Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-05
A BIG SCHEME.
History Of Proposed Wiscasset
& Quebec Railroad.
It Will Open Up a Rich Section and
Greatly Develop Maine.
8fisf Sketches Of iha Or.sinaiors and Pro-
moters ei the Idea.

ooetoH lit Tdiu says. W Lille tnp rtSL Oh Tue
country has b.en prostrated by financial
troubles, the busiaess life in Msine ha.
gone ON with almost the usual serenity
While. elsewhere, railroads have been al
but ruined, 'wsy down East here new rail
roads have sprung into existence. OF thes4
III, latest is the Wiscasset & On. bee, v hich
has a history that reads like a romance.
In lsj this scteme was first recognized
by the Legislature snd a charter grant. d
as the years passed by, successive Legisla-
lures renewed or amended the charter.
But the railroad never material'Z ID. Men
cane and went, and worked hard upon the
.cheme only to give up in encouragement
One mar alone, William Atkinson, was
persistent. and failed to believe the scheme
impossible, but even he could do nothing
except secure surv. vs..
FIVE years ago Hon. George II. Crosby
he I'd Of the great Crosby Steam Gauge and
Valve Company of Boston, Wishing to rts
from business. buil Il beautiful and expen-
sive home in TIE town of Alblyn, in thi,
State, on the site of his fathers home stead.
1t is in the centre of rich and thriving
country, but is ii miles from any railroad
As time advanced, and Mr.. Crosby spent
more and more time at lis country home,
h. realized more and more the il conven-
ience of this lack of communication, and
felt the need of some remedy.
In August 1898, less than year ago,
Mr. Crosby drove II miles TO WateIvilie
aud called upon his local attorney, w.
Fred p FOgg. The two men fell into con-
versaion upon the nee d of railroad III AL
bion, and Mr.. Crosby DIT ciared his inten-
ton of securing one somehow, ana aske d
Mr.. Fogg to interest huns If in the scheme
as the latter had had much experience IL
building narrow guage roads.
The next step was promptly taken; the
two went to Wiscasset and secured control
of the old railroad charter. Then a plan
of campaign was organized. Meetings were
held in the towns along the proposed route,
and in each railroad committee was ap-
pointed. ~-'--'"-"'"'
The capital stock was fixed at 100000
This was divided into two equal parts, Mr.
Crosby agreeing to provide one-balf if the
towns would subscribe for the other. The
various local committees sent delegates to 3
meeting at Wiscasset, where this Sl50,00C
was allotted to the several towns in proper
| ton to their valuation and the probable eft
| feet of the road. The committees went tc
work and promptly raised their allotments
town aid being needed in only two cases
China for SIS 900 and Albion for $40, 900
The money was wholly raised ia the COM
munihes to be affected, and so great was
the interest that farms were mortgaged in
order that subscriptions might be made. On
every side sacrifices were made, but the
CAPITAL was raised.
Meanwhile MIR. Crosby was busy in re-
gard to the $50, 900 he WIS to raise. OF
this sum he subscribed personally 500 900,
and Messrs. Ingalls,, Gerald, Fo9g and 9th
ers put in $4,000 apiece until the whole
stock was taken.
A contract WAS made it'll the subscrib-
| ers by which the main line of the road is to
be held free from mortage. 1t will bt
built, equipped and put into operation by
the sale of capital stock, which may be in
creased to $500, 0G0 if needed, and OF
which over 1925 900 has been taken; more
it ia thought, than win be needed.
Then Warren Nickerson, c. f., of Or,
rintoa, who has had 90 years experience al
rairoading, was made chief engineer, and
with a competent corps, ran the preliminary
and location survey last fall. All winter
he has been busy drawing up the plans and
specifications, which have just been COM
pleted and submitted to the cont actors.
As laid out, the road runs ncrtherly from
Wiscasset to Burnham, defiance of %
miles. Leaving the former rl,ce, for 20
miles it follows the Sheepscot river valley
passing through flourisbing villages in the
towns Of Wiscasset, Alma, White field and
Windsor to China. Then the line runs
along the easterly side of the large and
beautiful Lovejoy and China ponds. which
elsewhere would be called lakes. Then II
crosses the Sebasticook river, and pass
throuch Albion and Unity plantation tt
Rurnham. where the Maine Central is in
terested. ...,. -,
ha built this spring, but the contract fol
ason tons of steel rails which has beer
msde includes a sufficient number to carry
tho road six miles further TO Pit'siield
where the Maine Central is again struck
and where is also the terminus OF the Sc
ha st;cook & Moosehead railroad, whicf
runs 70 miles through Pittsfield and Pdlmy
80 to Hartlapd. From here survey ha'
baen run Is miles through st. Albans
/ R;nlav. Cambridge and Parkmsn to Gull
ford where the Bangor and Piscaiquis dt
vision of the Bangor & Aroostook is tappet
md a connection thus formed with th'
great Canadi an Pacific.
If the season permits the six miles o.
rail to Pittstieli will be laid this fall, ana
the s. & NJ. railroad acquired, for the lat
tor road is controlled by the friends OF tn
w. 1 O.. and is ready to drop into the lat
ter's hands. Then. within three years, tn
Is miles from Hartlsnd to Guilfoid VII
probably be built.
II Is felt that is important, il vi,w OF th'
n,esent financial conditions, when labo
and supplies are so low, to bui the msi' s.
line at once, ard get it in ops ration. tn.
frat three years will be devoted to devel
on;nc the local business, and then, with tn
,mnrovement in business. the extenrio'
will be made and the ROAD widsned Z
stand ard guage.
All abutmeuts, piers. eulverts and o'he
.tone work and the bridges will b, built TO
. standard gauge so a. 10 avoid the expens
of changing later. There will be only ts'
sseel bridges Of length; both over tn