The Somerset reporter., 1905-11-09
For the Reporter
The Shire-TOwn, Third Rail
ElrcIrIc Line.

Il was the writer's privilege, dutug a
short Ray IN Chicago the pat -umtaer.
To 20 out 10 Napervl.le III. by way IF the
Chicago Elgin and Aurora ThI.d-Eah
Electric Railroad which has a Terminal
Station Oh Fifth Ave. erosses tie city
west on the Metropolitan Elevated
tracks then from the city limits operates
lG5 mtes ot electric road ln.ostlJ ~
raiG) IN great kite shaped System,
touching Wheaton. Napergile, ElgrD,
AURORA aud joliet and making "a swIft,
clean aud comparatively safe means Of
transportation between th3ss cities and
Gowns and Chicago.
The mode Of operation al easy meth
Cd OF rapid transit struck lie winter AZ
the most excellent yet devised il point
oi economy, cleanliness, sR4ftuess and
Can't OF making stops aud getting speed
agaln; auG 1t was really res.I4lIu az
regards suburban aud country traye.
Ire iide Of thirty miles On thaf August
evening Was one keenlY enjoyed aud
long u b. remembered
Aud d aub, not that many readers uf
TIN journal have made the mp tnla
ct Az iiLi to a Abl4'A Nilb 'iitll ia M
HIS a. Aurora, who would sauud tJItn
TIE praises Of the Chicago. L gtn aud
AURORA E.ectuc Road system III gener ,us
fefms Il meets tue wants OF those
towns 80 thoroughly tia Its patrons,
along the iue would not change, am
sure for any other method OF transport.
Now the writer makes this appeal for
the same sort of electnc system between
the shire towns of somerset and Frank
lin counties VIA of Norridgewock, Ner-
Ger, New Sharon aud the beautiful Sandy
River Valley. No more advantageous
route for third rail line can be found
in Maine, is the writer's belief. The
advantages are:
lst. 1t can be easily built.
2nd 1t can be economically and pro-
fitaby operated.
Bird For scenic beauty it cannot be
exceled.
4th The old franchise and road-bed
of the SkOwhegan and Norridgewock
electric road could be made available
/ again.
5th A short branch line from Oak
Hill would connect with North Pond,
one of the lakes which goes to make the
MessAlonskee Lake system one of the
/ finest in Maine
9th The defuuct Pennington and
" atervllle railroad bed, which Is graded
from New Sharon to Pennington @ mi.
with trestles and bridges built, could be
made use of for the 3rd rail line
1th Water power is abundant and
! running to waste on the kennebec and
Sandy rivers that will furnish all needed
4 power.
8th Only II mics would have TO be
surveyed and graded To connect the
lines already surveyed and graded.
+ branch lines of railroad and furnish the
best possible means of rapid transit be
! tween those depots and the running time
between Skowhegan and Pennington, IS
miles, could be made in one hour includ-
ing stops
10th 1t would connect two beautiful
towns. whose combined population
would be 13, 600 With trlbutaryytowus OF
perhaps 1000 or 1900 more, including
Pennington Falls, New Sharon, Mercer,
Norridgewock, etc
18th 1t would unite in close helpful
aud profitable relationship, two of the
most picturesque and substantial villages
in Maine by steel Band.
The shire-town Third Rail f ectTic
Line citizens, capitalists, people of pub
lie spirit at both terminals and all along
the line. Shall it be built? 1t is greatly
needed
"WAYf AREE'
North Arson, Me, Oct. 81, 1905