Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-21
New York Stakeholder
The State OF Maine and the Cana
dian Pacific Railway.

I II III
dian Pacific Railway.
Last July we called the attention of capt.
talists t., the efforts that we're being made to
construct the LOG miles of railroad which
would make the town of Wiscasset, Me, so
miles east of Portland, the chief terminal
port of the Canadian Pacific Railway on the
Atlantic cast Since that time the PROJECT
seems to have been infused with increased
enthusiasm, and the possibilities of the idea
may now be said to have become probabilities
Farther than this we are unable with our
present information to speak positively. That
those having the destines of the proposed
road in their keeping are thoroughly In ear
nest is evident from the careful and syste-
matte way in which the undertaking is being
pushed forwa ard. Hence it behooves those
ca capitalists who have become accustomed to
look to the South and West for investments
to inquire into this matter at once if they
would like a change of base that at first sight,
at least, has a most tempting appearance.
1t will scarcely be denied that Wiscasset is
the most advantageous outlet that the Allan
tic coast affords to the Canadian Pacific road
II offers short cut from Canada to the sea,
ard has a harbor that is hardly excelled
Most OF the advantages that are claimed tor
The other great harbors of the world, usually
illustrated by showing their capacity as docks
for the Great Eastern, belong naturally to
Wiscasset. The port is never closed, even
in the severest winter. Halifax and st John
are the Canadian rivals of Wiscasset As the
chief terminus Of the great road. But Hall
fax at best is about 400 miles farther away
than Wiscasset is from the point of junction
of the proposed road with the Canadian Pa
cifc The route to Halifax has the addit on
i disadvantage of snow blockades during
several months of the year. St. John, be-
sides being more distant than Wiscasset, has
the draw back of the wonderful tides of the Bay
Of Fundy. There is, indeed, no comparison be-
tween Wiseass, t and tberports that would not
be overw he mingly favorable to the former.
Why, then, has not the Canadian Pacific long
since settled on this town as the terminus of
its great system? The reason, SO far as we
are able to find out by inquiry and research,
is purely political. The Dominion Govern
ment encouraged the road to the astounding
extent of subsidy Of S25 100000 in money,
%, 600, 900 acres of land and 7l3 miles of
road owned bv the Government and built at
an expense of S35, 900, 900. In the face of
these eloquent arguments the Canadian
Pacific is. perhaps hardly in position to
disregard the sentiment which demands that
the road must benefit the Dominion alone
whatever the disadvantage of lar off termni.
This at any rate seems to be the the one bette
nor of the undertaking under consideration.
On the othar hand it is claimed that the LOG
miles of new road necessary to be built to
join Wiscasset with the northern border, and
hence the Canadian System, would BE- a pay
ing undertaking as a local road alone. 1t
would pass over the old highway to Canada
that the Arnold Expedition made historic,
through one of the most fertile and enterprls-
ing stretches of country in the State. The
idea 90 this road was conceived years ago,
and three charters covering every possible
difficulty of a legislative kind for such road
are now at the disposal of the syndicate or
corporation having the enterprise in hand. A
direct route from Quebec to the Atlantic
coast the original design would be the ulti-
mate result. whatever the attitude of the
managers of the transcontinental road. Then,
too, it is claimed that the history of enter
prises of international interest proves that
business considerations prevail in the end
over those that are sentimental or political.
The boundary line between the United States
and Canada has constantly tended to become
less and less barrier. If the proposed road
in Maine is built, commercial unity, now
prevented only by this country's tariff princi-
pies, is = consummation that would undoubt-
edly soon be realized. In calling the atten-
ton of capitalists to the matter herein, it is
not intended that what is known as the Me-
gantic route, which would cut across north
ern Maine aud give the Canadi IN Pacific a
more direct route than at present to Halifax,
should be underestimated. In fact. this route
seems to be the one to which the road has
directed its chief efforts. But nature will be
sadly cheated if the Wiscssset route does not
prevail in the more or less distant future,