Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-18
WORK BEING RUSHED
On Route of Electric Road from Wa
terville to Oakland.

The ears Will be running on the wa
terVille IL Oakland electric road almost
before the majority of people realize
that the work is well under way. The
grading was completed, Saturday, and
it is expected that the crew Will be set
at work, today or Tuesday, on the ball
field. The bridge across the cascade at
Oakland has been completed ana great
progress is being made with the one
across the Messalonskee near the
pumping station. 1t should be under
stood that this bridge is now closed to
travel and that in order to get across
the stream teams must go down by the
way of Silver street or up around by
the boat houses near the old circus
field. AT the present rate of progress
the new bridge will be ready for bust
ness in a short time.
The rails have all been shipped and
are expected to arrive almost any day
now. They should have been on the
ground by this time but there has been
q slight delay somewhere. But they
are on the road and are liable to ar
rive any hour. The Sleepers are already
on the ground scattered in small
punches along most of the line. These
are almost of the standard steam road
size and will make a solid foundation
for the rails. Most of the holes for the
poles have been dug and they too, are
expected. to arrive any time. A crew
of carpenters is now at work on the
station for the storage battery which
will be located in the hollow just be-
yond where the ball field will be To-
Gated.
About two miles of the road will be
| in q practically straight line. AS has
already been noted the cars will coast
| from the top of the Hill in the little
piece of woods into the city if neces-
sary The grade is not at all a bad
one, a better one in fact than any one
thought could be possible on a route
| from here to Oakland. Great speed will
be possible under the conditions and
with the sort of a road bed that will
| be constructed. 1t will be a great ride
over the road, one of the most interest
| ing trolly trips in fact in the State
Going towards Oakland the cars will
coast into the town from the top of the
hill as they will from there into the
| city coming this way. 1t is understood
that the regular fare will be 10 cents.
A party went out, Saturday morning,
|
field. 1t has been discovered that there
| is plenty of room and an excellent
| chance to construct a half mile race
track on the field and the promoters
of the road are thinking very seriously
| of building the track when the ball field
| is fitted up. 1t can be done than at
comparatively small cost. The nature
of the field itself will allow the build
| ing of the track at q small expense
Waterville needs a good trotting park
and this field makes a most excellent
| location for one.
With Mr.. Gerald behind the scheme,
assisted by his partners, success is as
sured. Mr. Gerald has had lots of eX-
perience in the horse business and he
could certainly make success of races
| there. This would make a most eX-
cellent place for meetings of the re-
| Gently organized association of the
| breeders on account of its central To-
cation. 1t is an easy matter 10 snip
horses in and out of here from all sec
tions of the State and large entries
| would doubtless be the rule.
Starting with a ball field for the
WaterVille team the result may ne
| thoroughly equipped athletic field for
all sorts of sports on the land owned
| by Mr.. Davis. There is a remarkably
fine opportunity for this and it would
doubtless prove a regular sold mine
for the road as it would draw people
from all the surrounding country and is
so located that the majority would ride
on the road.
A highway is to be graded along the
electric road so that teams can drive
direct to the field. This will pass
through one corner of the orchard of
Frank Chase and will open up very
fine block of house lots so that con-
siderable building can be expected
there in the next few years. The cleo
trio road has already materially en-
HANGED the value of real estate in that
section of the town.
Every one in the city is delighted
with the present prospect in connection
with the road as there is great prom
Use of the opening of a great field for
pleasure and summer pastimcs. With
a fine race track, ball field and location
for all sorts of summer sports SO near
the city and to be reached by a short |
pleasant ride on Il fine electric road |
there will be something doing all the |