Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-11-28
on STEAM AND sIREeJ RMLR0ADs.
Rspors BY Commissioners on improvements
Ind Bridges and General cskdiiion.

The reports Of the railroad commits
sioners on the several steam and
street railroads in the State, which
are made from examinations required
hy law, contain in part as follows:
Maine Central: Roadbed and track
all in excellent condition, comparing
favorably with any in the country A
double track has been extended from
Yarmouth Junction to Freeport. or
port speaks well of the condition of
tracks, bitches. etc. Regarding bridges
it comments on them as being second
to none in the country, especially so
as to it's large bridges. There is only
one wooden bridge. that at Gardiner.
which is in excellent condition. The
bridge at Auburn and Lewiston, in
jured in the March freshet has been
put in better condition than ever.
That at Cumberland Mills has been
IT rtplaced by one of the best steel bridges
in the country set on masonry, doing
away with grade crossing. The rolling
stock is of the best, giving comfort
and convenience, and the station build
ings well kept, and models of their
kind.
Boston & Maine: Roadbed excellent
! y,itt frct clocc nrcommOda tiOnS and
motive power, the latter including some
recent additions in heavy locomotives.
Bangor & Aroostook: Roadbed and
track from Old Town to Caribou in ex-
cellent condition. the entire track be-
ing now laid with seventy pound four
and one-haf by four and one-half
steel rails, good ties. and a good sup
ply of ballast. The Ashland branch,
opened last January, has lighter rail,
but is well ballasted, and in good line
and surface.
On the Bangor & Piscataquis divis-
Improvements, in the line of cleaning
cut and ditching, and placing of new
ties, rails and ballast. New side track
has been laid to the extent of 1900
feet. The bridges are substantial,
many being of first class steel and ma
sonry. On the B. &. p. division two
bridges. at Old Town. have been re-
placed with new steel plate girders
resting on masonry
The rolling stock is in generally fine
condition, six new locomotives. and ten
passenger cars having been purchased
during the past year. Two of the old
locomotives have been rebuilt. The
| stations are convenient, and we'll
| adapted to the demand on them. A
station has been erected at Milo and
freight stations at Brownville juno
ticn, Sangerville. Blanchard and Sher-
man. A large number have been over
hauled, and put in good condition. A
fine new terminal yard has been es-
tabIished at Old Town.
| heIHeDec central. kOauDed IN good
line and repair. bridges we'll lookei
after and substantial, and rolling stock
and stations in first class condition of
repair and neatness.
Grand Trunk: Roadbed and track
maintained in excellent condition.
Considerable new rails and ballast
have been added. Bridges mostly sub
stantial structures. with some light for
heavy loads, but safe for rolling stock
in use by the railroad. The pile bridge
at Norway has been rebuilt The pas
senger cars have been painted the
standard Pullman green, and are gen.
orally improved in appearance
| Canadian Pacific: Roadbed and roll
| ing stock well looked after, with some
improvements.
Inc report speaks highly of the other
roads of the State, noting improve
ments in Bddeford & Saco, Sebasti-
cook & Moosehead ST. Croix & Penob-
scot, Bangor. o. & O. T.. Somerset r.
r., Sandy River Phillips & Rangeley,
Monson r. r.. Franklin & Megantic.
Wiscasset & Quebec and Portland &
Rochester.
Street Railroads.