The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-11-17
AROOST0Ok TO THE SEA.

Charter Granted for Extension of the B.
& A, Survey for New Road to Begin
at Once.
To an extent the Northern Maine
Seaboard Railroad became a reality
Wednesday morning, Nov. 9th. This
was when, after hearing in Bangor
lasting about an hour and half, the
commissioners granted the incorpora-
tors charter. The hearing developed
nothing particularly sensational, be-
yond the absolute denial by Hugh
Chaplin, attorney for the B. & A., that
there was anything in the report that
the Canadian Pacific railway was be-
hind the movement of the B. & A. to
extend to the seaboard. There was
present at the hearing a large gather
ing of representative Aroostook county
men, prominent among them being
Congressman Powers and Z. L. Cleve-
land of Houlton. From down river
there was Albert H. Peirce, of the
great granite industries of Frankfort,
and President Pendleton of the Sears
port National bank.
President Cram of the B. & A. gave
an outline of the conditions in Aroos-
took as they now exist. The lumber
products were of character which
made long rail hauls unproftable; con-
sequently if this line of industry was
to he promoted and developed further
there must be nearby seaport. Ban
gor was out of the question, as it had
open water for only about half of the
year. The proposed harbor at Stockton
was one of the best on the Maine coast.
Aroostook had outgrown the New Eng
land market for both potatoes and lum-
Der and this made it necessary that
there be water connections whereby
the extra cost of warm cars and men
to tend fires could be done away with
and the potatoes shipped by water;
lumber shipments must also be made,
both foreign and domestic, by water.
Along the northern border a large
amount Of lumber was cut, tloated
down the st. John river, sawed in
to the United States. He had, in the
privilege, but he now felt that this
men. The building of road, such as
was proposed, would give an outlet
which would render the expedient
quoted unnecessary.
On the question of the coal supply,
while he had no fault to find with pres
ent charges at Bangor, 4he road paid
tax of at least 100000 this year on its
coal This came about in this way:
modern ways were not used in dis
charging at Bangor, thereby doubling
the cost on that; coal coming in
lump, rather than scattered through
the IL months of the year, made it
necessary to haul many cars on the re-
turn empty, there being no demand at
that time. In his statement he had
said the extra tax was 81 a ton, as a
matter of fact figures at his office
would show that it was Sl.50.
Congressman Powers said that there
was no question but that the county
needed the new road if it was to de-
velop further 1t would give cheaper
transportation for lumber and permit
of the more rapid movement of pota-
toes. He gave it as his fears that un-
der present conditions it would be i'm
possible for the county to get all of her
potato crop to the market this year. He
felt that the extension was very much
needed and he hoped to see it built at
once.
b. l.. Cleveland, prominent Houlton
potato buyer, said that there was no
question but that the new road was
necessary if Aroostook was to develop
beyond what it already had. The crop
this year would amount to more than
100000 bushels, or over 10000 car
loads. Fully 25 per cent. of the crop
went south for seed purposes. These
had 10 be delivered at specific times and
under the conditions few dealers dared
to make contracts for specific deliveries,
as there was 10 certainty that they
could meet the requirements
Mr.. Cram was asked by Commission
er Chadbourne how many cars the road
owned and answered that the number
was 3lSl.
How many cars do you have day
on the road?' asked Mr.. Chaplin.
The number is between 1900 and
$500. 1t seldom goes as high as the
latter OF SO low AS the former, but that
is the range On one day recently 23OO
OF our cars were in use on other roads,
while we had only 10 cars of other
roads in use upon or lines"
Thomas Phair, the Aroostook starch
king of Presque Isle, said that in his
town there were 500 carloads of pota-
toes for immediate shipment. There
were facilities for loading 30 cars per
day there, but this helped not, as they
were unable to get more than three
cars day.
This year he had ground into starch
good marketable potatoes because it
seemed to be almost impossible to get
them to market.
When the announcement that the
commissioners would grant the charter
was made by Chairman Peakes of the
commission, there was a great shout of
approval and general handshaking.
Mr.. Cram Immediately telegraphed
Chief Engineer Burpee of the B. & A.
at Houlton, to proceed with the survey
of the new road.
The text of the report of the COM
missioners rendered upon the petition,
was as follows:
'In Board of Railroad Commission
ers
upon the foregoing petition, notice
having been given as ordered, the board
met at the time and place mentioned in
said order and gave hearing to all
parties interested. Messrs. Appleton
and Chaplin appeared for the petition
ers. No one appeared to oppose the
granting of the charter. We have no
occasion to recite the evidence intro
duced at the hearing. We are salts