Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-06
STATE HOUSE.
A., ". &c. Ry., Gardiner
Extension Hearing.
Petition to Change. 3D. N.
Tracks in Portland Granted.
National Guard May Camp With
Regulars Next Year.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council.
Thursday, Dec. 13, at 10 A. NJ.

The petition of the Augusta, Win
tnrop & Gardiner Railroad Company
Tor permission to extend it's line in
Gardiner to the wharf of the Eastern
Steamboat Co, was heard before the
Board of railroad Commissioners yes
tcrday morning. The decision of tina,
Eoard will be announced later.
The route proposed by the petition
ing corporation is through the Bailey
building, along in the rear of the build
ings on the east side of Water street,
under the double track of the Maine
Central X. r., across the wharf prop
critics Of Joshua Gray & Sons, Hollings-
worth 4 Whitney, Augustus w. Nc
CauSland and Joseph &. Atkins to the
wharf Of the Eastern Steamship Co.
1t is estimated that the cost of the
extension would be about $4,000. The
Hon. Seth NJ. Carter, Esq. of Lewis
ton appeared for the Maine Central Il.
r.; George F. Macomber, Herbert NJ
Heath, Thomas j. Lynch and City En-
Sineer w. r. Getchell, all of Augusta,
attended in behalf oil the petitioning
railway corporation; Frederick Dan
forth AMI Mayor &. A. Knight of Gar
diner appeared for parties whose prop
crty would be crossed by the propOs d
extension; City Solicitor w. A. Atkins.
for the city of Gardiner and A. g. Still
phen Of Gardiner, for the Kennebcc
Central K. X.
According to the route proposed about
five feet of the right of way on Steam
boat street will be in the highway and
the remaining seven feet will be taken
from private owners by right of emf
nent domain. The City of Gardiner
objects to the route in its entirety, SO
far as the use Of the street is concern
ed and would prefer that the westerly
rail of the road should be on the east
erly line of the street. This plan would
necessitate the taking of 10 feet of pri-
vate land. There is considerable oh
lection on the part Of the Street Rail
way and the Maine Central Il. II. Ia
placing the tracks very close to In"
trestle on account of the increased liza
bility to accidents.
A. G.. Stilphen in his remarks con-
corning the project. bitterly arraignrd
the Eastern Steamship Co, for its al
legged attempt to dodge the moral obi
CATION accepted by them. as he claim
u,
portation facilities on the Kennebec, 10
continue to maintain water commune
cation between Augusta, Hallowcll AMI
Gardiner. in connection with its los
ton lire. He further claimed that The
rout" proposed rendered the Gray
wharf property absolutely valucless To
the Oakland Manufacturing CO.. as a
proposed site for the enlargement of its
business.
Mr.. Stilphen urged that the extern
sion idea did not originate with the
people and that no petitions asking for
| it have been brought before the conf
missiOnerS. 1t is. however, strongly
seconded by the Steamboat Company
whom it would relieve of the respon-
| sibility of placing freight and passen-
gers in Augusta.
| What the public most requires.
| said Mr.. Stilphcn. is that the track OF
| the Maine Central K. r. be extended
from its present terminus along tn,
| wharves. with spurs running out up"r
| them for the handling the merchandise
| directly from the vessels to the cars.
In conclusion it was pointed out thai
| in this new extension might be com
pleted the last link that completes :
| railroad which would enter into com
| petition with the Kennebec Central X
| r. in its Togus freight business sufi
| cient to compel them to reduce thei
| rates.
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath in reply sale
| that the Steamboat Company was no
i in any way attempting to shirk its re
III sponSibility to Augusta. but that tn
| river service had proved an absolute
failure the past season and that there
is an effort on the part of the com
pany tn provide n suitable substitute
The scheme of extending the Main
Central tracks along the wharves, Mr.
Heath declared impracticable ant
further that the competition feared be
tween the Electric Road and the kenne
bee Central r. II. would hardly deve.
Op inasmuch as the former would har
to haul freight IL miles up stee
grades with electric power while tn
latter has a haul Of five miles wit
steam.