Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-05

In the opinion of many understanding men
the Appearance that william Atkinson of
North Anson. put in against the granting Of
. charter to the Quebec and Maine Railroad
from Canada line to the forks Of the Kenne-
bee river, vas the most important appearance
before committee Of this legislature and on
question deeply Affecting the interest Of
the Kennebec Valley and the State.
As near as We can recoliect he stated to
the committee that he appeared for the whole
Dead River Valley, the towns of View Port
land and Arson, Sidney and Augusta; and
for every inhabitant on the line of the pro-
posed read from the Canadian border to
Wiseasset Harbor, and for their veal and
that Of their posterity forever
He appeared also In the interests of com
MERGE and intercommunieatiOn and rapid
transportation and more than this, he ap-
peared in the interests of the toiling millions
and bread consumers of the British Isles
Mr.. Atkinson then vent On and demon
strated most eouelusiyely that the attempt to
procure the charter asked for was simply to
inveizIe AMI deceive British capitalists, who
osn the Quebec Central Railway into a
scheme in which they must sink large sums
of money in order to lift the Somerset Rail-
way out Of the slough of despond" and
enable the authors of this nef4rious scheme
Of plumber and divide among themselves from
eight TO twelve hundred thousand dollars at
the expense Of foreign capitalist; and at a
/ dear expense TO commerce and intercom-
muniesiion between the Kennebec valley,
the Atlantic Sea Board. Canada and the
great North west. the Pacific Coast, China
aud Japan. for all time to come.
Mr.. A. further showed from map of the
I two lines, made by competent en-
| gineer, and by statements made By
/ engineers that the Carrabassett and Canadian
| Line would save hundred miles on every
round trip over the kennebec Line, with
easier grades and cheaper constructions
fact Of great importance in railroad enter
prises-and he placed great stress upon the
I fact that the Carrabsssett and Canadian Line
when constructed must be and would be a
great highway of commerce and intercom-
munication between the Kennebec valley,
4 the British Isles and the Great North west
and the Pacific coast for all time to come,
and that il was the duty Of the legislature to
/ favor such line in opposition TO scheme
/ devised by spectators and railroad Freckers
to deceive and defraud honest capitalists ex-
pecting a fair return for their investments
and hoping that public benefit may result
! therefrom.
He also enlarged upon the benefits that
would accrue to the manufacturing cities of
/ Lewiston and Auburn, the town of Farming
ton, the Maine Central and the Boston and
Maine Railways from the construction of the
/ Carrabassett and Canadian Line over that of
the Kennebec Valley line to Canada.
! He also showed, as we believe conclusive
ly, that the motive power at the bottom of
this move was purely selfish and speculative
on the part of its projectors, and in total dis
regard of the great public interests in an in
ternational highway from Wiscassett Harbor
to Canada and the benefcieut results that will
flow therefrom commercially and socially
and stated that the eighth section Of their act
clearly revealed the anmus of their project
and asked the committee and the Legislature
not to stain the bright es:hutchers of the
proud Dirlgo State by lending its influence to
such unhalowed projects to inveigh and de-
ceive foreign capitalists to cripple and impair
great public interests and the
public honor and to burden
millions yet to be, but to take such action
as will favor the Carrabasset and Canadian
line which the geography of the country ha,
marked out as the true line and to say tt
these gentlemen you ask too much, facts ART
more potent with US than attorneys and pait
lobbyists while we are here to foster all v orthy
enterprises need not inict useless burden,
upon the commerce of the future.
CITIZEN.