Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-01
A BIG SCHEME.
Watervilie Wants Pennington Railroad to
Connect With Wiscasset B. Quebec.

the thoughts of possible railroad from
Watervile to Weeks Mills, there Is
still deeper plan in the minds OF some
of the prominent railroad men IN the
State, by which the proposed ROAD
from F'armi ngton to Augusta VIII not
run to Augusta. but to this city
The above is the substance Of the
plan as outlined by a prominent rail
road man, Saturday, TO Journal re-
polter. ON account of the position
which the man holds he does not care
to have his name used but there Is
eevry assurance that the conversation
the man made was not the result OF a
trance or an idle fancy. He then went
on to speak of the plans which some 81
the promoters had in mind and which
will probably be carried through If th=
road is built from this city 10 Weeks
Mills.
Ut is the desire of the men having
control of the narrow guage system OF
railroads in the upper part of the
State, to have some outlet by which the
goods shipped over their lines may be
+ taken to Il seaport without their being
rehandled. To accomplish this purpose
the plan of having the road run to Gar
diner or Augusta has been advanced.
Should the road run TO Gardiner !.
would he possible to ship the goods
only during the summer. spring and
fall tor the reason that the kennebec
is closed To navigation during the win
ter should the road run to Augusta
IL would be necessary 10 transfer the
goods from the narrow guagc road 10
IN n
road.
Another objection 10 these two plans
is hat while the charters have been
granted TO extend the roads TO the
places named the expense IF running
the railroad to these places would b..
very great. While Augusta has Voted
to take $4,000 worth of stock. that $40
060 would hardly pay n third Gf the
cost 81 extending the read 70 that
place Should the road run TO Angus
Ia il would 4e necessary for the build
ers To make q letter : with me tracks
in going around Lake Maranoc0ok. II
Is an assured thing that the road is TO
run to New Sharon, rs a crew Of men
are already ut work on that part of the
railroad and timber is being prepared
for building trestles and stations along
the linz.
The distance in round numbers from
New Sharon TO this city it 80 miles
while from New Sharon to Caroline:
the distance is 30 miles. Since thu
cost. roughly estimated. Of building a
road IL $4,000 a mile, the money which
Augusta has voted to appropriate IS
barely a drop in the bucket. P'''
30, he do =
the promoters of the road TO extend
the line to some place where the goods
may he shipped by water Should tn.
narrow guage road be built rom this
city to Wiscasset there is but little
qut stinn but what the read from Far
mington win be nded 10 khis city
as in this manner the goods may BE
shipped To seaport town without the
goods being changed from narrow
To broad guaCo cars.
Another thing, the cost Of running
the road to this city will be much less
than the cost of running to either Au-
gusta or Gardiner where in one case
the goods will have To he transferred
to cars on a broad guage road that
they may he shipped where they will
find an outlet to a seaport town at all
seasons Of the year and on the other
hand whore the seaport shipments will
be closed during three months Of the
year At least.
In further conversation the man said
thnt the plan was to run boat from
New York to Wiscasset at all seasons
of the year. having her make one stop
at BoOthbay Harhor at certain seasons
of the year.