Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-23
A NEW RAILROAD.

To the Editor Of the oxford Democrat:
The citizens Of Bethel, Newry, Hanover
and Andover are seriously agitating the
question OF a railroad from Bethel to some
poin, st or near Richardson Lake, as an
actual survey may determine.
That a road will be built is only matter
OF time. A road can be built over a re-
markedly easy grade starting from the G.
T. h about half mile east from Bethel
station, and run on the southeast side Of
the Androscoggin river to Newry Corner
st the mouth OF Bear river, distance Of
i've miles, cross the great river, aud go
on a direct liue 10 Hanover Mills fye miles
further where there is an excellent water
power, then to point on Ellis river lesv-
ing Rumford Point within striking dis
lance, then up Ellis river 10 Andover VIII
lsye nearly ten miles further, making the
distance from Bethel to Andoyer less than
twenty miles. During this distance 1t is
not known that a single ledge will be en-
countered or deep cut be made, as the
road will run nearly all the way between
the intervsles snd the uplsnds. Leaving
Andover, 1t will extend on the best de-
termined course to some point at Richard
son Lake, at n distance OF ten or eleven
miles from Andover, or about thirty miles
Bethel 10 the Lake. II may touch at Pond
iu the River, so-called. q mile below the
Middle Dam. where there Is 40 immense
water power, and also extended to the
eastern shore OF Umbagog Lake and in
some distant future TO Canada and connect
with railroads already existing there.
By looking AZ the map OF Maine, 1t will
be seen that such road 10 the Lakes will
tap an immense territory, the extent OF
which any one who has never trsSersed,
has but small conception. 1t has been
estimated that such road will reach some
hfty townships covering land and water
surface Of more than million acres. Over
this territory there Is an immense quantity
OF lumber consisting of spruce, hemlock'
pine. cedar, backmstack, aud hardwood OF
various kinds. Much OF this lumber Is
now OF no value as the hardwood cannot
De ioated down the lakes and rivers. The
geology OF the country is different from
that OF the middle and lower portions OF
oxford County. The slsty rocks produce
sn excellent soil for grass, wheat, pota-
toes aud oats. j. q. Rich, esq, who is
thoroughly scqusinted with the country
estimates the arabic land equal 70 one
third of the whole. Others SET it higher.
Its water facilities are remarkable. A
line OF steamers already runs across the
line OF the terminus OF the proposed road
a distance Of sixty miles, so that freight
and travellers can easily make route OF
travel Of more than one hundred miles by
railroad and steamboat.
Il has been said, possibly with some ex-
sgcerstion, that more spruce timber can
be run into Umbagog Lake than from al
the rest OF Maine. At ans rate the guam
tlty is immense. and the second growth ID
very rapid. The streams from all direc'
tions that run into the lakes furnish great
facilities for rating the lumber.
As u now stands, much Of this lumber
requires two and three years TO reach the
mills after it is cut and put into the lake,
causing a great loss OF time and expense
TO the owners. The loss from the lumber
alone being usually estimated at one-fourth
OF It's value.
A railroad must now be built on an en-
tirely different basis from what IL was for
" years ago. Some roads are chiefly for
travel between large towns and cities.
This was almost the only idea at that
time. Others thought OF communication
between great manufacturing towns. 1t
has been only few years since the idea
was started of pushing railroads into the
forests or among mines or over immense
prsiries, aud thus develop the hitherto
undeveloped resources, to be followed by
towns springing up all along the line. This
Is where such road as Is here contem-
plated will be a mighty developing power
of large corner of the State of Maine.
| Persons who have not considered this
subject may think lightly OF 1t, and as it is
usually the case never believe in II until
they see an engine running near their own
door; but We hardly know where so large
an extent of country can be reached by so
short road as the one here proposed.
| Since the introduction OF the narrow
gsuge, these roads can be built vastly
cheaper than formerly. Railroad contrac-
tors cannot now make such exorbitant
profits as formerly, and the whole business
OF road must now be based on such prin-
ciples as those of any other undertaking.
| OF course the foregoing statements aud
figures here given are only approximations
20 the exac: truth, and are olly given as
such. yet enough is known 70 warrant set
ting before the public the importance ofsuch
a road. Petitions will be sent TO the Legis-
lature now assembled for s charter, aud
assurances have already been rendered Of
| assistance in It's construction. Shrewd
business men see q clear future for such q
road. y. T. True.
|
| W. have received q COW of the Canton