Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-25

Gsssral Dssesspsssn - Tie Maine csnsral's
New C00oooe1oo.
The new Mount Desert branch Of the
Maine Central rsilroad starts from Bangor
and crosses the Pensbscot river into the tow
OF Brewer. From Brewer station the line
swings to the south, skirting high ridge of
hills, and then taking 4 general Southeastern
ly course. runs through the towns of Brewer
and Holden in Penobscot county and crosses
into Hancock county about halt mile below
Georges corner in Holden at point about
twelve miles distant from Bangor. After
leaving the county of Penobscot and enter
ing the town of Dedham in Hancock county,
the line runs for two or three miles along
the east shore of the beautiful Firz Pond
thence striking across to Reed Pond and run
ming along its west shore, il climbs up to
Rocky Pond. which situated almost within
pistol shot of Reed Pond is yet sixty-seven
feet above it.
Then passing into Ellsworth the line ex-
tends to and across Union river, runs direct
ly through the busy village of Ellsworth
Fails. with its excellent water power and
mills, and so ON TO Main street. where is the
site selected for the station at Ellsworth.
Leaving the city of Ellsworth the road soon
passes into the town of Hancock and still
continuing in a southeasterly direction,
crosses Kilkenny Brook at the head CT Skill
iings river and passes over the carrying
place" so called because here small canal
has been dug for carrying through scows
and boats from the waters of Skilling's river
to those of Taunton. Bay. Thence running
directly through the village Of Hancox the
line finds its terminus at or near the foot of
Sullivan river falls. This terminal spot is
classic ground, for here the Indians used
to gather for council and for war. Traditions
still linger of a sanguinary battle fought on
this very ground, and many Indian impli-
ments were discovered in making the exca-
nations for the road bed.
STATIONS.
The stations on the Mount Desert branch
with their distances from Bangor will be as
follows:
Miles
Brewer Junction, Is
Holden Georges Corner 1910
Ellsworth Falls. as
Ellsworth, 29.5
Hancox, $40
Bar Harbor Ferry, Ais
A telegraph line now reaches all the above
stations with the exception of Hancock and
Bar iIarbor Ferry and line of four miles in
length is to be at once constructed to these
stations will be telegraph offices.
Work has been begun on several of the
station houses which are to be wooden
structures of neat and tasteful design.
At Bar harbor Ferry there is to be passen-
ger station with convenient waiting rooms,
awnings, &c, freight station, and engine
house, coal shed, &C., with side tracks to ac-
commodate the business of this the southerlv
terminus of the railroad. The Maine Gen.
trail railroad company has purchased at this
point the wharf property and lands of the
Frenchman's Bay Steamboat company which
will afford the the railroad excellent terminal
facilities at tide water. There is already a
very good wharf. built last year, and this is
to be still further extended. Within an hun
dred feet of the shore there is fifty feet of
water at low tide, sufficient of course for any
size of steamer or sailing vessel.
ROAD BRIDGES, &C.
The entire length of new line constructed is
thirty nine and twentv-one hundredths miles,
exclusive of siding, spurs. &c.
The maximum of curvature ia Gig ut degrees
(7l6,s feet radius) and the maximum grade is
one and SIX tenths per ceut. Compensated
for curves at the rate of twenty-five thou
sandths of one per cent for each degree of
curvature. The road bed is composed Largely
of gravelly loan and is substantially con-
structed.
The masonry, both bridges and culvert,
consists of well built granite stone work. The
line is remarkable free from bridging since
there is in the whole distance only four hum
dred and fifty linear feet of bridging of more
than twenty feet span, and one hundred and
ninety feet of less than twenty feet span.
These bridges are all trussed structures,
built of southern pine. and no pile bridging
or tresting at all has been used on the road.
The superstructure consists of steel rail
laid upon first class cedar or hacxmatack ties,
2640 to the mile, and is to be well bsllasted
with good clean gravel. When completed
the line will be an easy one to maitain, owing
to its remarkable freedom from bridging, and
to the gravely nature Of the soil of the coun-
try through which it is built
Work was commenced in May, 1888, and
the contract calls for the completion of the
road on or before June LIST. 1884, thus ensur
ing the opening OF the road in season for the
pleasure travel of the coming season of 1884.