Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-21
Improved Train Service East-May We
Not Have It?

Editor Kennebec Journal:
| beg the courtesy of your columns,
always open to whatever will advance
purpose of calling attention to what
seems to me an urgent need and one
which can be supplied with COMPARE
tive ease.
l refer to an early morning train
east.
Let me call attention to the situa-
ton. The train which leaves here at
9.OS in the morning, makes no con-
nections with the branch lines of the
Maine Central by which a person can
reach any of the points on those lines
in season to do business and return
the same day; and when the summer
timetable goes into effect, this train
is discontinued beyond Watervlle.
Then, people desiring to go east in the
morning, have to leave Augusta the
night before and go to Waterville, tax
ing the train from there at 71O, next
morning, or worse still, take the Pull
man, which leaves Augusta at 1.2O in
the morning. There is then no east
bound train from Augusta between 1.2O
a. NJ. and 1886 the next noon-a period
of about II hours.
This is a serious disadvantage to
our own merchants, who are reaching
out after the eastern trade, because
they cannot reach their, customers and
return the same day, and compels all
travelling men who would naturally
Stay over night in Augusta, to move
on, the evening before.
What would it cost to remedy the
defect?
Simply the cost of the coal, to run
from Augusta to Waterville Let me
explain.
Number 81 leaves Waterville, for Do
yer and Foxcroft, at 10 A. NJ, con-
Meeting at Burnham with train for
train for Bangor. Returning, a train
leaves Bangor at 4.35, making the same
connections. and arriving in Water
vile about O'Clock. The only thing
necessary, to give us this extra ser
vice, would be to have this train leave
Augusta at say $50, instead of Water
vile at 40, and come to Augusta at
night, instead of stopping at Water
vile. and arriving in Augusta i'm time
for supper. 1t would take no more
men, and no more trains. 1t would
simply make Augusta the starting and
stopping place for this train, instead
of Waterville.
This would enable person in this
city to go to Skowhegan, Belfast, Do
yer. Foxcroft. Bangor, or any interme-
date point, have practically a whole
business day there, and return the
same day. And in the fall, winter and
spring, when our lumbermen need such
service, it would enable one to go as
far even as Greenville, and return at
IL o'clock in the evening of the same
day.
Gardiner, Hallowell and Winthrop,
through the Electric Railroad, would
be given the benefit of this service, and
central Kennebec be thus brought into
close connection with our northern and
eastern territory. 1t is well-known
fact that as more facilities are afford
ed for travelling, more people travel
and travA more.
When. therefore. the small cost of
providing this service is considered, it
seems reasonable to conclude that it
may even prove profitable to the road.
The Maine Central is one of the great
factors in the development of our
Commonwealth. Its management is
liberal and progressive. 1t caters to
the upbuilding of every section of the
State. 1t realizes the inter-dependence
that exists between itself and the peo-
pie and hastens to meet every reason
able demand that is made upon it.
I am ready to believe, therefore, that
il this matter be properly presented to
the officials of the road they will be
more than willing to try the expert
mert. At any rate, / believe it is of
sufficient importance to Augusta to
cure it.
c. s. HICHBORN.