The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-02-09
The Proposed Electric Railway to
Northport.

NOrthpOrt.
The Journal of Nov. 10th published an
account of the visit to Belfast OF james
Mitchell, the railroad contractor, in the in
terest of an electric road from Belfast to
Northport. After looking the ground over
Mr.. Mitchell said to the Belfast corporators
of the Waldo Street Railway Co.. who hold
a charter for an electric railway from Stock
ton Springs to Camden that che would come
here and build the road and have it in
| operation by the first of next July. If par
ties here chose to 60 in with him they could
do So Ii not, he and his friends would
build the road from the upper bridge, Bel
fast, to the South Shore Northport.' This
was of course satisfactory to the Belfast
corporators, and subsequently all the
| corporators agreed to turn the charter over
to Mr.. Mitchell, without considerations ,and to
give him all possible aid A week later the
Bangor Daily News quoted Mr.. Mitchell as
saying that "he expected to begin work in
the spring of 1899 in the construction of an
electric railway from Belfast to Northport
Camp Ground" The next move was the
following proposition from Mr. Mitchell
Memorandum of Agreement, made this
day of - 1899, between w. S. Mitchell
and John A. Mitchell, both of Portland in
the County of Cumberland and State of
Maine, parties of the first part, and the
Waldo Street Railway Company, corpora
| ton legally existing under the laws of the
State of Maine and located at Belfast in the
| County of Waldo in said State, party of the
second part.
The parties aforesaid, in consideration of
| the mutual covenants and agreements here
in contained, agree for themselves, their
heirs, executors, administrators, successors
and assigns, as follows, viz:
| The parties of the first part agree that
| they will construct an electric street rail
way on and over the highway from the post
| Office in the City of Belfast in the most di-
rect route to point in the highway opposite
the hotel at the Methodist Camp Ground in
| the town of Northporu, distance of about
| four miles, and will equip the same with the
| necessary electric machinery, appurtenanceS
and ap pllances, necessary to furnish a half
| hour service between Belfast and the Camp
| Ground aforesaid, and will have the same in
| operation on or before the first day of Sep
tember, 1899, provided no unnecessary de-
! lays occasioned III obtaining the re-
quisite consent of the municipalities for the
| laying of the tracks of said road in the high
ways and the erection of the necessary poles
| and overhead work requisite to operate the
road electrically, and that an amendment
| shall be obtained to the charter authorizing
| the dlscontinuance of the operation of the
| road during the winter months at the option
of the company, for the sum of two hundred
| thousand dollars, and will accept in full
| payment and satisfaction thereof bonds OF
the company to the amount of one hundred
| thousand dollars and capital stock in the
company of the par value of one hundred
| thousand dollars, said bonds and stock to
be paid over and delivered to the said par
ties Of the first part from time to time pro-
! portlonately in proportion to the relative
| amount of work and materials by said par
| ties of the first part furnished.
And the party of the second part agrees
that for the construction and equipment of
| the road in the manner aforesaid and at the
time before specified, it will pay to the par
ties of the first part the sum of two hundred
thousand dollars in the manner following, to
| wit: one hundred Thousand dollars thereof
in bonds of the company to be authorized and
issued by the company during the con,truc-
ton of the road, and one hundred thousand
dollars thereof in the capital stock of the
company at par, said bonds and stock to be
advanced to the parties of the first part pro
portionately, in proportion as labor and ma
terials for the construction of the road shall
have been furnished and supplied by said
parties of the first part.
, In witness thereof, the parties of the first
part have hereunto set their hands and seals
caused its corporate name to be subscribed
and its seal affixed by its President and
Treasurer, hereunto duly authorized, this
day Of 1899 This Will not become
operative until dated and signed by parties
of the first part.
Signed, sealed and delivered, in presence
Of
This proposition when submitted to the
corporators was promptly and unanimously
declined. AS business men they could not
do otherwise. They We're asked to issue
5000 600 in stocks and bonds for building four
miles of road at cost of about 100000, the
company to receive no benefit in any way or
to have any voice in its management, and
yet to be legally responsible as though full
owners and managers of the property, in
case of suits for damages etc.
Mr. Mitchell was advised that the COM
pany would secure the renewal of the char
ter with the necessary amendments and
place it at his disposal as before, but has not
replied, and a gentleman who saw him in
Augusta recently is satisfied he is not going
to accept the proposition
This of course is a disappointment, as many
had expected to ride on the electrics to
North port the coming summer; but the road
is bound to come some day, when "we'n all
take ride"
Secret Societies.