Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-13
Daily ksnnsbsc Journal
LAKE AND SEA.
TO Connect Winthrop ard Cam
Sga. dem by Trolley Cars.
That's the Plan Which May Be
Realized Next Year.
Governor John r. Hill Deeply Inter
Z, ested in Project.

The construction of the electric rail-
Dad from this city to Winthrop is well
under way; the grading Of the five-mile
extension of the Rockiand, Thomaston
Z Camden street railroad from Thorn
aston to Warren is fast moving along,
and plans and projects in connection
with the still further enlargement Of
these two systems Of trolley service are
being considered by the leading finan-
ciers Of the enterprises.
Governor John r. Hill Of this city, is
one of the pricipal stockholders in both
companies and is, today, as much in
terested as ever in the project, hereto
fore outlined in the Journal, Of build
ing an electric railroad from Warren
through to Togus. connecting there
with the Augusta, Winthrop & Gardi-
ner street railroad. thus making a COM
plete connection by trolley with the
great lakes of Kennebec county and the
seashore at Rockland and Camden.
If Governor Hills plans DO not fail,
another year viii see the realization of
this stupendous undertaking, am under
taking which means much to the peo-
pie of Kennebec, Lincoln and Knox
counties. The building of this connect
eft to every town through which it
passes, and above all it would serve to
develop and create business enterprises
now thought to be impossible of con-
summation. Any estimate of the
amount of business that might be done
over a trolley line which will bring
Pocl<land within q little less than three
hours ride of Augusta would fall far
sg.rt Cf what the realization would be.
Aut t,hcn careful business men, such
as Governor Hill ana his associates arc
known to be- seriously believe the pro
iect to be feasible and promising of
good results, it may be set down for
assured fact that the proposition will
be pushed through.
In conversation with the Governor.
only yesterday, regarding the prospect
for the Winthrop road, he remarked to
the Journal:
II am anxious to ride from here to
Rockland ana Camden by electric road,
ana | hope to be able to do so, next
wear. / am still Interested in the pro
jet of bringing the two systems. the
one in Knox county ana this in Ken
nebec. together, making one grand sys
tenn that will unite both sections, thus
adding to their wealth and prosperity.
1t is a reasonable proposition, and One
easy to accomplish. | believe. After our
extension from ThumastOn to Warren
is built it would not be such a great
undertaking to build right through to
-'s'r,rv,,- -:rr,rf- think of the system il
would create. From Camden by the
Sea" as they call it down there. through
Kcckland. Thomaston, Warren and
other towns in Knox and Lincoln coun-
ties, to Togus. Augusta, Manchester,
BeadfieId and Winthrop. with connec-
ton at this city for Hallowell and Gar
diner
The people at the seashOre can then
come here to view our magnificent
lakes, ana we Of kennebec county can
visit the seacoast in less time and at
less expense than it is possible to do at
present am convinced that the plan
IL good one ana | believe thar next
year will see it carried out"
In a recent issue of the Rockland
Star appeared 4 description Of the
Warren extension Of the Rockland
Thomaston d Camden Street Railway
now in process Of the construction
The article says:
Grading on the Warren extension of
the Rockland. Thomaston & Camden
Street Railway COS. line has now
reached within less than mile and a
half of Warren Village. and rails have
been laid from the present terminus at
the State prison in Thomaston over a
quarter of ID mile towards Warren.
"'The AZ miles of road which will
bring Warren in closer touch with this
vicinity will he one Of the best pieces
of electric railway in Maine. Both as
to roadbed. ties. rails and grades, the
road will have all the essential features
OF steam railroad. built for high
speed ana heavy freights.
The intention of the company is to
push on from Warren to Augusta via
Togus in due time, and, as Governor
Hill remarked when the plans for the
Warren branch were preached: You
must build that branch with the idea of
eventually extending the line to Au-
@usta' the company is building the
road with all the features of a steam
l,jlroaG cor1bined.
1.-THE steepest grade is but Az per
cent. and at all points where grading
or eNcavating was necessary to main
tain level it was done. The rails are
60-tb.. so feet long, and there is being
introduced the latest device known as
the continuous rail joint system. which
will insure smoothneSs in travel.
The roadbed will be as solid as
limerick can make it. A branch track
has bcon laid to the immense pile of
lime chips at the Stackpole quarry.
Thouaston. and this is now being car,
1ied over the line and used to ballast
the new branch.
There are no bad curves or steep in
clines on this romantic route along the
Georges river and passengers will be
whirled along through historic scenes
at the rate OF is miles an hour; or in IL
minutes from Warren 10 Thonaston
10 maintain this high speed the COM
pany has gone toNS extra expense in
grading and road equipment,
When. in due tin& the 26 miles
from Warren TO TogPs are covered
with iron it is the 4tention of the
company to cover thf distance from
Rockland to the Capital city in. just
three hours, and whdh the Warren
branch is completed. tte in June. the
running time betweeA Camden and /
Warren will be one and} one half hours |