Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-23
Augusta, HanoIell, and Perhaps Girdi
ner 10 Enjoy Its Privileges.
Journais Interview with A F. Gerald,
Esq.-contract Signed and Cars to
be Running by July.

vas signed and the persistent and enter
prising efforts of the projectors by whic
= charter had been obtained from the Les
islature. permits been received from Angus
Ia and Hsllowell city governments. and a
the many drswbscks too numerous to men
ton been overcome, we're on . high roa,
TO deserved reward.
The following telegram was receive.
from one of the building committee il
Boston yesterday:
The Augusta, Hsllowsll & Gardine
Electric Railway Co. has contracted fo
the construction and complete equipment o.
the road from Augusta to Hallowell. Tn,
contract provides that the road shall b,
open to the public on or before the 25lt
day of next jane"
According to the terms Of the contract
there will be no better road in its quality
and furnishings in the entire country. The
cars will be boih open and closed and
will be lighted by electricity.
Mr.. A. F. Gerald of this committee, who
has had considerable experience in railroad
and electric light business, returnei from
Boston last evening and WAS erwards
seen at the Cony House by the Journal
reporter.
81 understand that at last the electric rail-
road company have triumphed, Mr.. Gerald. A."
-ald the reporter on meeting tn. gentleman.
well, sir. the contract for the construc-
ton of the road to Hsllowell was signed to-
day. also for the use Of the Thompson
Houston system which is very much the
most expensive and considered the cheapest
at tbatf"
"What about building the road through
to Gardiner"
The majority Of our company At pre-
sent are in favor of opening the entire
length at the same time, while the contract
ors who have taken the portion from Au-
gusta to Hallo~ ell are ready to take the
contract for the extension of the line from
iiallowelI TO Gardiner at reasonable terms.
In fact" Mr.. Gerald, added. Il am posi-
i've that the entire road should be built the
coming season and am very much in favor
Of it myself, While there are some small
Injections, there seems to be nothing seri-
Gus and if those objections can be perfect
y overcome am satisfied that the advan-
tsges of making one job of it will readily
be seen by all to be the best policy. The
parties whom We have already contracted
with are responsible railroad men. The
details of the contract are written out in
full which calls for the very best and most
approved cars, generators. station equip
ments steel rail., in fact everything 40
good as is used on any road.
1t also calls for one and quarter miles
of paving, of which perhaps, one half of the
amount we could have avoided, and 1t would
have lessened construction expense several
Thousands Of dollars, but we are building
it tn be a permanent enterprise, and believ-
ing it to be = mutual benefit to Ourselves
and tie communities through which it 10 to
pass, and in years to come much more of
your streets will be paved. We think it is
better to start it right so that it shall meet
the approval of our patrons and the COM
munty."
Where will the cars start from in this
city,
The route commences at the new post
office. 1t will extend up Wster street to
Bond street, thence up Bond street to the
junction of Mt. Vernon avenue and State
street, where will be formed giving q
straight run up gas house hill, down State
street. Opposite the State House there
will be a siding, or turn out, two hundred
feet in length. where cars will meet in pass.
ing either way The track will terminate
unde- the present contract directly opposite
the east end Of the cotton factory at Halo.
well.
The exact length as per route above
mentioned is miles and sos feet; with the
turnouts and sding' added it will make
about three and a third miles. The rails
are of standard guage, 4 feet, 81 inches
apart, 40 lbs. weight to the yard, placed
upon hack sieepers, feet apart from cen
ire to centre. The contract calls for 3
motor cars with two IL horse power motors
10 each car, making each car capable of 80
horse power. also 3 common,>cars withou,
motors that will be used as trail cars on all
occasions where there 10 demand. The
3 open cars for summer and pleasure riding
will have seating capacity Of so passen-
yer, to each car, while II not an infrequens
occurrence in other places for similar cars
| to carry when cro~ded 1875. The contrac,
calls for building for q car house IlO
feet in length, 81 feet wide, 1s feet posted
| ~ith pit suitable for repairing the under
part Of cars with ease. Three tracks run
| ming the entire length Of the bull ling, and
slide table whereby cars can be slid from
one track 10 another
What have you to say regarding the
poxer3'
"ln regard to our power we have severa
favorable opportuDi les. but We thini
wherever 1t is located We shall either buy
or build it. So that our company sill
really own everything pertaining to ths
road. steady, po.itive power Of sufiic
lent capacity is one of the great secrets oi
success With everything connected With
elec ricity."
| Here the interview with Mr. Geralt
ended and Afterwards the reporter sau
several prominent gentlemen in the city
one and all Of whom expressed themselve,
ss delighted With the results of the com
mttee's labors. One of the gentlemei
suggested thai it might "be better for Au
!
Angus to Togus Father than to Gardiner
stili he thought that for the Electric Rail
road Company and the Gardiner and :, ogu
Company, whose road is under way Of con
suuc,ion and will probably be completes
abou. the time Of the electric road, ther
must be mutual interests and also . con
j. senisnce to the travelling public. ~ peopl
would be likely to pstronize both roads i
going from here TO Togus"
think of the places Of interest reache
By electric road added another gep,iema
present. There 10 the State house. tn
court house. the frottins park. and il th
road is extended to Gardner there will b
Afforded for many . convenient connectio
with the boats. tell you the company d.
the wise thing in making the loop ~hic
they have done instead of going over Rim,
hill and sa'ing over . mile Of expensi,
track. They will be more than comper
sated and siii afford . great convenient
to the large number Of people living in th