The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-01-20
OUR TRAVELLING MAN.

now To BUILD RAILROAD TO ARosrook-
TIE MopUs oPERASDI EXPLAINED II
pFTROIT.-THE ERA OF LIBERALIrY.-
THE COUNTRY AND TIE TowS.-THE
''Hoss" BUSINESS, SHALL MAINE OUT
RIVAL KENTUCKY.
A valued friend writes me to ask what
is the status of the Arostook railroad
matters. The Herald published at Presque
Isle, answers the question as concerns the
direct line from Pressure Isle. 1t says
that the road is slumbering because the
people are not willing to help themselves
That's the idea IN nutshell. As To the
talked of road from Bancroft to Houlton
that Is just as it ever has been-on paper
only. Those who laughed because de-
clared that the road never would be built
have now lost all interest in trying to BOZ
ster up the project and are content to let
It slumber on In silence. The Herald is
right in regard to the cause of the sense
less delay In regard to the direct line.
Now If the scoffers and others who are
or are not interested to have the road
built will lend me their ears will demon
strate how that result can be accomplished
without the aid of outside capital at the
start. | never did build railroad but
believe could This Is the way should
tackle the direct line. | would take the
route as IL has been surveyed from Malta
mwamkeag to Prcsquc Isle and starting
at the latter place | would visit the men
in that vicinity who have manifested an
interest in the project and ask them how
much they were interested in the project.
When | got an opinion would tell Mr.
F.. A. johnson that | wanted him to
grade 10 miles of the road. This he would
do AZ soon AS he got the idea in his head
that by so doing the road would be sue
cess. The next man met | would insist
should grade five miles or perhaps elSht.
Then | would find two public spirited
men of small means who would grade five
miles between them or see that 1t was
done. In some towns | would get the
land owners to not only give the right OF
way but grade the road across their land.
This could be done in great many places
] am confident after cOnyersing with va
rious interested parties on that SUBJECT.
| would have regularly drawn and signed
contracts for all this work rs much a.
though the cash was to be paid when the
work was completed MS IL no IahcA
sketch but am confident that it would
work to charm. 1t must be remembered
that labor is cheap in that country and
the business men are the most enterpris-
ing of any In the state. But just show
them a profitable and feasible scheme and
they will take old of it readily. 1t is
from my knowledge Of the leading men
of upper Arostook that assert with so
much positveness that the grading OF
railroad without money is feasible and
practical. With the road graded the bat
tie would be won. Any railroad company
would be only too glad to lay the iron II
they could operate road for term OF
years to such garden of agricultural
richness Will some one please rise up
and tell me why my plan need fail If the
people who are most interested In tins
project will only take hold in earnest and
rallying around some leader push them
selves to the outside world b, ''direct
line" OF course there will be discourage
ments as there are always attendant upon
all great projects but victory will be the
final result If the matter is taken hold Of
perserveringy.