Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-09

Ardover and Rangeley Lakes RAilroaf
Company, 70 b0lld q railroad from bry
ants Pond 10 Rumford Falls ovsr sab
stantiaily The same route pfoposod 10 tht
location now asked for. The Intention
! undoubtedly Was TO eventually construct
branches through the town Of Andovel
to the lake., because from the legislat
ure then In session certain legislation
was obtained, looking to this purpose.
By Chapter 34s Of the Private and
Special Laws Of 1887 the above named
company WAS authorized 10 make traf.
DC contract with the Grand Trunk Rail-
way Of Canada, and 70 Issue it, bonds
for the purpose Of constructing said
road. IL was, however, provided by the
same act that the powers granted should
not be exercised prior 70 January lat, A.
ID. 1888, and not then II the Rumford
Falls and Buckiield Railroad Company,
then having its terminus at Canton,
should extend its railroad to Rumford
Falls before the lst day OF January, 1SSS
This act was approved March nth, 1887
By the following act OF the same wear,
approved the same day, chapter 249, II
WAS enacted ~ follows:
The Rumfori Falls and BuckAeld Railroad Co.,
or any corporation creanise.i with IL consent e
extend said railroad from Canton 20 Rumfor'i
Falls. and through the towns OF Andover, Rox
bury or Byron. 20 the lakes, or 20 any point be-
tween Canton aud the Aforesaid points, may
lease its railroad. or make any sramc contract
with, or obtain guaranty Of 10 bonds from any
other railroad corporation. and secure the same
by mortgage Of IL property and franchises"
BY the first act the legislature DELHI
ately denied the powers asked for by the
proposed road from Bryant's Pond II the
Rumford Falls and Bucktield road should
be extended to Rumford Falls by Janu.
ary lst, A. ID. 1888; aud by chapter 2l9
the Legislature as deliberately granted the
same rights Internationally to the Rum
ford Falls and Buckfield road. Thus plain
lv did the legislature declare that II the
Rumiord Falls and Buckfeld road should
be extended to Rumford Falls II should
rot by any legislative act be hampered by
any competing line into the same territory
without Its consent. And by chapter 2i9
Ii seemed TO have been implied that any
corporation organized to extend rail-
road into Andoyer, Roxbury or Byron 70
the lakes, should do 80 only with the
consent Of the Rumiord Falls and Buck
field railroad. The legislature practi-
cslly invited the Ramford Falls and
Buckfield Railroad to extend Its rail-
road to Rumford Falls, and by plain
implication pledged the latter railroad
that In consideration OF such extension
the state would not allow another CON-
psny to build into the territory north
If Rumford Falls without its consent.
The Rumford Falls and Buckfleld road
has been leased to the Portland and
Rumford Falls Railway, which succeeds
10 all its rights, and which has extended
its line TO Rumiord Falls under this Inn
piled contract by the state.
The board Of railroad commissioners
IL the agent Of the state, and Ia author
ized to grant charters under certain con-
dltious imposed by the legislature. II
we should now authorize another COM
psny TO build road into this territory
we should regard II a. Nat violation Of
the implied contract 40 deliberately made
by the legislature on behalf OF the state.
IL IL IL thought that the legislature
will now disturb such vested rights ~
are here apparent, and allow another
company TO build competing railroad
the territory into which the
Portland and Rumford Falls Railroad
was practically invited for the express
and stated purpose Of diverting traffic;
application can be easily made for that
purpose.
We should not feel justified In doing
it. We therefore do not approve OF the
location asked for, aud we find that pub
lie convenience does not require the con-
structlon Of the proposed road.