Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-17
Azoosrook POMONA GRANGE.

OOOSlAs MAlNes WI
ARoosrooK POMONA GRANGE.
Address on the Railroad Question BY
Hon. Aibsft A. Burisigh.
Especial to the KKsSEBEc Journal.
PRssarE Isle. Dec. i5.-Aroostook
Pomona Grange met at Caribou Saturday,
Dec. 18th. The forenoon was devoted tc
confsfing the fifth degree and iransacting
routine business. A partial report Of the
Railroad Committee was read and &C sep.ed
and IL vas voted to de~ote the afternoon 10
discussion of the rliiroAd question. II
being reported that Hon Albert A. Ruflsizh
was in town. il vas voted thut the afternoon
meeting he public and that Mr.. Bu-leigh be
invited to be press Mt and give his views
npon the railroad question. Worthy Sect.
Edward Wisgin, was appointed to deliver
the Invitation, and escort Mr.. Burleiah to
the hall. After bountiful dinner in the
ample dining room Of Carbon Grange, the
meeting was again called to order, ard after
some preliminary business. Mr.. Burlsiga
was introduced. We give brief abstract
Of the points made. After assuring his
hearers that he was not public speaker,
having had no experience whatever in that
direction, Mr.. Burleieh proceeded in an
easy, conversational manner 10 shos
the need of more direct railroad COM
munieation, liz order not only to facili.
tate the presen: business Of Aroostook, but
to further develop the resources of the
county. Many schemes had been proposed
and had promised well for time. but none
of them had SIS yet resulted in anything
practical. The time had now come when
the people of the county should no longer
consent to await the pleasure of outside
capitalists. but should unite and take hold
of the work themselves and baild the much
needed road. We are now held fast be-
tween two gigantic corporations, viz: the
Canadian Pa6fic and the Boston & Maine,
which controls the Maize Central. The
Canadian Pacific road was determined TO
prevent. if possible, the building Of any
other road to Aroostook. This company
was turning over to the Boston & Maine an
amount Of freight yielding to the Boston
& Maine ret pretit of some $4,000 per
month. When the Maine Central COM
pany was negotiating last summe- for the
building OF the Northern Maine Railroad
into Aroostook the Canadian Pacific road
informed the Boston & Maine that if they
allowed the Main. Central to strike blow
in this direction this large amount of freight
would at once be taken away from the B.
& NJ. and turnedover to the Fitchburg road.
The B. & NJ, owning c,ntroling share in
| fbo atNnL of bo Matpa rapfvol ahJx,
to veto the project of the latter company
undertaking the construction of the North
ern Maine. and heoee the negotiations were
broken off. This is substantially the stu.
ton 10 regard to Aroos.ook railroad mat.
ters today. 1t only remained for the coun-
ty TO take hold of the matter and build the
road If the people were united it could
be done. Towns ard individuals in Aroos-
took had pledged 100000 in aid of the
Northern Maine, but in the opinion of the
speaker. not dollar could again be raised
in the county as a pledge to outside capital
lists in aid of any railroad scheme. Ths
plan proposed is briefly this. There is
nothing in the State constitution prohibiting
the county from looming its credit for the
construction of this road Ask the leeis-
lature to pass an act enabling the county to
issue It's DOHu 10 lut auDuEt UI HNt per
cent of its valuation. This will give
$500 600. two fifths Of which, or $500 600,
would come from the wild lands of
the county, which will thus be
made to aid in the necessary means
for the development of the county. Some
two years ago the county issued It's bonds
for $50 COO for the construction of the new
county Jail. These were per cent bonds,
and when put upon the market Immediately
commanded premium. Issue per cent.
bonds for $500 COO and they can be readily
sold at premium. The interest on the
bonds would be S25 600 and even if the
county should be called upon to pay this it
would only double the county tax, and any
town in Aroostook could well afford to pay
twice the amount of its present county tax
for the privilege Of a direct railroad line.
But it was certain that the earnings of the
rosd would pay all expenses and take care
of the interest on the bonds if the county
should build.
Four years ago the amount received for
passenger and freight traffic of Aroostook
was ll2 000 per month, and it will this
this year amount to one and half million
dollars for the year. With direct line
through the heart of the county this amount
would be doubled in very few years.
Five hundred thousaod dollars will grade
more than one hundred miles of road
First grade the road ard then issue mort
gage bonds for an amount sufficient for its
completion. The moment the road is COM
ple'ed it will commence to pay. With the
first net earnings of the road pay
the interest on the mortgage bonds, then
deposit the remainder in the county treas
ury for payment of interest on the $500,
600 county bonds. In five years the divi-
dsrds will pay the entire county tax
Citizens should be allowed to take stock in
the road it they wish, but no greater amount
of stock should be issued than that owned
by the county, thus enabling the county to
control the road. The road can be built
and equipped by the county for $4,000 a
mile. Mr.. Burleigh vas glad that Aroos-
took Pomona Grange has taken hold OF the
railroad question, as it was the only organ
lied body of Aroostook citizens in a
position to deal with it successfully.
In his remarks he had only outlined
the manner in which, in his judgment.
the road should be built Aroostook
Pomona should at once commence
to awaken public interest in the county and
should seni petitions broadcast, asking for
an enabling act aud for an Aroostook char
ter. At the close of his remarks a vote of
thanks vas extended to Mr.. Burleigh for
his attendance and address. As he was
obliged to take the afternoon train for
Houlton he then withdrew, The question
was further discussed and the project out
lined By Mr. BurleiRh met with general IA
vor. The railrosd committee of the Grange
will at once prepare petitions and send
them throughout the county and State. W.
Leet.. Edward Wiggin was chosen as dele
gate to the State Grange and was instructed
to present the matter 10 that body and re-
quest its approval and assistance. 1t was
voted to hold the next meeting OF Pomona
Grange with Msysville Centre Grange,
Thursday, Jan. S.
Dexter & Plscataquis Railroad 10 Sued
for 92O 600 Damages.