The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-22

ties interested. Among the towns ar
Mexico, Andoyer, Peru, Norway and Mil
ton plantation. There Is also petition
from Bolster, Snow & Co., and twenty or
thirty other Portland firms representing
S., 900, 600 or "a, 900, 600 of capital. Then
the petitioners put in copies of the action
of Woodstock, Andover, Hanover, Milton
plantation, Mexico and Rumford in
STRUGGLING the selectmen or citizens to ap-
pear and urge the granting of the loca-
tion.
R. l.. Melcher of Andover, was the first
man in favor of the road and q town
meeting had instructed him and Mr..
Poor to appear. AS 1t was now, the cost
of freighting was SO great as to preclude
the introduction of new industries The
line would, from figures prepared by Mr..
Meloher, open up an area of 70,92O acres
of timberland, including 81 600, coo feet
of spruce and II, 600, coo feet of hard wood,
along the line of the Andover branch.
This stumpage is almost worthless today,
but it is estimated that with railroad it
would be worth $3.50, 900. Besides this,
said Mr.. Meleher, assurances had been
given By several wealthy gentlemen that
if road was built they would come into
the town and build summer residences,
On cross examination, in answer to
questions by Mr.. Bisbee, BIr. Melcher
said the Ellis river ran through Andover
and into the Androscoggin nine miles
from Rumford Falls. This is drivable
for lumber part of the year.
Mr.. Meleher on cross examination YVES
asked many question designed to show
that the lumber could be foated down to
Rumford Falls.
State Senator o. B. Poor of Andover,
spoke of the attractions for summer
visitors there. Now, however, the new
road to Bemis was diverting this traffic
owing to the objection visitors had to a
twenty mile stage drive after long ride
in the cars. The new line would also
open up territory for tourists and q
valuable logging region in the vicinity of
Enrol. The amount of freighting done
there is shown by the fact that at one
point recently Mr.. Poor saw nine six
horse teams and was told that in addition
thirty-hv horses were stabbed there the
night before. Mr.. Poor said that farm
products were now nearly worthless,
owing to the cost of getting them out.
He thought railroad would add fifty Per
cent to the value of the farms 1t would
in his opinion make possible the growing
of corn for canning purposes.
Mr.. Bisbee's cross-examination brought
out that travellers could go to the lake
regions by rail through Rumford Falls
and then by steamer both ways, but he
thought that many would prefer the
drive from Andover. The supplies Of the
Berlin Mills company, the heaviest opera
tor in the numbering district, he admitted
would not go by way of Andover.
Mr.. George L. Smith of Hanover one
of the gentlemen selected to represent
that town, and an ex-member of the
legislature, said that railroad passing
near his town would benefit manufacture
ing there. There is valuable water
power in the town which it is believed
could be utilized if the road was built 1t
road would make the town one of the best
points in tae state. Wealthy men have
said they would build club house there
If the railroad is constructed.
Mr.. Bisbee said that Hanover is a town
that is out of debt with money ut interest.
Mr. Littlefeld remarked that there were
no lawyers there.
Mr. Gp0roa A Viroir Of Honouar en- 4
that his town was handicapped, being
seven miles from the Grand Trunk and
said that it was found impossible to do
manufacturing there except in a local
way. Only a tenth part of the water
power is now used, and the amount of
the power could be greatly increased if
necessary. There are seven mills in
Hanover, a grist mill and carding mill,
the rest being wood working mills. They
are all located within third of a mile of
esch other.
At certain tin es in the year, the town
is isolated for several weeks owing to the
fact that the streams and roads are i'm
passable. All products sent to the Grand
Trunk have to be ferried over the Andros-
coggin. The new road would go within
mile and half of Hanover village.
Mr.. Byron futile, who drives stage
from Rumford Falls and Bryant's Pond,
said that during the past summer he had
averaged fifty passengers a week eacn
way. As many mora went by private
and stable teams. In the spring and fall
there was difficulty in crossing the ferries.
In the beg inning of the development Of
Runford Falls the passenger traffic was
twice as heavy. Mr.. Tuttle formerly
drove four horse stage to Andover and
before the building of the Rangeley Lakes
road carried an average of ten passengers
day each way. This he should judge
was two-thirds of the whole. There was
then good express business, SO large
that the charges averaged SIS day. In
answer to Mr.. Bisbee, Mr.. Tuttle said
that before ne stopped driving to Andover
after the construction of the new road he