Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-11-19
TROLLEYS In MAINE.
THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS IN
THE PAST TEN YEARS.
SKETCH OF EXISTING LINES - WHAT
THEY ARE DOING - PROJECTED
LINES - THE HANCOCK co.
RAILWAY co.

sislne staee 1859, when the first street
railway propelled by electricity was built,
has been remarkable Ia the extent OF road
constructed and volume OF business done,
when II is considered that the State hiss
no very large cities, but consists mainly
OF small communities. In the more
thickIy settled portions these communal
ties are iocsted In close proximity, and
during the past dozen years many of them
have been connected by trolley TO such an
extent that there are now A7.72 miles OF
street railway in operation in the State.
The larger part Of this mileage is in the
country, running for the most part over
the highways and across the fields into
and through small cities and still smaller
towns, carrying the people back and
| forth, day In and day out, In constantly
increasing members.
| Most OF the patronage given the Maine
electric railroads is interurbsn, for the
local trsfIic In many OF tho places where
the trolley system Is now In operation is
very slight; but the summer travel be-
tween cities and towns over the electric
street railway lines lie far beyond that
even dreamed Of by the pioneers in the
construction OF these new systems for
the cheap, rapid and frequent transporta-
tion of people OF ordinary means from
place to place.
| EARLY HISTORY.
| During the early history OF electric
street railroading In Maine, the growth
was not phenomenal, although II was
gradual year by year. In the past Ave
years, however, the development has been
steady and rapid. In.t the year 1897 there
were ii3 miles Of electric railroads In
operation. Since that time there has
been constructed 2oi.72 miles, In addition,
making 36T 20 miles now in operation.
| And the end is not yet. Projects are al
ready under way looking to the con-
| struction of at least 200 miles OF electric
I railroads in Maine before The end OF 1903.
/ IL Is within the bounds OF reason, there
/ fore. to predict that in another year there
wnI be more than 500 miles OF electric
railway in operation In the Pine Tree
| State.
| In the construction and equipment OF
the street railways OF the State more than
| fio. 900 900 has been expended, and yet the
aggregate bonded Indebtedness OF the
| eighteen systems In existence is now only
n, III, 5iTa3. The total amount OF capital
represented by the stock that has been
issued and Is now outstanding is a .612,-
SOS 81. 1t will be seen, therefore, that the
capital necessary to build the roads was
| not wholly secured from the sale OF bonds.
The bonds OF many of the Maine trolley
lines are owned BY savings banks, thus
indicating that the conservative managers
| OF hose institutions have confidence In
the stability and future growth OF the
roads, else they would not invest the
money OF the people In them.
LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS.
Some Of the leading and most infiuen-
tiaI business men OF the State are In con-
troll OF the best and most profitable lines,
and are enthusiastic over their prospec-
tive extension. Perhaps the biggest
holder OF trolley stock In the State Is the
present governor of Maine, Hon. John f.
Hin, OF Augusta. He Is one OF the largest
owners In three OF the big systems now
| In operation, and he 10 at the present
time making arrangements to secure the
construction OF 100 miies OF new addi-
tions to these systems within the coming
year.
George e. Macomber, of Augusta, is
associated with Gov. Hill In these enter
prises, ss Is also j. Manchester Haynes, Of
Augusta, and William T. Cobb, OF Rock
land. These gentlemen are among the
most progressive street railroad men in
the State. They are the controlling
spirits in the Rockland, Thomaston &
Camden, the Augusta, Winthrop & Gar
diner and the Portsmouth. Kittery &
York systems with q total mileage of
about sixty five miles now In operation.
Plans are being considered to add between
ninety and 100 miles to these systems in
1908.
/ The first two roads mentioned above are
located In Knox and Kennebec counties,
respectively. The intention Ia to build q
connecting link between the tsrmini Of
the capital city OF Maine within one-h half
the railroad distance Of each other they
are to-day. II is now ninety miles from
Augusta by rail.
The building OF q road from Togus to
Warren, . distance OF about thirty miles,
/ would cement the two systems, and make
q continuous line from Camden to Win
throp.
| IN cESTRAL MAINE.
The Augusta, Winthrop q Gardiner
system, which began as the Augusta,
HalioweiI & Gardner road, Is now one OF
the most promising systems in the State.
The Togus branch, built In 1901, has al
ready demonstrated it's value; and the
Winthrop line, although only in oper-
alton since August Z, Is destined to become
a source of revenue as time goes on. Col.
| Henry q. Staples was wiser than his gen
Grafton when be so strenuously iabored