Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-04
THE ". c. R. R.
Growing Feeling That Maine
Central Will Absorb It.
The Advantages of the Union to the
Larger Road.
Why the Washington County Line Has
Never Paid.

Bangor, Nov. 3-(Special)-I is q
Washington county man that the Maine
Central is not about to absorb the
Washington county Railroad. 1t is
equally true that most all the people
over this way who have followed the
fortunes of the new road are convinced
that the sunrise folks are right in be-
lieving this. Such being the general
feeling it is not strange that when Il
Washington county man, who was in
this city recently, said that he expected
to see the Maine Central in control Of
the road by January first all nodded
their heads in assent.
No people who have followed rail-
reading in Maine for the past five years,
and who have been in a position to
gather information concerning the con-
ditions and outlooks of roads, both by
observation and conversation it has
been an almost foregone conclusion that
the Maine Central must eventually take
the down east road. 1t might not come
in one year or in five but some time it
would. Even now it may not eliminate
at this time but the indications are very
strong that it will.
From the day that the first sod was
turned in the construction of the Wash
ington County line it has been felt by
conservative men that the Maine Cen
trail must, sooner or later. take control
of the road and operate it.
They have said all along that in no
other way could it be made a paying
proposition. lack in the early spring
of 1893, when the one topic of interest
IN grocery store debates was the i'm
pending war with Spain, q runlOr be-
came current in Bangor that a certain
prominent railroad man was to be the
general manager of the new road. The
Washington County road was then in
course of construction and was not OPP
ened for traffic until the next February,
and there was Il great deal of Specula :
tinn as to who was to have its manage
mcnt. Down in the county it was re-
garded. by the majority, as being q
cinch FOR the manager as it was eT-
pected to pay dividends at once; if not
that, to pay expenses and interest on
bonds. Not all of the people thought
that way, but Il good many OF them
You see they didn't have. as q rule
much knowledge of railroading down
there. Other folks. especially here il
Bangor, where the story of the Bangor
4 Piscataquis and the <atahdin Iron
Works roads was anything but an old
story, knew differently, and those who
knew the country through which the
new road passed knew that il would
require years Of development before il
could furnish anything like an adequate
business for the road.
The day that the rumor mentioned
above, became current. n reporter Gale G
| on the gentlmean in question and asked
If it was true. He said. mo sir; it's
| too tough a proposition and too hard al
| outlook" However, he was induced
! later, to join fortunes with the road. bu
he isn't there now, which is true of ali
the officials who started with the road
Washington county is a large coun-
try. it has lots of fish and game, mora
or less lumber and extensive fishing in
tedestS but it has what is tine greatest
setback to the railroad, 163 miles oil
sea coast. SO that the great bull, of the
freight has been transported by water
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