Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-18
sloss me 3. "a.
Railroad Commissioners On Trip d Inspeetis q
-Hsad In sp'esdid ceaditien.

l n
HouLros, June II. Especially. The
railroad commissioners left Br gor Tue sday
morning for an inspection of the Bangor
and Aroostook r. R. taking special in
spection car at Old Town. The commits.
sIoners were acco npanied by the Genera
Manager r. W. Cram. Mr.. Rogers, the
division tuperintenden Edward Stetsor
the treasurer OF the roal, Hon. C. A. Glib
son and Hon. d. B. Thstt her, Edward s
Stewart, Norris Z, Bragg, Job Abbott tn =
consulting engineer of the road, Hugh r
Uhapiin OF the firm of Appleton & Chap.
lin, the compaDys counsel.
The train was 10 charge of Conductor
York, and Geo. Sousucy, his brakeman,
while the we'll known Engineer Clary, and
MS fireman, Austin Sherburn, managed the
iron horse. It's sometimes remarked tina,
these trips are pleasure trips of the railroad
commissioners, but such should see their
method OF inspection aud follow their foot.
steps one trip and this false notion woul
be dispeiled. The car is so arranged that
me commissioners can have view of the
road bed while m,viog, and a rears tep pre-
vided for getting off an on.
The run was made to Greenville for late
dinner, the board leaving the car and
'crutinizing every bri ige and open way on
the line. The long high trestles were given
thorough examination, which required a
good deal of climbing. 1t was remarked
that one of the board had lifted q good
many tons as he came up the embankment
of ravine eighty feet high. Having to
raise 1886 pounds each step, the remark was
not out Of the way. Coming back to
Milo junction the Katahdin Iron
Works branch is taken, and the insp ection
is continued to 1.-THE Works" The party
arrived there at seven o'clock, the most of
them pretty tired. Ninety bridges and open
ways were examined, requiring the commits
sioners to get off. A memorandum is made
Of every one, and while riding, careful
watch is kept of the road bed and ties
This is the most tiresome in fact, and one
not accustomed to 1t will find hi, head in a
whirl before an hour of this watching, and
| in fact, the brain of these men accustomed
to it week in and out, when night comes is
exceedingly weary. ,s'@.
Manager Cram was constantly on the
alert, rothing seems to escape his
attention. half the time this day be
held the lever of the engine which al
most seemed to realize that the manager Q
hand was in control so quickly did it re-
| spond TO his demands. But he astonished
the party after supper at the excellent ho-
tel at the Iron Works, kept by Haghen
by proposing to get up at two o'clock
in the morning and visit IA
voritc trout pond three miles up
the mountain. The proposition seemed in
sane to most of them, though those who
knew the managers delight in throwing the
fly doubted not his intent. He found no
difficulty in finding one of the party ready
to join this midnight adventure as the
writer has fancy that way, too, and had a
longing to see this expert throw off the
cares of busy life in the still
small hours of morning. Two o'clock
A. M. found span of fine horses
two guides and driver ready to climb the
old corduroy road up the mountain through
and by the iron beds Of the Katahdin works
Fifteen minutes walk after leaving the
team brought the party to a lonely little
pond in the woods on top of this mountain.
1t was charming morning, just bracing
enough to set the blood tingling through
the system, and give new life to the body
and soul.
At a lit lie past 3 o'clock Manager
Cram was throwing the fly in some of the
favorite spots well known to hin. The
writer watched him care fully to see if his
great business cares were really laid aside
in this favorite spot. Rather languidly he
seemed to send the dainty lure on its mis-
sion and the thoughtful face did not seem
to forget bis cares, but 10 whirl disturbs
the water and gentle twist is given the
rod and we hear him say "We have the fe'-
low. and sure enough pound and half beat
ty shows his silvery sides, but fails to rid him
self of the enemy. He is finely landed land it
is now noticed that the great railroad mana
ger has taken on new life. The rod seems
a thing of life, sending out long casts, and
there it is we hear quotations of Izaak Wal
ton recited in fine style. From this time out
the writer was sure Mr.. Cram was getting
the full benefit of the morning outiug-and
that nothing disturbed his mind. At nine
o'clock we were back at the hotel with if
| t .en trout as fine as ever were taken
| from the water. Aud don't you 70 get III 1t
there was an appetite for breakfast.
Soon the party were f for Brow n
vile Junction and there commenced
the inspection of the new b. & A. r.. r.
1t is worth the trip to lille over
the road. one Of the best ever en-
gineered or built. We run to Norcross an !
get dinner at Gerrishe's, 3 place we'll known
to sportsmen. The forest on the line is
magnificent, the water and mountain scenery
sublimely grand. Hon. A. A. Burleigh ,presi-
d. mt Of the road, joins US here ana we work
our way on toward Houlton--,he stir and
hustle if new country is seen on every
hand Hotels are being built to accommo-
date the hundreds of tourists here, and
coming. new business enterprises taking
form, and we begin to see that the motive
power the minds of two or three mem
have made no mistake in the building OF
this road. Every water power is made
easy of access and this great timber sec
ton is opened up to the demands of the
outer world. No man can longer
doubt the wisdom of this great en-
terprise, and its ultimate success,
financially.
The fifty bridges ard open ways
are given inspection, and elicit only
words of commentator at tie sub
staLtial iron structures over the rivers on
the route. The road is built for business
and there's business 10 be done. We reach
Houlton at Z o'clock, hurried lunch and
Manager Cram returns to Bangor in the
night. The commissioners left on Thurs