The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-27

wick at Vaneeboro, and from Cumberland
Junction, via Lewiston, to Waterville and
Skowhegan; the Androscoggin Railroad
from Brunswick to Leeds Junction with
branch from Crowley's Junction to lewis
ton; the Leeds and Pennington branch, from
Leeds Junction to Pennington; the Bath
branch, from Brunswick to Batn; tne BEL
fast branch, from Burnham TO belIasti the
Dexter and Newport branch, from Newport
to Dexter; Eastern Maine Branch, from
Bangor to Bucksport; and the Maine 3hore
Line branch, from Bangor, via ELLSWORTH, 20
Mt. Desert Ferry and saltwater brancn, IN
all, as stated above, 527 46-100. The tracks
berland Junction to Waterville, Bangor to
Mt Desert Ferry, Bath to Brunswick, ana
from Brunswick to Lewiston, are laid with
steel rails. There has been laid in the track
during the past year about 3,593 tons OF
ties, and $4,000 yards of ballast put under it.
New bridges have been built the past year
at WinslOw, of iron; two spans, 40 feet
each in length, at Freeman's Creek, Law
renee Boom and Rolling Dam,-wooden
bridges replaced by iron.
Since 1870, 1O1 new bridges of greater or
less Importance have been built on this
road.
Nearly one-half of the total road mileage
in this State is now under control of the
Maine Central Railroad Company, and op-
the powers with which the managers of this
road are invested have not been abused to
the injury of the business interests of the
State, but on the contrary have been exer-
cised with liberality and great discretion,
for the establishing and building up of new
enterprises along their extended line, and
have always given their influence in favor of
developing the resources of the whole State.
The road is managed to the entire satisfac-
tion of the public, and the managers have
secured the respect and confidence of all
with whom they have business relations. No
accident has occurred to passengers OF
trains during the past year, but some have
occurred at road crossings. In most cases,
investigations have proved that the railroad
company were not at fault.
The completion of the bridge across the
river at st. John, N. b., has added largely to
the business of this road, beside making a
railroad connection between Maine and New
Brunswick. Many changes and improve
the bridges and tracks of the Maine Central
road.
MoNsoN.
From the station of the Bangor 4 Piseata-
quis railroad, at Abbott, to Monson, 6 miles.
Gauge, feet.
This road is well and economically manag-
ed, and has been operated since its construc-
tion with entire freedom from accident The
bridges and culverts are in safe condition.
The track is in good surface and alignment,
and rides well. The slate quarries at Mon
son furnish a large amount of freight, and
during the summer season the passenger
traffic is large and increasing from year to
year. An effort is now being made to extend
the road from MOnson to Greenyille, at the
foot of Mo0sehead Lake; also from Abbott
to Skowhegan. The extension Of this road,
as proposed, would shorten the distance be-
tween Moosehead Lake and Portland about
seventy miles.
NORWAY BRANCH.
From station of Grand Trunk Railway, at
South Paris, to Norway, $40 miles.
The construction of this branch has PROV
ed of great advantage to the business inter
eStS of the town of Norway and the sur
rounding country. The road is in excellent
condition.
ORCHARD BEACH.
From Boston s. Maine, at Old Orchard,
along the beach to the mouth of the Saco
river, miles in length. This road is for the
summer visitors at Old Orchard, runs in
close proximity to the ocean. View from
the cars is unobstructed and interesting.
OCEAN STREET MoRsE).
From the Maine Central railroad crossing
at Woodfords, along Ocean street, l $40
miles in length.
This road remains in about the same fair
condition as reported last year.
PORTLAND (HoRsE).
The Portland Horse railroad is located
along the principal streets of Portland, and
from Portland through the town of Deering,
to Stevens Plains in the town of Westbrook,
72 miles in length.
This road has been extended and greatly
improved during the past year, and is now in
good condition.
PORTLAND d oGDENSBURG.
From Portland, Me-, to LunenbHrg, N. H.,
115 miles, 81 miles in Maine The track of
this road was entirely relaid with steel rails
and ballasted in 1884: little remained to be
done in this direction during 1885. A new
truss bridge has been built over Shepard s
River and the culverts along the road re-
paired. The iron bridge over the Saco River
at Hiram has been strengthened and repair
ed. Two pile bridges should be rebuilt at
the crossings of the Presumpscot River
With the exception of these bridges, the COM
misSioners say the road is in very good con-
dition. No accident to trains or passengers
have occurred during the past year.
PORTLAND & ROCHESTER,.
From Portland, Maine, to Rochester, New
Hampshire, 50 miles 40 $40 miles in Maine.
The many changes and additions made upon
this road during the last three or four years,
are rapidly raising it to the conditions of a
first-class railroad, comparing very favora-
bly, with most of the other railroads in the
State. The track is in good running order,
and rides remarkably well. One thousand
seven hundred and eight tons of steel rails,
and 1900 cedar cross-ties have been laid in
the track, 729 feet of new side track has
been laid at different points on the line, and
$3.50 feet of side track relaid with old iron
Two new truss bridges have been built, on
at Great Brook, sthe other at Little Ri yer.
No accidents have occurred on the road dur
ing the past year. 1t win be necessary to
rebuild two of the small truss bridges be-
tween Springvale and East Rochester, and
repair the Shaker Pond pile bridge at Alfred.
The track and bridges at the marginal way
at Portland need repairs. The road is in
every respect well managed and credit is due
the company for the greatly improved condi-
tion of the road and rolling stock.
PORTLAND, sACo & PORTSMOUTH.
From Portland, Maine, to Portsmouth, N.
H., 81 miles-5O 76-100 miles in Maine This
road is in excellent condition through its en-
tire length. The track is laid with steel rails,
and is in good surface and alignment An
iron bridge has replaced wooden one at
North Berwick station. Other bridges have
been repaired. This road now forms part
of the eastern division of the Boston and
Maine and is operated by that company.
FRYEBURc NEWS