Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-12
wit sulLo, ms SUMNER.
Plins Tor Three knrow Guage Railroads 10
J0ln Drives.

.Jotn Drives.
Wr.N
It il considered almost settled thing
that some move will be made to make
an extension of the Wiscasset *
Quebec road by which Waterville will
have communication by water with the
outside world for IL months in the
year. This was the statement of one of
the interested parties who was in the
city. yesterday.
A move of that kind was started, two
years ago. when a corporation was
formed to build railroad from Wa
terville to Weeks Mills. A corporation
was formed, stock subscribed, and. in
fact. the last brick put in place, it
seemed, to complete the structure.
The city Of Waterville had subscribed
for $4,000 worth of stock and in addi-
tion to that private individuals had
subscribed stock enough to secure the
road being built The people of Water
willie acted in good faith and con-
tract was made with the Richmond K
Potomac Construction Co. This COM
pany commenced work on the road ana
two piers were built on the east side
of the river.
At the same time this work was go
ing on the legislators were at work Sc
curing an extension of the charter OF
the Waterville & Weeks Mills road. so
that the company might have the right
to build the road, this year. Although
the railroad company kept its part OF
the contract, the construction company
got tired of it's work, after building two
piers for the bridge across the kenne-
bee to rest on, and stopped work.
Since then several things have trans
pired that are to the advantage OF the
road. Leonard Atwood, who has had
varying success in building the Frank
lin, Somerset & Kennebec road. which
he planned to extend toward Water
VILE from Pennington, has been at
work on that road, and has made a
survey over the uncompleted portion OF
the line from Pennington to Oakland.
The charter of the Waterville & Wis
casset Road gives the right to build
to Oakland, so that is all that is nee
essary to make a combination of those
two roads.
In the meantime the trustees of the
Wisca sset & Quebec Road. looking into
the financial condition of that road,
made a move to foreclose on the bonds
OF that road and the preliminary steps
were taken The final action of the
trustees Of the road will be taken IN
July. In the meantime the Waterfalls
Trust Co, the trustees of the Wiscas-
get & Quebec road, have placed G. L.
Farley in charge of the road, and he
il now looking after the affairs of the
company.
With the three roads in this Condl-
ton. neither able to pay running eX-
penses of itself. the plan has been
formed to unite them and thus form
paving corporation by simply building
the connecting link from Weeks NILS
to oakland, distance of perhaps ~
miles.
On account of the financial condition
Of the Wiscasset x Quebec Road. 1T IL
not possible for any move to be made
at the present time. The Waterville
Trust Co. 1t is stated by those who
are in a position to know. are in favor
Of making the consolidation of the
three roads, and this the Journals in
formant states, will probably be car
ried out, some time during the coming
summer.
1t is stated by some of those who
have closely followed the matter. that
the new venture will prove a success.
According to the charter of the Water
willie & Weeks Mills Road. the road
must be built, this year. as the charter
then runs out and there IS but slight
hope that the charter can ever be re-
newed without a great deal of opposi-
ton, now that the purposes of the pro-
moters are known.
There has been a move for som"
time to carry this scheme into effect
and the head men of the three roads
have been together much. At the last
conference, 1t is stated. it was agreed
to make no further move in the road
until the foreclosure process took place.
Then. it is stated. Mr.. Atwood, who
himself has had in charge the construc-
ton of the Franklin, Somerset & Ken
nebeC road. will build not only his own
road, but also the branch from Water
VILE to Weeks Mills.
Should this scheme be carried out. it
is stated. WisCasset would be the har-
Dor and final opening for all of the
in Franklin county.
Those who are on the inside of the
plan say that there is slight question
in their minds that the road will be
built, or. at least, some move viii be
made toward the construction of the
link that. will make strong chain of
narrow guage railroads.