The Portland daily press., 1886-11-25
.WIscAssET AND KEnNEsEc.
The Condition of the Old Seaport
Town OF Lincoln.
a Rival for Portland on the Shortest
Line to Canada.


Henry ingalls,, Esq, Of wIscasset, who Is Presl-
dent of the Wiscasset and Kennebec railroad cor
poration was in the city yesterday, and spoke
quite freely with representative OF the PRESS
concerning the railroad scheme which Is now re-
ceiving great deal Of attention from capitalists
and the towns along the Kennebec river. For
many years the people Of Quebec have been look
ing to Maine for a winter port. After the ST.
Lawrence Is closed 10 navigation the route TO
Halifax by the Intercolonial is tedious for its
length and the snow bockades which Distract IT,
The route from Point Lewis Dust across the river
from Quebec 10 Portland or Wiscasset would on
the other hand be direct and easy without those
obstacles which make traffic on the Intereolonal
so uncertain. Before the Intereolonial, as part
of the Canadian Pacific, began to push across
Northern Maine, charters were granted by the
Legislature for 50 much Of connection between
Point Lewis aud Wiscasset as would lie within
the State Of Maine. The Quebec people, ON their
part, began the eonstructonof Of the Lewis and
kennebec railroad. but financial embarrassment
lett the line from the 81. Lawrence to the Maine
border far from completed.
Meanwhile the International or Megantic route,
with the whole influence OF the Canadian Pacific
corporation behind II has appeared on the scene.
The Maine men who cherished the somewhat
faint hope Of a connection with Quebec have
been aroused to renewed exertiOns by the Dr.,s-
pect that line allowed by their charters may tap
the great through line OF tfe Canadian Pacific ana
port the rich cargoes thatare to be carried across
the continent.
charters under all OF which. or any two or any
one OF which such a road may be built. The com
pany operating the Somerset Railroad from Oak
land to AnsOn a corporation known as The Messa-
lOnskee and kennebec, OF which G0vern0f-elect
B0dwell Is President, aud the Wiscasset and
kennebec Company, OF which Mr. Ingalls is presl-
dent, are the three associations which have the
privilege of doing the work together or several
ly. They are now working together, and ex-
Governor COnnOr who Is an Of1cer of the Messa-
lonskee and kennebec corporation, Is preparing
the prospectus Of the road.
Tie main object Of the road is Of course to se-
cure for WiscaSset a good share of the traffic Of
the Canadian Pacific. aud In this ambitious scheme
the remainder OF the route from the junction with
the Megantic line To Quebec is largely forgotten.
But Mr.. Ingalls, thinks that without doubt Quebec
viii build down TO them II they once reach Me-
gantic. The advantages of the connection with
Quebec would be considerable, though nothing
like the traffic which might be expected to be Sc
cured from the Meganlic. Mr. ingalls, Is quite
confident that the expectations Of Wiscasset are
we'll founded Commerce" he says, twill al
ways In the long run chose those routes which
are the easiest and the cheapest. The compile
tiOn of the Megantlc route across Maine may give
the Canadian Pacific direct route to Halifax.
But IL is farther by nearly four hundred miles to
HALIFAX than to Wiscasset Political considera-
tions may cause the direct line to be completed to
st. John and Halifax; but business con ideratons
which are always stronger In the end. will send
Canadian Pacific freight TO some Maine port.
While So: john may be a nearer port for Canada
than Halifax, II cannot compete with Maine ports.
the tides run so high in the Bay of Fundy that
the wharyeS OF ST. John have to built with two
stories; and the harbOr cannot be entered at GER
tain conditions of tide. Compare this with Wis
The mouth Of the Sheepscot river
is so broad that the early French ...rer Ciiat, .
plain nistook 1t for the main river OF the regfcs.
The whole distance up to the wharves Is Tree
from distractions, and the water Is from so to 80
or more feet in depth. The story is told that a
strange pilot, who brought vessel up to
Wscasset without other knowledge than
that furnished by the sailing chart
closed the job with the expression: ANY id
fool can pilot vessel up Sheepscot river" There
are very few harbors in the world equal to IT, Ii
may be no better than Portland's, but we think
that the cheapness with which docks can be fur
nished at Wiscasset will make il preferable to
Portland. Belfast, too, is said to be looking for
connection with the Canadian Pacific; but Belfast
harbor Is liable 70 freeze In winter while at Wis
.sset such a thing Is unknown. We are now pre-
pairing drawings OF the harbOr to be issued with
the forthcoming prospectus.
'.Of course Wiscasset cannot give any financial
aid 10 the enterprise She has taken stock in all
the railroads she can afford to. But she can offer
these unsurpassed harbor facilities, and cumpa-
ny Of her citizens have the charter for road. We
are now looking for the money. The road would
set up the east bank of the Kennebec 70 Augusta
where the Maine Central would be crossed. From
Augusta the line would go to Oakland, where the
Maine Central would be crossed again. From
Oakland 70 AnsOn the Somerset road Is already In
operation. From AnsOn we should build TO loin
the International road at Moose river. The
whole route lies up the Kennebec valley; 1t Is ON
the old highway TO Canada, the highway that the
Indians used " take and that Arnolds expedition
followed when 1t penetrated Canada by the waters
OF the kenneDec and Chaudiere. The length OF
road 70 be built Is about one hundred miles.
1--WE cannot say that We shall have any direct
help from the Canadian Pacific people. But this
We think is certain, that the freight from across
the continent will seek the nearest aud best port
whether the Maritime Provinces like il or not
And we think the Canadian Pacific people know
this, and Will treat us according TO that knOwl-
edge"