Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-03
READY TO HELP
Are Peop'e Living Along the Line
Of the Proposed Railroad.
Two Hust.ing kusustan Projectors Drive Owe
the Route.

Henry G. Staples, have returned from Il
drive over the proposed route of the road
to connect Augusta with the Georges Val
ley r. r.
They found the people all along the line
of the proposed route very enthusiastic.
There is every reason 10 believe that they
will do everything they can in corporate
capacity and by individual subscriptions.
TIL, towns of Liberty and Montville,
Searsmont and Appleton are very fine farm
ing towns Including thriving villages and an
abundance of water power is found in all
of them. All these towns are located on
the Georges river. These towns are prac-
tically out of debt and Mr.. Milliken says
will give their five per cent. on valuation
toward the enterprise. that is, they gave
Col. Staples and Mr.. Milliken so to under
stand.
| The Georges river is wonderful river
for water power, taking its rise in Georges
Pond, Liberty. This pond is a very fine
sheet of water, well stocked with land
locked salmon. The water is of the best,
fed by springs in the bed of the pond itself
aud receives comparatively no surface
water.
In the village of Liberty, along course
of mile and half - water powers are
located. "This town has three or four times
the power possessed by the village of Dex-
ter, Name" remarked Mr.. Milliken, land
the power is continuous throughout the
year. There are large number of IN
dustries already located there, among which
is the immense sheepskin tannery of the
late William II. Hunt. The business now
passes into the control of his son-in-law,
Mr.. Walker.
! "There are large tracts of timber land
along the whole route. Much of this growth
is first class and includes pine, hemlock and
hard woods.
"Mr. MiIliken and Col. Staples occupied
two days in their trip and feel much graft
fed st the reception which the project of
building the road received all along the
proposed line. On their return they came
by the way of Somerville and Cooper $
Mills. At the former place is located
steam mill for the manufacture OF
long lumber and slaves. This mill
does large business. Ii is located on the
Sheepscot liver at the head Of Patrick's
town pond and has large amount of tim
Der lands tributary TO it. Five miles down
the river at the foot of the above mentioned
pond is situated the thriving village OF
Cooper's Mills. Here is located saw mills
and new steam mill is in process of con-
struction. People of these two last men,
toned places" said Mr.. Mlliken, are very
enthusiastic and deeply anxious to have
communication with the Capital City By a
standard gauge railroad. They will do all
in their power to effect this result"
ITO u.s. he continued, sit appeared that
from Coopers Mills to Liberty village there
isa very easy route to build on. From
Coopers Mills into Augusta, owing to the
lateness of the hour, we could not get much
idea of the topography of the country but
undoubtedly practical engineer can find a
practical route. From Liberty village to
Searsmont, Appleton and Union, is one OF
the most feasible routes for railroad we
ever saw. In fact the old Georges canal OF
which Gen. Knox was ono of the proprietors
and which runs from tidewater to Sears
mont village, would in some places form
roadbed ready for ties and ballast
None Of the men who are most enthusiast
tic in this :heme are dreamers, they are
all practical, conservative business men ard
when they say the road is to be built mary
are disposed to believe that it will be.
At Liberty especially the enthusiasm for
the road was very marked. A meeting was
held at the hotel in the evening ard sur
prisingly large number were in attendance.
Colonel Staples and Mr.. Milliken had an
informal talk with the people in the after
noon and in the evening Colonel Staples
addressed the meeting. The people of Lib
berty want the road and say so.