Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-12-03
A Promising Enterprise


A very importan; railroad has been
projected in Maine and the prospects of
its being built seems very probable. 1t
is to run from Bangor TO Aroostook
county, and is being engineered by +.
w. Cram, ESQ one Of the brightest and
most thoroughly trained railroad men in
New England For many years he was
the manager Of the New Brunswick rail
road, and probably has better knowl
edge Of the present and prospective bus
ines and the possibilities of the future
of Aroostook than any other
man. His whole life has been
devoted to rsilroading in Maine ard
New Brunswick. Aroostook has now an
outlet By the New Brunswick read,
which has recently become portion of
the Canadian Pacific system But it is
very eircuitous route and the freight
tariff is very high It costs nearly 80
FER cent Of the value OF potatoes ard
other farm produce to get il to market.
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad will
be direct and all of it built in the State
OF Maine. It will reach all the impor
tapt towns and will open very many su-
perior water powers which will at once
be improved. Considerable information
has been given the last few years in re-
gard to AroostoOk county, but it may
be we'll to repeat a few facts here. 1t
contains $500 square miles 1t is four
times as large as Rhode Island and
nearly as large as New Hampshire. t
is covered with primeval forests except
ing where settlements have been made.
There is large area covered with sugar
maple, birch &c d beech, and in the north
ern half OF the county pine, spruce, hem
lock and fir predominant. Cedar is also
In abundance The surface OF the coun-
ty is unduIatiDg or rolling. with very
few mountains or high hills. The soil
is wonderfully rich loan from two to
three feet deep. There are but few
stones. Potatoes and other root crops,
grass and the cereal grains are easily
raised in great abundance. The average
Weld of potatoes is ten hundred bushels
to the acre, and the average of wheat
and oats Is much greater per acre than
in the Western or southern states. It's
also one of the best stock raising Sec
tions it's also already noted for its fine
horses. cattle and sheep.
There has been a very rapid growth in
the last eighteen years. The posato crop
has increased from 10000 to COCO, 600
bushels hay from nothingto 10000 tons,
the single industry 30 millions to 300
millions. The freight on the railroad
has increased from 5000 to 200 000 tons.
There is now annually 100 million feet
OF logs run down the st, John river.
which would fiud their way to market
much cheaper by the new road. The
timber could be manufactured into lum-
Der at various water powers and the
refuse spruce and poplar would be con
verified into wood pulp for paper, for
which there is an increasing demand.
The water is of the lurest quality and
especially desirable for the manufacture
OF paper and pulp.
The business men of Maine as well as
elsew here are taking hold of the enter
prise with great enthusiasm. The county
cf Aroostook has voted $500, coo for the
railroad and its business men are sub
scribing literally for the stock, Nearlv
s200. coo has been taken in Bangor and
handsom subscriptions have been re-
ceived from other cities in the State.
Merchants in Boston are also taking
large amount of stock. The enterpri-e
is one of great value 10 all New England
as we'll as the State of Maine Every
son Of the Pine Tree State. wht raver he
msy reside, should give the enterprise
his earnest support, for it's successful
issue will be OF the greatest value and
Importance 10 his native State