The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-27
NAMES RAILROADS.
What the Commissioners Have to
Say About Them.

| tendency to consolidate and absorb the
smaller railroads into the greater, which has
prevailed all over the country as well as in
| this State still continues. Three great lines
| of railroads running southerly from Port
| land have been substantially put under one
| management, so that today more than one
| half of the railroad system of the State is so
| owned and controlled that it is to a certain
| extent under one management; so that if
| they saw fit to do SO, they might impose upon
| connecting roads in the adjustment of freight
| and passenger traffic, unequal rates. Still
| no such attempt has been made, but on the
| contrary, we have been assured by the man.
| ayers of connecting roads that rates had
| been adjusted with them on the most favor
| able terms. -
| Careful examinations of the tracks, rolling
| stock, viaducts and culverts OF the several
| lines within the State were made, and there
| were noticed gratifying improvements in
| nearly all of them.
The commissioners feel it their duty to
| urge upon managers of railroads the deslr-
| ability of making many other needful i'm
| provements and accommodations for passen-
| gers while waiting at stations and to urge
| upon station agents the necessity of keeping
| such places neat and clean.
| There are 1,14S.52 miles of railroad in
| Maine.
ARoosTooK RIVER.
From State line to Presque Isle, Me-, 80
| miles This is branch line from the New
| Brunswick railway to Presque Isle in this
| State, and is operated and controlled by the
| first named company. This road follows up
| the fertile valley of the Aroostook river,
through the flourishing towns of Fort Fair
field and Caribou. The country traversed
by this railway is very attractive and pic
turesque. The soil is rich and highly pro-
ductive, yielding abundant returns for the
labor expended ON it. A marked improve
ment has been made in the condition of this
road during the past year.
ATLANTIC & ST. LAWRENCE.
This runs from Portland, Me-, to Island
Pond, VT, 149l miles -s21 miles in Maine
The road in all its parts is kept up to that
standard of excellence described in former
years, its condition admitting of no adverse
criticism but ON the contrary, deserving our
unqualified approval and commendatlon
The road-bed and track is second to no other
in the State The track is laid with heavy
steel rails throughout its entire length, and
with the exception of the pile bridge at
Portland the bridges are constructed of
iron supported in most cases upon first and
second class masonry.
L BANGOR & PIsCATAQUIs.
From Oldtown to Moosehead Lake, II
miles. This road diverges from the E. g. N.
A. division of the Maine Central at Old
town, and extends to West Cove, at the foot
of Moosehead Lake, where the trains con-
meet with steamers for Mt. Kineo and other
points ON the lake. The fall examination of
this road showed greatly improved appear
ance compared with the examination made
in the spring A considerable amount of
new steel rails and many new ties have been
Il -, 4INok IL hn nod hoA hol
and ditched The bridges and culverts be-
tween Oldtown and Blanchard have all re-
ceived necessary repairs.
BANGOR & KATAHDIN IRON WORKS.
From the station of the Bangor & Piseata-
quls railroad at Milo to the Katahdin Iron
Works, 10 miles. The last examination of
this road found it in good condition and safe
for the service required of it.
BOSTON & MAINE.
From Portland to Boston, "A miles in
Maine. This road has been maintained in
excellent condition during the past year and
many additions and improvements have been
made to the track and road bed and build
ings. The road has been operated the past
wear with entire freedom from accident to
passengers or trains.
BRIDGToN AND sACo RIVER.
From Bridgton to junction with Portland
& Ogdensburg railroad at Hiram 15-5-10
miles, gauge, two feet This is compare
lively new road. The road bed has been
widened and raised at different points along
the line and the track put in good condition
so that the trains run over 1T with remark
able steadinesS and freedom from unpleasant
motion. The cars are in every respect first
class and are kept particularly neat. No ac-
cidents have occurred.
EASTERN MAINE.
From Bangor to Bueksport, 1870 miles.
This road remains in about the same general
condition as stated in our report of last year.
The bridges are in good condition, having
been rebuilt with the exception of the bridge
over the Penobscot.
EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN.
From Bangor to State line at Vanceboro,
ia miles This road is leased to the Maine
Central railroad company and forms part
of the great through line from Portland, Me-.
to st. John, N. B. The road is in good con-
dition and improvements are constantly be-
ing made. The track is laid with steel rails
throughout its entire extent and the road bed
will be ballasted and ditched. The station
buildings, with some exceptions, and plat
forms, are conveniently arranged and well
maintained. Since the road came under the
management of the Maine Central company
marked improvements have been made.
Several bridges have been replaced by
bridge at Orono has been stripped of its
covering, preparatory to a change of struc-
ture.
FRANKLIN AND MEGANTIC
This road runs from the town of Strong to
Kingfeld, in Franklin county, 10 miles,
feet gauge. This is comparatively a new
road, the construction of which was com
menced in 1884. The road is now in good
condition. although in the spring some of
fl,oh hrid cidQrp6 bE tho O0mnlS-
sioners unsafe. The road was built for the
purpose of reaching the timber lands of
Northern Franklin. The present terminus is
Kingfeld, and that town already gives evi-
dence of increasing growth and prosperity.
Many new buildings have been erected in
that village, and new industries are being
established along the line Of that road.
GREEN MOUNTAIN.
From Eagle Lake, Mount Desert, to the
summit of Green Mountain, 5000 feet in
length. The road is very substantially and
safely built, and no accident has occurred
since the opening of the road. A new hotel
has been erected the past season to take the
place of the one destroyed by fire.
HoULToN BRANCH
of New Brunswick & Canada railway, from
Sebec Junction, N. B., to Houlton, Me-. s
miles, miles in Maine.
During the past year, that portion of this
branch within the limits of this State has
been ballasted, the track laid with new steel
rails and frogs at the switches; all defective
ties removed and new ones laid in their
places, and the road is now. in good condi-
tion. The Commissioners report that long
needed improvement on this branch has
been satisfactorily accomplished. This
/ branch is an important feeder to the New
Brunswick railway, connecting with the
growing town of Houlton, the receiving and
distributing point of a large section of q
most prosperous and productive portion of
ArooStook county.
KNOX & LINCOLN.
From Bath to Rockland, 40 miles.
The Commissioners report marked i'm
provement in many respects, in the condi-
tion of this road; % miles of the track is
now laid with steel rails; III miles of steel
rails with angle splice joints, and $1,000 ties
have been laid the past season.
Fourteen bridges have received the neces-
sary repairs, 13 miles of track raised and
ballasted. The road was never in SO good a
condition. No accidents to trains, passen-
gers or employees during the past year.
KENNEBUNK & KENNEBUNKPoRT.
From the Boston & Maine station at Ken
nebunk to Kennebunkport, 4 $40 miles in
length.