the people
of that section and which are soon to take a
fresh start and be OF permanent and rapid
growth, and the unriyalied attractions which
her coast line offers for places of popular
summer resort, 1t would seem that prosper
Gus future must be in store for her if only her
people will grasp the opportunities to ad-
vance their interests as they are presented.
The new railroad as proposed, would reach
within about eight miles of BIuehil, and
branch road to that promising and import
ant mining center would be but question
Of brief time. An extension to Sullivan,
thus tapping another new district and open
ing up 8 popular and charming route TO Bar
Harbor, would also be shortly forthcoming.
The further extension of the road along the
coast through the shore towu, to our East
ern boundary. is one Of the things to be
looked forward to, and may Rot be so very
far distant in the future.
The enterprise is one in which the busi-
ness men of Bangor should take deep in
terest. Merchants and traders in Hancock
county who have been in the habit of buying
goods in Portland or Boston would be likely,
If the road were built to make a large share
of their purchases in this city, as goods can
be sold here as ebeaply as in either of the
former places, and the cost Of transportation
would be much less. Furthermore, visit
from Hancock county to either Portland or
Boston uses up the best part of week,
while anyone doing business in Ellsworth,
BluehiIl, or surrounding towns could come
to Bangor, have an abundance Of time to
transact business and return home the same
day. 1t is not alone the people Of Hancock
county who are TO be benefited still. as they
are the ones most deeply concerned, the
success or failure of the project has very
properly been left at their disposal. 1t is
for them to say whether they shall have
railroad, with all the benefits resulting there
from, at no expense to themselves, or not.