Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-27
| STATE HOUSE.
Regarding Street Rail-
roads in Maine.
Interesting Matter From Report
Of Commissioners.
New Corporation Organized to d
Business at DixfieId.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council,
Feb. %, at 10 A. M.

Council. contain the following inter-
esting statements regarding the street
/ railroads of the State:
II Augusta, Winthrop and Gardiner
II Railway. No special change or i'm
II provement has been made upon this
road during the past year, but nearly
II $4,000 have been expended in repairs
of roadbed. track and electric lines.
II Consequently the track is in excellent
II condition. Especially is this true of
the Winthrop line. upon which there
il; Il large amount of broken-stOne bal
last. The Togus line has received
considerable attention and is in good
| line and surface.
1 The State Street track has also been
much improved. a considerable sum
has been spent upon Island Park" an
amusement resort upon Lake Cobbos-
| SeecOntec.
Over $4,000 have been expended
upon eectric equipment and the con-
dition of all the cars is now very cred
liable.
The system of block signals installed
Il year ago has proved a great safe
guard in the operation of cars at good
rates of speed.
L ne new Dllck car Darn Is a mOUel
of convenience and is attractive in
appearance. which, with the beautify-
ing of the grounds by flowers and
vines, is greatly appreciated by the
patrons of the road.
The employees of the road so far as
we observed, are efficient, careful and
polite.
Benton and Fairfield Street Railway.
| Of ~, |,
connects the pulp mills in Benton with
Fairfield and the Maine Central Rail-
road It's business is chiefly freight.
About 500 nave been expended upon
the roddbcd and track and some $1,000
upon electric equipment.
III The track has never had any real
ballasting, but is kept in fair condi-
ton for the slow service to which it
is subjected.
Lewiston. Brunswick and Bath
Street Railway. This company owns
and operates nearly so miles Of track.
all of which is generally in very good
condition as regards line and surface.
The main line from Lewiston to
Bal is laid with a heavy rail and in
substantial manner. In some of the
branches the original light rail is still
in service, and cannot give so good re-
suits as the heavier rail, but rides
fairly well.
III Considerable work has been done the
past year upon the rOadbed and track.
Ten trcstlc bridges have been filled.
The SabattuS branch has received
some attention i'm ballasting and rails
ing track
The company has also had some eX-
traOrdinary expenses the past year.
New electric power station and ma
chincry. Il storage battery building and
new car barn completed. have required
an outlay of more than $4,000. Also
new supplies and equipment to replace
those destroyed by fire, have cost some
$4,000 more.
The heavy grades between Bruns-
wick and Lewiston add very much to
the cost of operation. If they could be
materially reduced, the saving in the
power used would add greatly to the
net revenue.
The bridge over the AndrOScOggin
river upon which the track is laid. has
been carefully examined by an expert
bridge engineer. Copies of his report
upon the conditions found. and his
recommendations have been given to
the railroad officers and the municipal
| officers of the towns of Brunswick and
Topsham.
We presume these recommendations
will receive their careful attention.
The new Auburn and Turner Flee
: trio Railroad. about being opened to
traffic. will undoubtedly give much adj
ditional business to the Lake Auburn
line.
Rockland. Thomaston and Camden
Street Railway. Some $4,000 have
been put into roadbed and track, and
electric line the past year.
The tracks upon the streets i'll the
city of Rockland are balastcd gem
orally with stone chips from the lime
Irock quarries. some being used each
year. Also the track through Rock
mort has been ballasted with the same
The track might be Still more i'm
proved by further use of this excel
lent material.
All the track of this railway. about
q miles. is well cared for and rides
smoothly.
The line from Thomaston to Warren
is fairly we'll ballasted with good
gravel.
Nearly $4,000 have been put into re-
nairs of cars and electric equipment
The equipment of the road is modern
and in good repair.
No accident to any person in the
loneration of the road has been report
cd. nor was there any the year pre-
lceding. A most remarkab bic record
a. more than 100000 fares were TAX
en-which speaks volumes for the
efficiency of the management and
caretaking service of employees.
\ Somerset Traction Company-Unfor-
a ,unatelv the volume of business has no,
IA ,r,rranted large OUTLAWS upon this
n nronar,v; nevertheless some $4,000 hav,
ian mt into the track and $1,000 int
,o,,airs of electric equipment.
There are two trestles upon this road
na 9oS and the other 90 feet in length
r,1so we're built ten years ago. but ar,
vol, preserved and in good order
n .,,ral,v they will need some re
n u