Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-04

whole network Of lines in Lincoln and
Kennt bee counties. About that time
the Messalonskee road from Augusta
was contemplated and the Somerset
road was under way, and one plan OF
the Watcrvillc. Wiscassct < Farming
ton road was to build through Augusta
to The Somerset road and connect with
the Lewis & Quebec.
The charter was at one time broad
encd 50 that the road could run 10
Moosehead lake, but after leaving
WhitefelL the charter expressly stipu-
lated that the road must run through
HartlandS ana Adams Il project that
was not considered wholly feasible.
In 1893 q charter for the road was
renewed for Il period Of eight years
although subsequent laws in regard
70 railroad charters compel renewals
once in two years, ard the last legiS-
lation relative to this road was in 1865.
when the charter was renewed until
April /. 1907.
When il was originally proposed to
run the road to Moosehead lake all the
towns along the line and up as far as
Durham subscribed much money, but
t he road never got further than AL
hion. in which town the late George
H. Crosby is said to have lost i for
tunn in the furtherance of the project.
1t was also the original intention Of
| the promoters to build the road into
Watcrvillc. but ;hoy never got nearer
| than WinSiow.
The money gave out just before
reaching Watcrville just as it did in
| the other direction after landing in Al
| bion. 50 that the road could never boast
| Of a Very populuus terminus on either
| cnd. 1t is now IS miles from Water
vile to the nearest all-the-open harbor.
while the entrance Of the Wateryilie
4 Pennington Road would have
| shortened the route to "A miles to Wis
| caSSct. II never was the intention TO
stop at either Albion or Winslow. bur
| to push forward to larger possibilities.
| The Albion line was built under the
| old charter Of 1854. At one time there
came to the surface what was called
the Watcrvile & Wiscasset Road and
| the people Of Waterville raised some
$4,000, the late Isaac c. Libby and
William r. Haines being much interest
cd. But this failed to mat"rializc. ana
some Of The land marks IF this road
are still to be seen in the neiShbor
hood Of Waterville
About this time Leonard Atwood Of
| Pennington had a railroad scheme in
which he had three routes projected
| from Pennington. that would connect
| respectively with Augusta, Waterviilc
and Gardiner. starting from near the
junction Of the Sandy River road in
| Pennington. Roads were Springing up
- fast and thick that something had
TO J." done to avoid a conflict. 50. in
1901. charter was obtained cOmbin-
ing the Wiscasset & Quebec under
which name the road was constructed
| to Albion. the Waterville & WiscaSsnt
and the Franklin. Somerset & Kennc-
| bee into the Waterville. Wiscasset <
| Pennington Road. 1t was under this
now charter that the mileage between
Weeks mills and Winslow was con-
| s.Iucted.
September Il last was the original
date set for tine sale Of the road but
owing 10 tho fact that the Columbia
Trust GO. Of Middetown, Conn. the
prospective purcha ser wanted more
time in the effort 10 interest a syndi-
cate in the purchase of the property
the sale was postponed until October y.
At this time another postponement
was allowed in order to allow Godfrey
p. Farley of WiScasSet. the chief credi-
tor and for long time the general
put in s50b,o00 into the road, an oppor-