Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-08
TaB AROOSloOK RAILROAD
IA Enthusiastic I4ling At Pfesque Isle
Opera House.
Splendid epsech by bon. 4 4. Bur
leigh. .


meetings in hshsis Of the nex Bangor AID
sroessook Railroad thrs far held, wss that
which took place Ia the Opera House Of
Presgue Isle % Saturday, March rs. The
hall was packed, and the attention with
rbich the large crowd lis.ered fer several
hosrs 20 the reasons and srgsmenss Pre-
sen.sd 10 favor Of voting aid TO the railrosd,
sud the enthusiasm sud ansuimity with
which the people spraSg to their feet when
an EXPIRE ss:on OF the sense Of the meeting
was esilsd for, forssoId we'll enough the
action Of the town OF the question TO be
voted upon Monday. April 20. Jadge II.
Smith vas called upon to preside, and after
q few Introductory remarks introduced Hoe.
Edward Wiggin, who made ore Of his best
sad mes. elective speeches for the rev
sireet line. Hon. Albert \. B1risigh wss
then received with anboHnded applause and
enlhasissm. In few introductory remarks
Mr.. Burleish said that the present question
vas more important 10 TIER welfare and
prosperity than any cther thai Arocs.ook
people had ever bsea called apon TO decide,
and IL shonld Do eon'iaered and decided on
lis merits. Mr.. Bufisisb then said
speech Of Hon. A. A. Bar,eigh.
The history Of the presen. movement
went back 20 the time when the local press,
beaded By the late Hen. j. p. Halt, began
the agitation for short line rsiirosd From
that has groxn the present enterprise,
which the speaker fully believed would be
realized The agitation which has made
the success of hi, plan possible origiaated
here. in the broad and fertile valley Of
North Aroostook, whose people have always
bad This great question deeply at heart. and
who have never once gone back. To their
resoiate ranks--sisays pushing forward
other sections have been won, iill row the
bulk of the whole county stands united
earnestly and zealously in favor Of better
railroad facilities.
The speaker then recited the history Of
The Northern Maine movement. one with
which he said he had been in full sympathy
n on the first. Its promoters were honest
men who lsbored hard and earnestly TO
secure railroad.
History OF the Northern Maine.
The Maine Central Company agreed,
after the visit to Arogsto0k in the simmer
Of 1888 Of Hon. Geo. ?. Wescost snd MEM
hers Of the Boston end Maine and Maine
Central Company, to guarantee the interest
on the bonds Of the road. and TO lesse the
road when built, ard on the strength OF
that agreement sclual work would have
been commenced tina. fall on the road had
il no. been for the fact that the votes of
the several towns In aid we're found when
submitted 10 legal counsel to be nearly
all absolutely worthless on scc0unt of
informsli'y. This necessitsted postpone.
ment to an Their yesr. What wss the re-
suit? The powerful Canadian Pacific,
which required Boston outlet for por-
ton Of its vast Western trsffic, csns to the
Boston & Maine Railroad, which held
controlling interest IN The Maine Central.
snd offered 70 give this freight 10 branch
OF lis line, which connected with the G. z.
II. IA Northern New Hampshire, and TO
pay $50 coo per north bonus, il the Boston
& Maine would prevent the Maine Central
from aiding the construction OF The North
sru Maine. II sls0 agreed to deliver 10 the
Maine Central al Varcsbgr0 every pound
of freight from New Brunswick and ARGOS
took destined for the markets of the United
States. ~ this combination, which
was effected. the Canadian Pacific
and Hoston & Maine were sble to
FIX absolutely ard arbitrarily the
rates Of freighs for this great
county Be- this powerful combination the
hArss OF the Maine Central were tied, and
the Northern Maine enterprise was prsctic-
ally paraly zsd. Aud a. long as this com-
binstion exists