The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-09-25
The Link.

There are three separate and distinct
railroads that now enter Somerset Coun-
to. O2e Che Maine Central) ruhs to
Skowhegau the shire town of that county
and has terminus here.
The second runs from Oakland 10 Nor
rid.ewock. thence up the river to North
Arson and recently extended to Scion
and Bingham.
The third runs from Plttsheld located
on the line of the Maine Central between
Waterville and Bangor, In Somerset
county, to llartland and strong move
is now being made to extend the same to
Athens, which lies northwest of Skow-
hogan.
Thus Skowbegan the shire town of the
county and place OF more than five
thousand Inhabitants has no railroad
communication with any other portion of
Somerset county except Fairfield, unless
by the wae Of Waterville and Oakland
upon u S,4r r..! llilroad, and by way
of Ws'"yri'r atl Pntsheld on the Maine
Ceuii,..
A railroad from Skovhegan to Nolri.
dgewock wou.d put the valley of the Ken
nebec above Skowhegan, and Western and
Northwestern Somerset in direct COM
munication with Skowhegan.
For several years there has been a
strong feeling in this vicinity in favor of
hu ldiug what is termed The Link
railroad between Skowhegan and Nor
ridgewock, a distance of five miles. In
the winter of 1889, the legislature grant
ed charter for that purpose. In June
last the corporations met, accepted the
charter and chose a committee to secure
preliminary survey of the route, and also
to meet the president and directors of
Maine Central AID Somerset rairoa' to
ascertain what terms could he made with
these roads in relation to building and
operating the line.
Subscriptions were solicited for pre-
liminary survey, and so strong was the
feeling in favor of the project that more
than twice the amount was obtained.
A survey OF the proposed route was
made in August on the north side Of the
river, developing in an easy and practical
route.
So far as known, the committee of the
| corporators have not Yet conferred with
the managers of the Maine Central and
Somerset railroads, relative to the con-
struction of the line, but such meeting
will undoubtedly be held in a short time.
There Is strong sentiment, not only in
Skowhegsn hut in those towns up and
down the river that will be accommodate
ed by such a road, in favor of building
the link at once.
In some respects the condition of
things is peculiar. Skowhegsn, with "a
population Of more than five thousand,
with many industries and a large business
of every kind, now has no railroad com
munication with the rest Of the county
except by the town of Fairfield, as before
stated.
People coming to town are obliged to
come by private conveyance or stage.
There is large travel between Skowhs
gan, the terminus Of the Maine Central
and Norridgewock on this line of the
Somerset Railway. 1t Is exceedingly In
convenient for people up the Kennebet
! who desire to come to Skowhe0an t.
leave the train at Norridgewock and &
, by the stage to Skowhegan. Besides, tn
, business OF the county Is liable to drift
. BY Skowhegan, II this link Is not built
/ | This 10 the feeling Of the business men o
o Skowhegan, and while the project o
. building the road Is not moving on