Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-08
BENTON ELECTRIC RAILROAD.
Substantial New Road Opened to PubIic-MiII
Do Large Freight BUSINESS.

Benton, Me-. Dec. 7.-(SpeciaD. The
Road connecting Benton and Benton
Falls was run over the line, today, the
distance being made in something like
Is minutes.
No attempt was made to push the
car at higher rate of speed through
it was fully evident to those on the car
that there would not have been the
slightest difficulty in running the car
al a much higher rate of speed than the
car was run, this morning. The car
ran over the entire line without the
slightest hitch of any kind and since
the car was first started the line has
been steadily in operation.
The start, this morning, was made at
$50, the car being under the charge of
Bert Shorey as motorman. Among
those who We're on the car were MesSrs.
Heath and Mansfield and Mr.. Mace the
superintendent of the car service on the
Waterville and Fairfield Line. There
were something like 80 passengers on
the first trip.
The car in use on the line is the Car
No 4, which was formerly in use on
the Waterville and Fairfield Line,
which has been fitted up especially for
the line on which it is being used. AL
though the car is small! it is thought it
will be fully large enough for the ac-
commodation of the patrons of the
line.
1t is the plan to have the cars start
on the even hour from the Benton end
and on the half hour from the Benton
Falls end of the line. The car is TO be
run on the bob tail car plan, that IS
the car will be in charge of the motor
man. The fares are to be dropped INTO
the box by the passengers and VIII not
be collected by a conductor.
While the lire is to have passenger
cars it is built primarily for the use of
the Somerset Fibre Co. in shipping
goods from one mill to the other This
work has in the past been done by
means of teams. In the spring of the
wear the travelling has been so bad
that this method of doing business has
been found too expensive ana the
Electric line was built. The road is
wholly over the company own lahd
and in only few places does the line
come into the highway. The road IS
of the standard guage width ana IS
built in such a substantial manner that
it is heavy enough for freight cars. 1t
is the plan of the company to load the
freight cars on it's own line from which
place they will be placed on the line
of the Maine Central and the manu-
featured products thus shipped away
without the necessity for transfer
from one line to the other.
A freight electric locomotive has been
ordered from Portland and was
Skinned. today, so the management has
received word. The locomotive Will be
placed on the line. tomorrow. and the
traffic be commenced. This locomotive
will be one of the first in use in this
part of the State.
The line is not built after the manner
of the usual Electric Car lines but has
been carefully graded and has as solid
a foundation as any steam car llne.
The rails are as heavy as those used
on a steam railroad. In fact the whole
line is built for service
Through the line the people OF Benton
Falls will be given a chance to buS
their goods as cheaplt as the people IN
Wateryille and Fairfield and will have
fully as large stock to select fpm. IN