The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-22
WIsCAssET AND QUEBEC.
Hearing Before the Commissioners
Saturday.

Important Meeting at West End Hotel
Large Turn Out Of Railroad Men-In-
+sresttng Statistics characterization
Reserved.
At the West End Hotel, Saturday, the
Railroad Commissioners held hearing
on the question of the crossing of the
Wisoasset and Quebec and Maine Central
railroads at Burnham. The full board
was present. Hon. E. F. Webb, of Water
vile, appeared for the Maine Central, and
Judge W. C. Philbrook of Waterville,
for the Wiscasset and Quebec, Hon. q.
e. Littlefeld, OF Rockland, and j. W.
Manson, of Pittsfield, for the contractor,
Mr.. Martin.
General Manager Evans, of the Maine
Central, and ManagerEFogg, of the Wis
oasses and Quebec were present.
Judge Warren c. Philbrook, general
counsel for the Wiscasset and Quebec road,
opened the case, saying that his railroad
had filed location, duly sanctioned by
the county commissioners. This location
contemplates grade crossing..of the Boil
fast branch of the Maine Central. The
Wisoasset road is graded on both sides Of
the Maine Central, and this grading is
done for crossing at grade. The Maine
Central, in a friendly way through their
engineers, have suggested a plan for a
crossing In another way than at grade.
The Maine Central plan involves the
sacrifice OF much work already done, the
giving up Of land already bought and
paid for, and the giving up OF the station
location in Burnham. More than all,
such a change would cause great delay
o. time. which is now of the greatest i'm
portancs.
Mr.. Fred j. Illsley, of Portland, the
civil engineer, was the first witness
Two plans were proposed by the
Maine Central in lieu of the cross
iag at grade. In each it was necessary
to leave the way already graded for some
distance, and by making a bend go over
the Maine Central tracks. The cost of
the least expensive of these two plans,
called "line c." was estimated at the fol-
lowing expense
$50 yards masonry, S6,140
1889 yards EN- barkment, 4,S32
1850 feet of track to be abandoned, 1900
IN foot span, 600
8 0O6 wards, COY
acres of land, 300
Total 1879
Thes other plan. called cline A" was
cen more. expensive, the items being as
follows:
800 yards of masonry, $500
$4,000 yards I'll at 40 cents, IA, 400
acres of land. 200
$500 feet of abandoned track, 1900
80 foot bridge, 600
Total, s24, 200
The present location, could not, in Mr.
Ilsley's opinion, be changed to overhead
crossing except at greater expense than
required In line C.
On Cross examination Mr. Webb asked
what the expense would be II trestle
were-substit for the masonry and fill.
Mr.. Ilsley replied that it would be about
cost $4,000. The remaining sums would
be required for fills, 1907, bridge 5000,
land $s65. The trestlelwould have to be
about $50 feet long.
Witness said he had made no estimate
for the Wiscasset ana Quebec to go under
the Maine Central as he did not think it
feasible. As to the crossing proposed in
slime c." 1t would involve pretty sharp
curves, especially for standard gauge
line.
On redirect examination, Mr.. Ilsley
said that the life of trestle such as Mr..
Webb proposed would be from ten to six
teen years. To construct an overhead
crossing on "line Co would require nm.
der most favorable conditions twenty-five
days.
Two per cent grades and twelve degree
curves such as the crossing would require
are rare outside of the mountains, and
ought TO be avoided wherever possible
1t was possible to get over such grades
and curves but not to haul much
General Manager Fogg, of the W. & O.. j.,
next stated that his road had made con
tract for completing its line frem Albion
to P ttsfeld. That contract was made on
the location made about four years ago.
The contract was based on the completion
of the line from Albion to Pittsfield In as
good shape as that part already construct
ed. In Letting that contract neither an
over nor under crossing was anticipated
at Burnha1n. But the terms of the con-
tract were ssuch that whatever expense
should be awarded to the Wisca sset &
Quebec would fell to the contractors.
these contractors are to get only stock
and bonds for their work. In ten DAYS
they can get their track laid and balIasted
into Burnbam. But as the season is late
it Is very necessary that there be no com
,eAe AMT FR