The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-01-21
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad.


This road, opening up new county in
our own State unsurpassed by any locality
beginning in Brownville, at the terminus of
the Katahdin r. r., passes or partly crosses
Schoodic Lake outlet, taking in valuable
water powers, thence crossing the outlet Of
Chesuncook and other lakes, over the East
Branch of the Penobscot River, through
Stacyville, Sherman, Island Falls, Dyer
Brook, (where the branch to Ashland passes
through fine timber country and Masardis
to the Aroostook River. 1t is at this point
that large quantities of lumber are cut and
run down the Aroostook and st. John rivers
to St. John, n. B., there manufactured and
shipped to the United States and admitted
free. Last year about 115,0OO,OOO was so
marketed. Few have an idea of the amount
of shingles moved. Hon. John Il. Cutler
and partner, of Bangor, landed in 1890 over
! 1OO,O0O00O of shingles. 1t costs to run lum-
Der from Aroostook waters at Ashland to
st. John about S1.75 per NJ.
| 1t is claimed that the b. & A. r. r. can
haul this lumber to tide water at Bangor at
about tile same cost The freight from Ban
gor to average ports is from 80 to 75c Per Nj.
less than from St. John. The refuse of this
lumber will he made into pulp in Aroostook,
and within few year be made into paper,
then employing large number of men,
who in turn must, with their families, be feI
and clothed in or own country. When it
| is considered that this refuse lumber when
turned into pulp is worth more per pound
| than western wheat if muSt Ne nlai,i that tlle
increase in population of Aroost,ok in two
years is hardly conceivable. AT Dyer Brook
the main line passes Oaktield, Smyrna. Lrld-
low, New Limerick, Houlton, Littleton,
Monticello, Bridgewater, Blaine, Mars Hill,
Presque Isle to Van Buren,, and also takes
i'll Caribou and Fort Fairfield. In time the
Ashland branch will 60 to Fort Kent.
| There are % miles of railroad in Aroostook
owned 10y the c. p r. r. Co. The first year
of completion this % miles of road furnished
100000 pounds of freight Last year this
% miles furnished 400, 100000 lbs. of freight.
| If with such an increase on these few miles Of
railroad, to I've transported via. New Bruins
wick and back to Maine on its way to + os-
ton, what may we not expect of 200 miles of
direct railroad over and through such fer
! tile and prolific countryo Maine has invest
ed millions in the west, south, and in foreign
countries, vet to-day the successful building
of the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad is due
to ont side capital. The American Express
| Co., after giving this scheme long and care
| full consider alton, have subscribed 100000 to
| the preferred stock, thus making nearly
| 100000 subscribed. leaving but little over
100000 to complete the 81 100000
Is this not the time when every citizen of
| Maine wherever he may be, should come
| forward and take the amount of the prefer
red stock he can. If 50 strong and able a
mana cement as that of the American EN-
press Co. consider it a safe investment, may
we not consider their Judgment good? If
the balance is quickly taken. work will begin
promptly and the expenditure of S5,m0,0o0 OF
| 81 ,OOO. 900 will surely benefit every industry
| in ollr State. 1t should not be necessary tt
| 90 oUg of the State to get funds to complete
the needed amount. Who will be the first
to Voluntarily send in their subscriptions?
)IRIGp.