The Portland daily press., 1890-10-03
THE GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY.
The Officials Said To Be Looking to
st. Andrews for a Winter Port.

The railroad situation in the county of
Aroostook is an interesting and it might
be said, comprehensive one. The question
OF the construction of a direct line from
Presque Isle, Caribou and Houlton to con-
Meeting point on the Maine Central is CON-
plicated with other plans that are undOubted-
ly under consideration by parties outside of
the county Since the Canadian Pacific Sc
cured its through line from the eastern and
lower maritime provinces to the West, the
Grand Trunk Railway is not understood to
have been entirely satisfied with its situa-
ton. Before the Canadian Pacific secured
its eastern connection the Grand Trunk OBJ
tanned all the freight destined to western
points from the Maine Central Railroad, as
it was much shorter distance from st.
John via the New Brunswick and Maine
Central and Grand Trunk roads to Montreal
or Chicago than it was via the Intercolonial
Railroad up around the "Ashburton treaty."
as the Province people like to call the pres
ent northern portion of Maine. Since the
Canadian Pacific finished its line across the
State of Maine the shortest route from st.
John and the provinces to Montreal and
points west has been by this new route.
which branches off from the Maine Central
road at Mattawamkeag and crosses the State
of Maine in quite direct line to Montreal
and the West. Already it is understood that
the Grand Trunk has been looking over the
ground for means to secure Its share of
this eastern business, and to do this new
lines of railroad must be built. A move
in hoe 81
made by securing control of new line of
road called the Temiscouta road from Riv-
iere de Loup on the Grand Trunk in Upper
Canada to Edmundston ON the st. John Riy-
| er, where connection is made with the north
ern branch of the New Brunswick Railroad.
| An attempt has also been made to secure
| government subsidy for the construction of
a road from Edmundston eastward to None
| ton, on the direct line of the IntercUlonial
road to the Province of Nova Scotia, which,
If built, it is expected will be under the con-
troll of the Grand Trunk Railway and will
thus secure to that road direct line from
the lower Provinces to the West. Evidence,
however, than an even shorter line is wanted
is found in the fact that the Temiscouta
road is now being extended westward from
Edmundston to ST. Francis, which, if con-
tinued to another connection with the Grand
Trunk road. will give that road fully as short
line from Montreal to the lower Provinces
as the Canadian Pacific now has.
Another thing the Grand Trunk is under
stood to want is an eastern winter harbor,
and st. Andrew, near the mouth of the st.
Croix River will afford this. A direct line
southwark from EdmundstoD, through
Aroostook county, across the Maine Central
and thence southeastward to st. Andrews
will afford the realization of such a plan.
Such plans as these have been preached to
the people of Aroostook county. and natural
have lettering influence upon the pre-
sent movement Of Col. Greene for the con-
struction of direct road to northern points
from Bancroft on the Maine Central, as it is
hoped the Grand Trunk may ultimately take
hold of the matter itself.
No hope can be expected from the Maine
Central Railroad for a direct line to this
| county, because of its present favorable
| traffic arrangement with the Canadian Pa
ciic from Mattawamkeag to Vanceboro, al
though the time has been wheE the road has
been strongly in favor of direct line and
has made its own survey for such road
| Possibly, If such a road were now builtl
some favorable terms for leaSer conld be
made with the Maine GENITAL, whose policy
has been to secure control of branch roads
that are valuable feeders for its line. The
gaWe>0f railroads has been an interesting
I one in this state and moves that have been
made have frequently been the result of
| years of study and preparation and, If pub
lished, the history would make an interest
| ing volume. The failure Col. Greene has
experienced in getting about the construc-
ton of his proposed Shore Line road is by
many persons, and possibly by Col. Greene
himself. ascribcd to the influence of the Ca
madam Pacific road, which fears the compe-
| tition of any other road running toward the
Provinces, and if the Shore Line should be
completed it would form connection across
the st. Croix River at Calais with the Grand
Southern Railroad from st. Stephens to st.
John in New Brunswick.
Rumfosd Falls Road.
"We do not worry about the outlet" said
Superintendent Lincoln of the Rumford
Falls & Buckfield railroad. "We shall pre-
L
look after its own salvation in the best way
to be found at that time. With Rumford
Falls developed and our standard gauge run
ming to the falls, and with the narrow gauge
up Swift river into the valley of that vast
region Of hard and soft wood, there is no
limit to the business that might be done and
that believe In time will be done. Plum.
mer and his folks, you know, at Lisbon
Fall, have charter for that road from Rum
ford Falls up the Swift river region, and
when we get our standard gauge at Rumford
Falls they will probably build. Now, con-
| slider the situation. Rumford Falls develop
ed, as notice the company that has been or
| ganized at Portland intends to develop it, has
good railroad running down to Mechanic
Falls, where it unites with the Grand Trunk,
and the system Is for the time complete The
Grand Trunk gives us splendid service now.
l have no word to say derogatory of that
| stupendous, even marvellous railway sys-
TEN. but naturally as you know, so great a
| system as the Rumford Falls line will be-
come in due time, will demand an outlet at a
business centre under its own and entire
management. such thing would be BEN
eft both to us and to the Grand Trunk"
1t is probable that Portland will be the
outlet for the business of the road, since it
is a seaport, and from hence the products of
the mills can be shipped to all quarters of
the globe.
DESPERATE ASSAULT.