Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-04-18

were many anticipa tons Of the good il
would do us. But as soon as it seemed
likely the Fond brook route would be
chosen. there was a general sense Of
disappointment and an equally general
feeling that little benefit would be
given US by such line. Should we
even now learn that the Franklin {,
kennebcc approach through Kennedy
brook valley wee selected there
would be a universal revival of former
hope and confidence.
Why is thso
IecauSe Augusta cannot grow up
the narrow ravine Of Bond brook. It's
natural and only line of expansion on
the west side is down the broad river
valley toward HallowelI. with which
city it should sometime be united
toward Hallowell. along or parallel to
the electric road. in the part of the
city nearest the granite quarrics. the
resorts ut Cobbossee and the direct
path to Winthrop. That is where our
, future increase in population and
taxable property must be- il 1t is to
be at ali: and that is where any steam
communication with the country west
of us must come in II we are to profit
fully by it.
1t is said the grades are too steep
in that direction. The Franklin & Ken
| nehec surveyors did not find them 50:
and though of course a standard
gauge line cannot climb as narrow
gauge line can. yet whatever the
| Franklin &. Kenncbcc could go over
the Maine Central ought TO go through.
| But suppose the great corporation
says, What are you going to do about
| it?" or says nothing at all?
| | must confess am surprised at the
supineness of our citizens in this mat
| ter. The seriousness of the situation
! is not understood. The people I talk
with speculate idly about the Maine
| tcntrarS purpose or lack Of purpose
just as if it were no concern of theirs
and had no possible bearing upon their
interests Why can they not see that
! this line must not be built where il
affords the city no opportunity for
growth and offers no good communica-
ton with anything Of use to it. beca
there will never be any competing line
| in that direction when this branch is
once built. and all chance of amend
ing matters will be lost forever? And
can they not understand that an even
worse state Of affairs will be set up If
there never is any branch built at a..
but il the perpetual threat of building
one deters men who really mean buSi-
ness from carrying out their enter
prises? In my opinion Augustus fu-
ture prosperity has never been in
more danger than now since the
Spragucs failed-and it is time to do
| something about it.
Tho question Will probably be
asked: What can be done?"
There are plenty Of things that can
10 done. but this letter is already too
long to permit me to speak OF them at
| this time. Perhaps. too. ! may have
been doing our Maine Central friends
an injustice. and they will be found
perfectly willing and even anxious to
| accommodate us in every conceiNabi"
way But that is something we must
| find out Augusta has never received
2uy favors from the Maine Central IN
| the pest nor does she expect any.
| either now or in time to come. she
! does however. have a right to expect
that this great corporation VIII nave
an enlightened regard for its own IN
terest in this vicinity. which can
best he forwarded by forwarding her
interests along With them and TINS Is
| vhy | have cnieavored to point out
wherein it appears to be wanderihe
away from it's proper course ana 'his
is also why all citizens should wax
up and act Let them act through
their city government. or act tnrougE
their board of trade. or call pubic
meeting and act through themselves
but at any rate let them act somehow
and insist upon having hand II
sharing their OWN destinies.
AUGUSTAN.