Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-28
For Passengers and
FreIghton W.&F,R.R.
MI. Peck, The New Owner, Asks
For Cooperation.
"aterville People Favor the Plan
and Pledge Support.

| special meeting Of the Board of Trade
| was ned last evening at the city :,overn-
Nient rooms and was attended bv a rarga
number of the business men and NOR
| chants of the city. The meeting vas calI-
ed by President II. d. Eaton to see if the
! BOARD would take any action in regard
| 10 the business proposition of Carson G.
| Peck of New York City, the new owner
OF The WatcINile. Wiscasset & Farming
| ton Railway.
| IL IS the desire Of Mr. Peck to arrange
| dally freight ana passenger service be-
| tween NinslCW and Portland and p,ston
ana ne asks the ncrchants OF this civ. to
co-opfr3t" with him III this undertaking.
letter from MI. Peck was received by
r. }. Arnold. chairman of the committee
from the BOARD of Trade. which Will cx-
| plain clearly the situation.
New York. Dec Il. !GG1
Mr.. Arnold.
Main street.
Watervillc Ne
Dear Sir:-AIr. Sewcli will see Won. as
soon as he can get about to il. IN regard
to matter that think you will he very
much interested in as we'll as the rest of
''''''''-N
would like to have YOU do what YOU can
to help Mr.. Scwell get the information
that he may require.
We are contemplating on the part Of
the W. w & f. Ry.. arranging for
daily freight and passenger service from
Boston and Portland by the way of w.
w. & +. lN. TO Watervlle, and in order
to obtain this accommodation for Wa
tervillc it would be necessary to be as
surcd Of enough freight traffic to make
the venture attractive to the steamship
men
on t." part of the railroad. we would
PROOFS" II make rate Which covered
delivery - Watcrville and IN that way
offsetthg the fact that the terminal ut
WinsloW is not convenient; You see this
would amount to practically an express
service IT freight rates.
Now. it would not only be necessary to
be assured that the merchants would
support us in this undertaking. but We
would nave to see parties that have stuff
to ship out and get return freight in ar
der to give the steamship something to
do each way.
Now. M. Arnold, this is no idle dream.
write to v"u that you may take il up
with '.,-,r i..,. tr..sS associates foI I feel
it is Jest a4 u...' or more to the inter-
estg ut Watc:ri," than it is to the rail
road. list We i..yr got to work together
in order to grow.
Of cnuls,. I VIII say this, that no ar
rangcmorts Lave Leon made yet and it is
possible that the whole thing may fail
through: hut | do not think that we want
to let the matter d. Op. and trust that YOU
will take it Up with Your board from the
Chamber of Commerce and hurry through
figures that will help work out this
scheme. An answer will be appreciated.
Yours truly,
CARSON c. PECK.
This letter was Immediately answered
bv Mr. Arnold who told Mr.. Peck lie
would bring the matter before the Board
Of Trade end see Il any action could be
taken.
The sentiment of the entire meeting
seemed to be in favor Of the new propo-
sition and many of the merchants pledg-
ed to support the undertaking provided it
would lie carried uu'.
IL is the intention OF the Railway Co
if enough freight could be secured. to run
n steamboat from Wiscasset to Portland
and from there to Boston. On return OF
the terminal ut Winslow delivery would
he arranged by which all merchants OIL
this city would receive their freight ut q
cost not to exceed the rates now belnS
paid including the trucking. IN" ROAD
would assume the delivery and would es-
tahlish wagons to do the trucking at no
additional cost.
Mr. Sewcll. the superintendent Of the
Narrow Gauge road. was ut the meeting
and made clear the iGea of the manage
mcnt. explaining and answering all qdeS-
tons that We're put to him. He was OF
the idea that if sdch an undertaking could
he pushed through the road could make
transfers on both ends and coming back
max, the deliveries direct to the houses
at the same price now being paid to the
Maine Central inclusive Of the transfer
perhors the time of delivery would not
be rs early as that of the standard RauE"
road Int for all except perishnhle goods
it would do as we'll. The freight would
he delivered later in the afternoon
Mr.. SewelI also stated thi't MI f'Eh
had invested considerable money III the
road which was clear from DEBT an" Il
fine people of Waterville encourage nm
and he saw sufficient benefit derived ne
world no doubt build the brldS' ac'"SS
the Kennebec river and connect WIN
Pennington as was the original 'ntentioh'
If such a freight service could be ar
ranged the boats would run from WIS
cassct to Portland and from there to bos-
ton and New York The one important
fa,,rre thought Mr. Sewell. was as to
the amount of freight the STEAMBOATS,