Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-18
RAILROADS or OXFORD COUNTY
prom report Of railroad commissioners o.
Maine for isnJ
THE RuMFoRD FALLS AND RANGELEr
LANES RAILROAD.

THE RuMFoRD FALLS AND RANGELEr
LAKES RAILROAD.
This road extends from Rumford Falls
to point on the Rangeley I.akes known
as Bemls Stream. It Is practically an
extension OF the Portland and Rumford
Falls Railway, aud Ii now operated as
far as the station known as Houghton's,
distance of eighteen miles. This part
Of the line Is very well built, with
good road-bed aud track, well-ballasted,
In good line surface, and rides remarks
ably well for new line. The steel
bridge oyer the Androscoggiu River at
Rumford Falls Ia hrst-class, modern
structure; the trestle of wood Is well
built and In the best condition. The
bridges on the line are Of wood, OF good
design, well built, with good margin
Of safety. At present It Is being operat-
ed by the Portland aud Rumford Falls
Railway, which furnishes all the equip
ment. The track IL laid to point about
six miles beyond Houghton's, and 1t Is
the intention Of the company to finish 1t
to Bemis Stream to be ready for opera
ton quite early In the season Of 1896.
THE NORWAY AND PARIS STREET RAIL
ROAD.
This line connects the two thriving
yillsges Of South Paris and Norway, a
distance OF two and one-quarter miles.
The road. bed and track are In first-class
condition, In good line and surface. IL
| IL we'll built In all respects. The bridges
over which the liue runs were strength
| encd during the progress OF construction
so they are safe to carry all the loads
that can be required OF them. The
rolling stock Is new and up TO date 10 all
respects.
GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY.
The road bed and track OF this railway
| within the limits Of the state, including
the Lewiston and Auburn and Norway
branches, are In excellent condition.
The road-bed Il well ditched and drain
ed. The track Is in good line and SUR
| face and well ballssted. Two miles OF
new sixty-five pound steel rails and
forty-four thousand and ninety-three
new ties have been laid, aud twelve
thousand and eighty cubic yards OF
ballast have been used during the year.
The pile bridges at Portland and Nor
way are In good condition. The other
large bridges are all iron, are In good
condition. and safe for the loads In use
on this railway, although some are not
such structures "a would be needed for
modern equipments and loads now In
general use on other first class railroads.
The masonry nj Cobbs' bridge has been
rebuilt and il now In first-clsss condi.
ton. The culverts are well constructed
and In good order, two having been re-
built during the year.
The rolling stock, though not new, Is
maintained In good running order. The
stations. though mostly old, are kept 10
good repair.
PORTLAND Il RUMroRD FALLS RAIL
This railway connects with the Maine
Central Railroad ut Poland Springs
Junction In the city OF Auburn, and ex'
tends Westerly and Nortberly TO Rum.
ford Falls, connecting with the Grand
Trunk Railway ut Mechanic Falls.
The road-bed and track are maintained
In good condition. Two and half
miles Of track at Buckdeld and Sumner
have been mrcn iupfONcu, TIC "iknm'"'
corrected, curvature and grades reduced
and the whole put in first class condi.
ton. One mile of track has been relaid
with seventy-pouud steel rails, nearly
eleven thousand new ties have been laid
aud about eight thousand cubic yards oil
ballast have been used during the yesr
The wooden bridges at Allen, Buck.
field and Sumner have been replaced
with substantial steel girders upon
excellent masonry, so there Is now only
one long wooden bridge left upon the
line. This Is a strong trestle bridge
perfectly safe for travel. Five OF the
smaller bridges have new and substan-
tisl iloors, eleven OF the open culveri'
have been replaced with Iron pipe and
earth embankments.
The rolling stock Is Ia good condition
two new locomotives, two tirst-ciass
passenger cars, and one combination car
having been purchased during the year
The stations are in good order and con-
veuient for the patrons OF the road.