The Republican journal., 1904-02-18
NORTHERN MAINE SEAPORT R. R.
Boston and Maine Hostility to the Seaboard
Line Would Be Poor Policy.

Line Would Be Poor Policy.
We notice that some of our contem-
poraries in the western part of the State
are predicting Boston & Maine hostility
to the projected Northern Maine Sea-
port Railroad" project, but can hardly
think it possible that these surmises
have foundation in fact.
1t is a self-evident proposition that
for such freight as may in Northern
Maine be put into marketable form the
cheapest possible means for transporta-
ton of 1t are imperative, and no rail
road and no combination of railroads
have yet been able to successfully COM
commodities, with natures roadbed,
the ocean.
1t is pertinent to point out that Ban
gor and the neighboring cities and
towns came into existence because, and
only because, of the natural highway.
Logs could be floated from stump to
tldewater, or to points where, when
manufactured, the sawn lumber could
be tioated to tidewater. The sawn lum-
Der, over portion of each year, could
I be tioated to markets. Before the adj
vent of any railroad from the west a
population of we'll up to $4,000 had been
encouraged into and about the farthest
north navigable water in the United
States so near to the seaboard and
Bangor for time was the leading lum-
Der port of the world. The railroads
had absolutely nothing to do with this.
Touch with tideWater, although for
only a part of each year, against dan
gers from flood and drought, with a
necessity for the long and tedious team
ing of supplies, and against pioneer
hardships not now known in these
parts, permitted a growth which at
tracted, and now does its share to sup
port, the railroad.
Unfortunately for Maine it's northern
resources had, and has, no cheap outlet
for the coarsest of it's products-those
which will bear only minimum cost
of transport excepting via Canada and
through Canadian ports. No one
should begrudge Woodstock, Carleton,
Indiantown, ETC., in New Brunswick
the advantages they have enjoyed by
the floating of Maine logs through Can,
da to mills in and about those points,
or the profits derived in that section by
the manufacture of the lumber at and
near, or its shipment through the port
of st. John. In a sense it has been for
tunate that even by such tedious,
roundabout, and at times hazardous
process for handling lumber, much of
that which would have otherwise de-
cayed has been rescued and, to the ex-
| tent of moderate stumpage returns,
contributed to the wealth of our State.
On the other hand, billions of feet of
logs which cannot be tloated at all, cedar
valuable for poles, posts and ties, tree
tops, ETC., etc, not floatable and being
wasted should be sacrificed no longer
than is necessary in order that New
Brunswick may continue to enjoy the
advantages as mentioned, and above all
the principal railroad corporation in our
State ought not, we believe that it will
not, do otherwise than lend its moral
support, at least, to the mooted plan for
relief
: 1t can hardly be otherwise than that
which will put Northern Maine in
direct touch with the seaboard, by
shortest cut, will lead to the trans
formation of what is now an unpopu-
lated territory, though surprisingly
rich in timber, water-powers, storage
basins, and soil, into one of population
and industrial activity. Nor can it be
possible that out of the great whole
every transportation line in the State,
even in New England, will not come
into greater profit than through at
tempted, forcible, monopoly of the lit
tie, relatively, that can be done under
present conditions
1t is this, as we conceive, broad view
of the case which impels us to assert
that the men of such ability as is re-
quisite for the management and direc-
tion of corporation of the Importance
of the Boston & Maine, and of allied
interests within our State, cannot and
will not attempt to justify antagonism
to a plan which, successfully carried
out, means so much to the State, and
so much for the ultimate good of their
property.
Railroad is used in these days of
business rush and hustle for all traffic
which will bear the cost of it, as is
! attested at all points of touch with the
water. Manifestly the more direct and
convenient Northern Names touch
with the sea the larger the profitable
rail business must become.-Bangor
Daily News.