The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-07-05


way through, that where two towns Of
unequal size are connected by an electric
road the larger of the two has all the
advantages over the smaller.
This has not, we are informed, been
the fact generally in the State of Maine.
The Gardiner, Farmngdale and Hal
lowell people are quite as much pleased
with the electric railroad a. those of
Augusta. the larger city on the road
connecting those places. Fairfield. talk
it by and large, one line of business with
another, is more than satisfied that tile
lWatervile- Fairfield road is one of the
best institutions that ever struck the
town. Nor do we hear that any line OF
trade suffers in the smaller town bv
reason of this read.
We have heard it stated that dealers
in dry goods, hardware, erockery and
the like. of NorridgeWoek would be
likely to suffer by being brought into
closer competition with the stores of
Skowhegan, by the building of the
BE- SO and it may not be 50. Nor
ridgewock is about rs near Boston and
New York rs SkoH hogan. Norriage-
wock dealers can buy most if not all
hogan dealers. Rents are not as high,
the expense of doing business not as
large, and, unless NorrdgeWaek men
are made up of different material from
what they appear to be, they are going
10 be doing something themselves while
SkoW hogan, is getting the trade away
from them.
~ the REPORTER has stated before,
SkoN hogan has in round numbers 1000
people for the merchants of Norridge-
wock to draw from. while NorridgeWock
has 1861 for the merchants of Skowhe
gan to draw from. Surely the Norridge-
wock trader cannot conn lain that the
advantage is all against him in this view
of the case
The merchant is very useful Kind OF
ii man to have around and we appreciate
him. We could not have much OF Il town
without him and we don't want To get
along without him, although he may
take our money about as fast rs we can
get it. But he is not lha only man for
us to take into consideration. The liz
terests of the falmer. the mechanic. the
manufacturer, the day lahorer aud their
| ~ nd tbt II Ia ian.
and occupations are to be considered
when we are eanvassing public altirs
and public convenieners.
Whatever of advantage acerueS to any
line of trade by virtue of defect in faeili-
ties for travel aud consequent lack of
competition in that line. must uecesslri-
ly work a corresponding disadvantage
to the patrons OF lie men engaged in
meeting of the Two Villages, Sko@hegan
and NonidgeWoell by the iron, should
work to the disadvantage uf a hall-tlozeu
ira lprs-whch We do moi admit
must at the same time work To Il eorre-
spending advantage of thousand or
more of these >ime traders patrons.
BY refusing TIL roll to the Thousand
You work IA positive Disadvantages Ia
them for tie sake of possible a3yan-
tage to the half-dezen.
1t is not Il good economic theory Ia
sacrifice the welfare and convenience
and comfort of the many to the supposed
advantage of the few. The greatest
good to the greatest number is the cor
rect theory. The building and running
of this road from Skowhegan to Mr.
ridgewock is certainly for the advantage
of the many in both towns and we he
Iieve there are not even a few to whom
it will be ii disadvantage, once our bust
ness becomes adjusted TO the new order
of things.
The business of the road will not be
the conveyance of people out Of Nor
ridgewock, wholly. Ii must transport
people into the town rs well rs out.
The people coming by raj from the up
river towns, with this road, would have
opportunity TO stop at NorridgcWock by
staying over one electric road trip, and
then 90 on to Skowhegan, whereas now
they either go along to Waterville or
Lewiston by rail or make close connec-
ton by stage to Skowhegan. In fact it
will give Norridgewock all the advan-
tage that comes from transfer of pas
sengers instead of having them railroad
ed directly through the town.
The road will make Norridgewoek
more desirable as II place of business
and residence than eyer before, bring
Skowhegan markets nearer the farmers
of Norridgewock, bring the factories
and mills of Skowhegan within reach of
Norridgewock people who may want
employment in them, aud in a thousand
and one ways, contribute to the pleas
ure, welfare and resources of the people
of the town without expense to tax
payers or detriment to the public,
According to the census of 1880, Nor
ridgewock has 1906 inhabitants. six
teen hundred and fifty of these. beyond
question. will be benefited by this road.
the other six possibly may not be.
Surely Norridgewoek people must be
heartily in favor of his road Once