Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-05
GREAT PROSPERITY.
A New Era is Dawning for
Washington County.
People Beginning to Realize They Live
in a Rich Country.
The New Railroad to Be Running Regularly
by November.


NO section Of Maine is attracting SO
much attention just now as Washing
on county. Its development will be
with much interest by people
everywhere. The completion of the
County Railroad is near
at hand and the last rail will soon be
aid. This road will open up one of the
most fertile and promising sections Of
Maine. Already capitalists are becom-
ing interested and new industries are
soon to be located in the towns along
the line. Cherryfeld already has I'M
der consideration an offer of large
WOODEN mill on the Narraguagus river.
Ii the necessary funds can be secured,
work will be commenced on the mill a
once. A subscription paper is being
circulated among the citizens of Cher
ryfield for the purpose of raising the
money. Franklin and other towns on
the line Of the road are making efforts
to secure new industries and it looks
now as if these efforts would be sue
cessful
Not alone Washington county but
the whole of eastern Maine is to re-
ceive new life from this road. Stretch
ing east 800 miles from Ellsworth to
PASSPORT. it opens up fine tract of I'M
developed land such as one seldom
finds hereabouts. These towns and
hamlets have always been shut out
from the world during the winter sea-
son, so to speak. Now all is to be
changed. That the people of Washing
ton county appreciate the value of the
road to them is shown by the fact
that they have taken 100000 worth of
stock in the company. The company
has ample financial backing, the prin-
cipal promoter being none other than
John G. Moore, one of the wealthiest
bankers of the metropolis, who, by the
way, is a native of Steliben Mr.
Moore takes a pardonable pride in his
native county and is doing all in his
power to secure the best POSSIBLE ser
vice for the people along the route.
Water power for running numerous
mills is found in nearly every village.
AT Cherryfield a movement is on foot
to utilize this vast power which has for
years been going to waste. It is pro-
posed to build series of dams and
thus guarantee an even flow of water
all the year around. The board Of
trade of this hustling little village has
numerous other projects under con-
sideration. Already Ellsworth and
Bangor have begun to feel the effects
of the opening of this vast territory
in increased trade. 1t means a great
deal to Bangor as the ma jority of the
trade will go there. Ellsworth lost an
excellent opportunity to secure the
western terminus of the road. In all
likelihood the trains of the Washington
County Railroad will now run through
to Bangor. from Washington Junction.
without stopping. If such is the case
Ellsworth will receive very little BEN
eft.
Considerable talk has been made that
the road would be continued through to
Castine. This seems very plausible
scheme but at present amounts to
nothing more than talk. Castine would
afford an open port in winter. It's har-
Dor being of ample capacity for the
largest ships. 1t was also proposed to
build branch to Bluehill, one of the
prettiest summer resorts on the Maine
coast. Now comes rumor to the eff
feet that an electric road is to be built
from Winter HarbOr, through Goulds-
boro, to connect with the Washing
ton County road. Mr.. Moore and ].
Sears have the project
under consideration and if they are
favorably impressed, the road will be
built in the near future. There are
rs, 900 people in Washington county and
they are just waking up to the fact
that they are living in one of the best
regions Of the State.
But the boom for Washington coun-
ty won't be confined to the building of
huge industries. There is going to be
a scramble for available sites on which
to build summer homes. Already
there are some fine ones in the county.
One of the most beautiful summer
houses in Maine is that of John G.
Moore. the banker heretofore mention
ed. Mr.. Moore's cottage is at Grind
stone. near Gouldsboro, and is on
high bluff commanding a wide view OF
the ocean. "Far-From- The Wolf is
the name of this most beautiful of
homes. The name has refer
ence to Wall street. where Mr.. Moore's
banking business is situated MIR.
Moore is the head of the banking firm
of Moore, Schley & Co. Every inch of
the surrounding country is sacred to
Mr.. Moore. Born in Steuben, he at
tended school at Bucksport and Cher
ryfield academies, and then entered the
store of Whiting Brothers in this city.
He served as a clerk at 4 salary of
81 a week. Such is the early start Of
one of New York's wealthiest men.
To get back to railroad talk, the
road is now nearly finished. The rails
are down all except a few miles be-
tween Cherryfield and PASSPORT. and
-hese will go down in a few days. The
is pretty well compiled. The
stations are almost all either in process
Of erection or are completed. p. II.
5tratton of Ellsworth, has the contract
FOR the station at Washington june
ion Mr.. Stratton has already built
seven of the stations. besides the turn
ables at each end of the line. He will
commence work on the
station at the junction.
The engineers are in hopes to have
he trains running on regular schedule
line by the first of November. The
.unning of the first regular train will