Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-19
RAILROAD CHAT.
thoughts Aroused by Recent
somerset Railroad Deal.
More Than One Railroad Watching
Facilities offered at Wiscasset,
Splendid Harbor and Fine Ou,le, for souo
Railroad in Near Future.

'iiiiS pultc Il oil 2Dout the noSsihil-
iues IN railroad construction and
manipulation here in the State of
Maine OF course it is all coniectur,
up to this time but It is very interest
ms conjecture, nevertheless. That
there are great possibilities in the good
oId state OF Maine in the way of rail
roads Is beyond possible doubt.
The Key to the whole matter is thu
famous harhor nc Wiscasset This ie
one OF the finest on the Maine coast
ana has been laying practically idle for
Years. Ii Is certainly enough to tempt
any amount OF capital. Then there is
strong demand for another good mort
IN Maine. That IT Portland Is fine,
nut il is under the control Of the Maine
central from tie land side as far as
the state extends. To be sure the Grand
Trunk has a share in it. but tho, Grand
rrunl; does not reach very large
share Of the State. Then a thing that
brings the Wiscasset harbor into spsc-
ial prominence, whether il be true or
-ot, IS the fact that the Canadian Pa
ciiic has long been DESTROYS OF reach
ing good port ON the Maine coast
Perhaps this is not 50 but it is gem
orally understood to be. The Maine
Central will naturally not idly watch
this giant 20 into the Portland port.
This, indeed, would probably be all but
impossible.
But Wiscasset has as good harbor
as could be desired and there are ways
of reaching it and it is this that has
set some people to thinking since the
purchase of the Somerset road for this
short line has part to play in the gen.
eral plan. Its actual position in rela-
tion to the Maine Central is, TO be sure.
still in doubt but be that as it may
here are some Of the schemes that
have been suggested.
The Canadian Pacific goes nearly
across the State and to the north of the
termin of the Somerset and the pres
ent narrow guaGe railroads. The gaps
between the ends of these roads and
the port at WiScasset are small anu
could be easily bridged.
Take for instance the Somerset Road.
The northern terminus Of this is at
Bingham. But as the crow flies it is
only about 30 miles to Greenviile and
to the tracks OF the Canadian Pacific
and the Bangor Il AroOstook. That :
a narrow gap. easily bridc"d. With q
piece of road in there the 4. 7. would
have q straight line to Oakland. But
the present road bed of the Somerset
is not heavy enough for the rolling
stock of the e. p. For the trains of the
c. +. to roll direct into Oakland, new
iron. new bridges and other improve
ments on the Somerset would be neCes-
sary. But the cars Of the &. =. Could
be hauled over the line to Oakland by
the Somerset engines without trouble
one transfer to the narrow GuaEe
would put the freight on straight line
to the hold Of a trans Atlantic liner Or
any other ship in the port of Wis
casSct.
There is a small gap between oak
land Weeks Mills thai IS already be
ing rapidly filled In this scheme IT
will be seen that the Somerset and the
Wiscasset. Watefville * Pennington
have an important part to play
thing that makes this seem possible is
the generally understood fact that inc
G. =. is backing the narrow SuaSe last
mentioned This. too. may simply be 4
r,Imor. but under the conditions, IL
seems 10 have the ear marks of truth.
Thus with the Somerset extended I"
C;reenville and the Wiscasset Water
VILE e Pennington completed To OAK
land tho &. +. Would have an outlet I"
one of the best harbor in the State. y
rough estimate Of the distance from
GreenviIle to Wiscasset makes it lo'
miles, but it is probably farther than
this.
This route gives a junction with til"
r. & A. ut Greerville and affords an
outlet for the great Aroostook county
potato crop straight to the sea without
goin.. across n state or two to get there
as at present The plan as outlined
makes q transfer from the standard 10
the narrow guage at Oakland. but
when hundreds of miles o. travel anu
monopolized freight rates are cons!d-
cred this would pay.
Eut here's another thing to be con-
sidered. few hundred miles Oh r''''
is not So very large an item io' NV -
p. II it We're possible to get the SOM
crs,t and the narrow "uaSe uiiuei 'oH'
troI il would be A comparatively easy
matter t. put the road bed INTO cohdi-
tion for IT'S own train and then 1t would
have q direct route to the sea hei
this poini is considered the theory that
tho C.. p. is backing the mario" Suase
seems rather plausible. But he'e ~
any rate is feasible route Tor tht =
IA the sea and to one Of tie best mar
hor. y, tho coast A EarbOr well
sheltered and deep enough for almost
any kind or q vessel and open the year
rn,,nd A torpedo boat steamed up
.i,o,.l. ana dow last summer. and the
distinguished gentlemen on poa'u Ell"
loved the quaintness "f the Ola 'o"
tor a number of hours Rumof had II
then that a large ship building plant
WAS in view.
Il vii, be seen the Somerset figures