The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-04-23

The Route Tor the LINK
There Is an increase Of interest IN the
projected skowhegsn and Norridgc wock
railroad, many OF our business men are
making inquiries about it, and talking the
matter over and the sentiment among our
people generally in favor of building Tie
road Is decidedly stronger than formerly,
although there is yet some opposition to
it.
There Is a difference Of opini N IN re
gard to the location, some perferring
the South side OF the river rather than
the route already surveyed on the North
side. II is not strange that this should
be so. We cannot all see things alike
The REPORTER has always been for the
road, and either route is far preferable
% no road. We do not know the opln-
ion OF any considerable number Of our
citizens as to their preference between
the two proposed routes, and what we
write thereupon we are alone responsible
for. We believe, however, when the
matter shall be thoroughly considered,
large majority Of our citizens will favor
the route surveyed on the north side Of
the river
What is the purpose Of the building OF
the proposed road2 Is 1t not TO reach the
towns above US along the kennebec and
have those towns reach us by rail direct
~, rather than to do SO via Watervile and
Oakland circuit of 50 miles 10 cover the
) miles distance between Skowhegan and
II the object is to reach
those up river towns by rail- the most di
rect way 1t can be done Is the right way.
Start directly from the heart of our vii
lage and go by feasible and direct route
to the nearest point on the Somerset rail-
way which runs through these towns.
This opens to us rail- route directly to
Norridgewock, Madison, Arson, North
Arson, Embden, Scion and Bingham, and
indirectly to Smlthneld, Mercer, Starks,
New Portland, Concord, No. X. 2, Mos
COW, Carratunk, The Forks, etc, by the
of the shortest possible mile
age of new road.
In order to go up river from the station
acre by the South side route we would
lrst be obliged TO go down river, directly
pack toward Waterville, nearly mile to
.he vicinity of the Shoe Factory before
we could start toward the towns we de-
sire to reach and then we would do 1t by
/ crcuitous route probably striking the
somerset road a half mile or more out
side Of the business part OF South Nor
ridgewock village. This backing up pro-
cess and the round about way of the
south side route would increase the dis
ance from Skowhegan to the towns
above Norrldgewock nearly II not quite
.wo miles
When you desire to reach n given point
here Is neither sense nor b. ness meth
ID In starting and going II lie or so in
IN opposite direction or In going by
route several miles longer if you can
avoid it. Such an unbusincs like pro-
cess can be avoided In this csc, 1t ought
10 be- aud we trust will be.
If our object were to reach Dodln
quarry or Oakland 1t might be an adyan
age to build on the South side, but our
business liz that direction will be meagre
We can now readily reach Oakland via
and it would be but a trile
further to reach Dodlin or Oakland by
he North side than by the South side
QUITE
Another matter In this connection that
houd be taken into consideration is the
abroad bridge at Norridgewock. With
he route on the South side any disaster
y fire or food to this wooden structure
would prevent the crossing of the river
y trains at Norridgewook to the great
etriment of travel and the greater detri-
nent Of freighting, as passengers and
reight for the whole road, In that event,
would have to be carted across the Ken
lebec at that place. With the road built
IN the North side, In the event of that
bridge being rendered impossible the
trains could 60 over the new line and
cross tho river at Skowhegan, aud thus
serious Interruption to the busine IS of the
line would be avoided.
Thus it will be seen that Skowheyan is
not alone interested In the North side
route the Somerset road, the Maine Cen
trail road, the business interests the whole
length OF the line from Waterville to
Bingham, the people of Somerset, like
wise the travelling public and the bust
ness public generally, so far as it uses or
will use the Somerset road and the
Link" are all emphatlcally interested.
The North side Is the place for the
road and It's construction on the other
proposed route, as we look at 1t, would
be contrary to sound business principle
and in direct violation of public conven-
lence and interest.