Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-26
AN ELECTRIC ROAD.
Talk Of the Possible Line to
Lake Cobbosseecontee.
The Augusta, HaI!oweII & Gardiner Co.
Will Not Build One.
They Would Lie to Operat, However. II Il
We're Constructed.

Some arrangement might be mad
| With the Augusta, Hallowen & Gardi
ner Electric tailroad Co." said Treas
| urcr George f. Macomber Thursda,
afternoon. TO operate road to Cob
| bosscecontee in case it were built, bu
we will never on our own account built
| such a road"
This settles the question Of the build-
! ing of such a road by the company
mentioned. as it has been talked fol
months that they might possibly dc
such a thing. all without the afIirma
ton of any one of the directors or Of
ficials. The Augusta, Hallowell &
Gardiner Electric Railroad co. vii
not construct the line. but they would
not offer the least objection to its con-
struction. In fact. they would like tC
see it built. for il would furnish adj
iitional traffic over this road but they
do not car. t, undertake the construc-
ton If such line.
What would be the expense at
tendant upon III" construction ana
equipping of the line t. Cobbu 7specon-
tee" asked the journal pf this rail-
many cons tructions ~ even Tire vet
eran Amos Gerald
II should say tina; tn Gye miles OF
road all equipped and ready for the
traffic would cost about 800. 900 though
do not know but that it might be done
for $4,000 We could furnish the DOW
or and a part of the equipment in cas-.
We We're engaged to operate the road
after its construction"
Mr. Macomber says the company
cannot at present see their way clear
Ia invest 50 much money in the new
line. but they would be glad to see it
put in for the benefit to the present
one would he felt in the summer To
some extent. He says. however. that
he is skeptical about the probability Of
anyone's ever carrying through any
idea of raising money for the construc-
ton Of the line He says the subscril.-
ton for anything of the sort would be
decidedly light. Everyone would agree
that it would be a good thing. but each
and every one would feel as though ii
was a part Of the DUTY of some other
person to go ahead ana contribute
money for ii. That it would be 4 good
thing for the city If kept in operation
the citizens would agree. but the rails
ing Of the money for the plan would
be where the rub would come.
This development Of Cohbosseecon-
tee for the benefit Of Augusta has long
been theme Of discussion. All the
pros and cons have before been men
toned in the Journat Every one IN
Augusta knows Of the beauty and re-
sources of this magnificent sheet Of
water and they do not need to be re-
hcarsed at this time. That it has great
things in store in case ii could be
connected by a railroad line no one
an deny. and the city of Augusta be
ing so near would in. case Cobbossee-
by it.
Every meeting of the citizens brings
cut something Of the railroad POSSIBLE
tiles of the city. That we have many
in case the aVailab BILE capital
could he obtained is patent. No cityhas
greater If we couI,f' but build that
wheel Of railroads IF which Augusta
would be the hub, the capital city on
the kenncbcc would soon be one Of
the most important and busiest III the
whole State of Maine. Were il but
possible to make use Of that charter
10 build to Oakland and have the SOM
prset extend its road through to the
canadian Pacific. then build across -
ana thus make this sta
ton on the way of the traffic of The
canadian Pacific to an open port for
the wear around were il possible to
buiIl that road for which there is a
charter to Lewiston: We're it possible
10 build narrow guage road across -
making through line to
the Rangeleys. and We're IT possible to
do the other things talked Of there
would be no point in Maine Of 50 great
but il does not Seem To
lcok probable. even though they are all
possible.
The next best thing. then. is to use
tn. great possibility that We have in
Lake Cobbosseecontee. 50 many be
Ii.ve. The benefit Of the Belgrade
lakes to Augusta is more than many
would think. The benefit of the beau
tiful cobbosseecontrr is something.
but not what it should be.
Arson NJ. Goddard. Esq, mentioned
the possibilities Of Lake tnbbnssee-
rnntrp to the members Of the Board Of
Trad. at the banquet. last Monday
evening. He told many things that the
citizens like to hear and some they
do not. Since that time it is apparent
that Mr.. C:oddard's remarks have stir
red NJ quite Il little thinking. but
whether it has loosened the purs"
strings of the ones best fitted to talk
Of railroad matters is sttll another
Question. Certain il is. though. that
he made an impression that has caused
the benefits to be derived to be talked
over to greater extent.
The Journal had a brief talk with