Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-02
The Ashland Branch.
lt- uaSsiA


IL anyone doubts the interest Of the peo-
ole Of Ashland and vicinity in the railroad
he is respectfully referred to pefussl Of
the list Of subscriptions watch We print else
~here In this issue. Up to ihi. date, 10
addition TO several good subscriptions &C.
cured there by Mr.. Wiggin, the people Of
| scrihed nearly six thousand dollars toward
a railroad. They realize the great draw
backs and dissdvanages they nov labor
der by reason OF remoteuess and ISOLATION.
rhsy spprec iste the immense benefits of
rAiir road to run into the heart Of their fertile
and productive country.
They are aware 10 what 4 remarkable
extent II would stimulate existing lines Of
business snd industry, and how marvel
lousy it would cteaIe and multiply new
industries and new branches of business.
They appreciate the conveniences and
comforts it would bring them in facilitating
their communication with the outside world,
and bringing them in touch and contsci
with it socially and in business.
The Ashland res IN moreover is deserv-
ing Of q railroad by virtue of the immense
undey eloped resources it has to offer SIS a
reward for such an enterprise. II can turn
up ia ZIG ihAio AAlu W ~ VAC biOo0Iho Va hh
Immense and practically inexhaustble lum-
Der business, in itself csp,ble Of furnish
ing a railroad with 3 large and profitable
traffic.
Few realize the magnitude of this indus.
ny as at present carried on on the Aroos-
took waters, of which Ashland is the centre,
and fewer still realize the economy that
would result from change from the present
80 .top tea pfaft tn fopp or
marke. to home manufacture Of this vast
lumber product, aud its transportation by
rail direc. to an American market. At
present II is estimated that twenty -tve par
cent. Of the cut Of spruce logs is wasted
because Of the fact that all below q
certain number Of ircles in diameter
10 thrown away by the s.. John scaler.
and it is therefore policy FOR the
rather than TO go to the expense
Of hauling and driving it to market. Tits
tlumense waste would be stopped by eI
chan giug the present system for home mar
ufacture and rail transportation over direct
line and it voI aid be saving quite suff-
cient to turn the scsle in favor Of the latter
method without regard to other factors OF
advantage.
III tulltlDl 10 tue spfusS iUuistty suc
establishment of pulp mills and mills for the
manufacture OF hard wood lumber would
naturally result from the building Of this
branch line TO Ashland, and tinslly it would
render easily accessible the best bunting aud
Using region to be found in New EDzlaud.
There .s another good and valid reason
for carrying cut this part of the Bangor &
| Ar3ostook Il Il plan, and that reaso "a is
that it completes the system IS means of
BROAD and general development for Aroos-
| took both agIiculturslly and as lumber
producing section. Confue the enterprise
to the eastern border, and you get bu. a
partial and imperfect development Of Aroos-
took sgriculturslly. Pu. through the Ast
land branch IS surveyed, and you lay open
70 immediate settlement ard development
| every township in the county lying south of
| the Aroostook river. l,rtquires but glance
at the MAP to sse that thi, is a fact. The to.
tai breadth Of the unity within this limit,
east aud west, is shout thirty miles There
fore, with line through the eastern tier Of
townships and the branch line 10 Ashland,
as proposed. no settler in any township
would be more than twelve miles distant
frcm rail and the large percentage much
nearer. The system IS proposed is an ideal
one, as an sgency Of develo pment for the
whole county. ard with the full million
raised will be carried out. 1t 10 consum-
nation that should eriist the aid and active
interes. and cooperation Of every ci;izan Of
the county,