Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-09
Kennsbec and Sandy River Railroad

Edito,s Of The Kcnne5ec Journat
Now that the matter is being somewhat
agitated and some things are said pro and
con in favor of different routes for the pro-
posed road from the Kennebec to the Sandy
river, allow me to make few suggestions
as to what some consider the most feasible
route, although it may not strictly be in the
interests of Augusta, and preliminarily |
will say that if road il 10 be built from
Augusta to Pennington the route proposed
by II. W. Colder is the most practical.
though not as direct as by Wings Mills and
Mt. Vernon and Vienna villages. 1t would
open up more business and accommodate
more way travel than the shorter route.
1t is often the case that in the consideration
of railroad routes too little attention is
given to the future development and cspa-
bilities of the region through which it is to
pass. This was the case in the early days
of railroad enterprise in Maine, and we
are now trying to supplement these defects
by branch roads.
The primary object of railroad is to
open up communication and develop thu
business facilities of The region through
which it passes with these ends in view,
let us pats to a consideration of the most
practicable route for 4 railroad from the
Kennebec to the Sandy river. The first
thing is a terminus on tide water if pos
sible, the second, a section of country cap.
able of present and future development.
These conditions are met in a route leaving
the Kennebec at Gardiner by the valley of
the Cobbossecontee, thence to Litcbied,
East Monmouth, North Monmouth
Wayne, North Wayne. Fayette. West Mt
Vernon, Mt. Vernon, Vienna and Farming
ton Falls to Pennington.
This route would strike directly out
from AMI across other lines of eommunica-
ton without interfering with their traffic
materially snd pass through q section of
country abundan,ly supplied with water
power, indeed every station along the route
would represent a water power, most of
them perpetual. The towns and villages
that will be chiefly benefited are first in
, order Wayne, beautiful for situation be-
tween Wing and Androscoggin ponds, with
water power that is the accumulation of
the entire valley above, well stored. and in
which are already mills and woollen fac
tory next above the two privileges at North
Wayne and one at Fayet'e. on which were
formerly the largest scythe works in the
country, now abandoned and rotting down
for want of proper transportation facilities
the three privileges al West Mt. Vernon
with the ample storage of Psrker's pond in
reserve, and the two lesser but equally
available ones one at tVeruon and one a,
Vienna. At Pennington Falls the whole
volume of the Sandy river is available for
manufacturing purposes, ard could be
largely increased by a canal through the
III IL. =. l..
the State of Maine. which boasts its snpe-
rior water privileges, a section of country
more sbundantly supplied with water pos
available for manufacturing purposes than
the region this route would traverse.
Its direc:ness and future possibilities
commend it especially to capitalists and all
interested in internal improvements II
will complste lire Of in'ercommunication
connecting the Kennehec valley with the
great lake region of the northwestern sec
ton Of the State. ard by means of the con
veRiences Of travel and transportation, cen
tralizing its interests and bu,iness tina, other
wise might End an outlet without the
borders of the State.
We are aware that other routes are pro-
posed havirg the sane termini, but none
having 30 many advantage, as tie one We
have outlined. The ose advocated by some
leaving Gardiner ard tassing up through
Farmingjale by the Hallowell granite quar-
ries to Manchester and East Winthrop
thence by way of Readfield to West Mt
Vernon and then by the rou.e already
described to Pennington. can lay claim to
little more directuess. but its grades would
not be 80 Uniform ard even. and the advan-
uges arising from the business Of the
granite qusr,i.s would hardly compensate
for the loss Of travel AMI transportation that
would be afforded by such business places
As would ere long be developed at Wayne.
North Wayne and Fayetts- The future Of
a railroad 10 the future of the region CT
couatry il intsrsects; and tn, choice Of .
location iha, is not liable TO be interfered
with by competing lines. We lay claim to
all these ADVANTAGES in our advocacy of the
route by way Ct Wayne. Fsyette, Mt. Yer
non &C., and predict that IL it is ever built.
! it will ultimately fully meet tie expecfa-
tons of the public aud its projectors.
L. X. FRENCH.
SouIM CHE.TERyMLE.