Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-10

and it has been estimated that this in.
crease is not less than ten per cent on the
total outlay for construction Of railroads.
The railroad may justly claim to be one
of the most signal instruments, perhaps
tion which the history of the world has
yet developed.
But to return to the pith of the matter.
The Union Pacific is no direct benefi,
to Augusta. Nor are the railroads in
Massachusetts,. Nor is the railroad from
Lewiston to Wateryille, nor is the much
ridiculed Wiscassett & Quebec. On the
contrary, while they doubtless benefit
their own localities they are direct injury
to the trade of Augusta 1t is fact con
ceded by all that upon the opening of the
back route to Wateryille we lost q large
amount OF business which had annually
come to us from the towns lying along
its route. 1t is fact no less patent that
our trade on the east is to be seriously
cut into.
Among all the schemes which have been
preached, the one at present meeting with
the most favor is that of the direct con-
nect1on of Augusta on the east with Cam
den, and on the west with Lewiston. And
1t seems to me that the accomplishment
of this plan is the thing to which we as
board of trade should devote our best en-
ergies. The total length Of road so con-
structed would BE- about seventy miles.
The cost of building STANDARD guage) and
providing for an independent equipment
would be 81, 5000 But the actual
cost of equipment, in case the road were
built, would be materially reduced by act
ing in conjunction with other roads to
which this road would be an important
tributary
Can the necessary funds be raised is the
all absorbing question. l believe they can
IL Augusta Will do her part. And / be-
lieve her part is $780, 600. As a young
man, with fair prospect of continuing in
business in Augusta for the next twenty
five years, would be willing to assume
my proportionatc part of the burden of in
creased taxation. if the city would vote to
guarantee the interest on 500, 600 worth of
bonds. This road would it seems to me-
be certain and direct source of income
to the city, an income many times in ex-
cess OF the amount necessary to raise each
year to meet our obligation. We would not
only succeed in holding our eastern trade
and recovering much Of the trade on the
west which we have lost during he past
few years, but we would lessen our rates
of freight by ~ cents per hundred (Sl50
per tom which item alone would mean
m actual direct saving to our business men
of 500, 900 per year. This seems at first
sight to be fanciful, but it is based upon
the absolute fact of our business in 1894
Tor A cfn off owl 70 s,,tr
agreement of this kind? l should say,
rather, can Augusta afford to let this op-
portunity go by, even though it were
necessary to bring our municipal valua-
ton up to our assessed State valuation,
in order not to exceed our debt limit l
say, no.
But suppose conservatism to be safer
pilot in this case; is it not the part of wis
dom to make for port in time of storm?
Should we not at least make an effort to
keep intact the trade which we now en-
joy, and upon which, it seems to me- we
are absolutely dependent for the continu-
ance of our commercial prosperity.
If it seems best to make a move in the
right direction, why not begin by build
ing road toward tho rising sun, which
shall be to the Wiscasset & Quebec and all
others a warning that we are ready to
dispute with them our right to the COM
meroe of that section. 1t can be demon
strated beyond the shadow of a doubt that
our neglect to cope with the emergency
now arising means the certain loss to us
Of many hundreds of thousands of dollars
each year; while a step in the right di-
rection means not only the security of
what we now have, but an assurance Of il
crease, proportionate 20 the improved IA
cilities of transportation. The fact that
Augusta is a good market has not escaped
the shrewdncss of the eastern farmers and
tradesmen. Any one acquainted in that
section knows that they are not looking
forward with pleasure to the transfer of
their commercial relations to points at
either terminus of the Wiscasset q Que
bee. But SO sure as we fail to show al
of the business advantages
we have in that locality, even so certain
Is it that the trade will unconsciously slip
away from U.S. and follow the line of tho
new railroad.
Vastly important is it that Augusta
should be put on an equal basis with
Portland, Lewiston ANA Bangor; but Of
vastly more consequence is it that We do
not allow ourselves to sink in commercial
until we shall find ourselves on
/ level with towns which now are envious |