The Portland daily press., 1895-07-26
Washington County to Vote on the
Question.
COL. GREENS DAYS OF GRACE
HAVE EXPIRED
And the Road win Now be Built Under
the Washington County Charter-If
S500.O0O is Raised New York Capital
ist Will Raise the Remainder-The
End of an Interesting Fight.
fspEcrAL TO THE rREss.1

SPECIAL TO THE TREsS1
Calais, Me-, July 25.-On Monday next
the people of Washington county will
vote on the railroad question. The Wash
ington county railroad has existed on
paper or many years Col. Green of Shore
Line fame, the builder Of the present Bar
Harbor branch of the Maine Central, was
one of it's earliest and most enthusiastic
supporters, and still is engaged in a last
effort to raise the money necessary to
build the line, after the county has voted
to take $500, 900 Of the preferred stock of
the corporation. That is the question
which comes before the people on Mon
day next, and the opinion here is that
the vote will be an overwhelming one in
favor of the road 1t was by such means
that the county of Aroostook backed the
successful Bangor and Aroostook road.
The centre of opposition, if any exists,
will probably be found in coast towns,
such as Lubec When the last legislature
convened, there were two charters In ex-
istence covering the Washington county
territory. One was that held by Col
Green, the Shore Line railway. The other
was that of the Washington county rail
way, in which leading men in this city,
and other parts of the county were inter
ested. Col Green claimed that in con-
sideration of his efforts of years to build
the line, he should still have a chance
The other side contended that Col. Green
had been given every opportunity to build
a road and had failed to do so. COnse-
quently, they said, the county sould be
no longer made to suffer through the lack
Of railroad facilities due to the Colonel S
inability to provide them. After a
memorable struggle, the legislature COM
promised tho matter, giving to Col. Green
the right to build the road if he could
raise the money in a specified time which
has now elapsed. In the event of the
the road by buying the half million Of
preferred stock was to be submitted to
the people. If the road is built by other
parties, Col. Green is to receive $25, coo
for any claims be may have. This plan
removes the objection previously made
that with two charters covering the same
territory, capitalists could not be induced
to put in their money. When it come to
the actual construction, Col Green still
have of putting in o proposition for the
work. 1t is for this purpose that he Is
still trying to raise funds.
Another figure in this celebrated rail
road case, is that Of Russell Sage, the
man who Is said to have more ready
money at his command than any other in
America. Sage is interested in the Shore
Line of New Brunswick, which was
designed to be continuation OF Col.
Green's Shore Line in Maine. The
Colonel and Sage have been at law to
settle differences arising from their rail
road interests, and the case is still re-
membered in this locality. Last winter,
assurances were received from Mr.. Sage
that if the county would lend it's aid to
the project, he would be ready to furnish
the remainder of the capital required.
Still another party said to be willing to
put up the necessary capital is composed
of Hon. Fred E. Richards, Hon. George
p Wescott and James Mitchell, Esq, of
Portland. Mr. Wescott and Mr.. Mitchell
own a controlling interest in the stock of
the Penobscot and St Croix railroad, a
little line extending from this city to
Princeton, distance of 81 miles Last
winter the continuation of this road to a
junction with the Maine Central, thereby
giving Calais direct connection with the
outside world, was discussed as an alter
native scheme if the Washington county
charter came to grief. Now the gentle
men interested in it are understood to be
disposed to make it a part of the large
system and to raise the money for the
construction Of the new road. All these
propositions, however, are based on the
assumption that the county will vote to
take the $500, 600 of stock. The new road,
if built, will run from junction with
the Bar Harbor branch of the Maine Cen
tral to Calais, extending through the
busy coast towns of Washington county
and opening up many valuable timber
tracts which are not now operated be-
cause of the difficulty Of getting the
lumber to market. The road would be
about one hundred miles in length and
would besides serving as means of com
mercial communication give access to
many new summer resorts. The news OF
Mondays voting will be eagerly awaited
in Calais and the rest of the county.
The Ranort Was "Unauthorized."