Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-08-14
ELECTRIC ROAD Plan.

Bar Harbor Citizens Address Letter
to Oppositionists.
The citizens OF Bar Harbor, through E.
N. Benson, have adore ssed a letter to
Arthur d. Addison, summer resident,
who has taken leading part in the op-
position to the proposed road The letter
is as follows
BAR HARBoR, Aug. 10. 1907.
Arthur d. Addison, Esq,
DEAR SIR: Iwrite representing a number
OF citizens Of Bar Harbor who believe that the
building of such an electric railway as that
planned by the Mt. Desert Transit Co is i'm
portant to the fun and best development OF
Bar Harbor and the region which the road
would serve, and who also believe that the
building Of an electric road OF some kind be-
tween Ellsworth and Bar Harbor is necessary
and important and that the real question is
how and by whom 1t shall be built and the
course which 1t shall follow.
We understand that you and certain others
among the summer residents whose opinions
on this subject You represent do not share our
point Of view regarding this. In view Of this
we wish to suggest that meeting OF an open
and public character be held at Bar Harbor
while the summer residents are here, at
which the matter can be thoroughly discussed
between us as to the necessity OF such a road
and a. to the desirability and the changes
which would be likely to result from it.
And. further, II such q road seems upon dis
| cussion to be important to the development
Of Bar Harbor, all should then give the pres
ent undertaking endorsement and support
rather than discouraging 1t by opposition
which might possibly result in its passing
into the hands OF others less able or less will
Ing 70 consider our best interests and those
| Of the members Of the summer community
with whom our interests are allied.
| 1t seems to us that much misunderstanding
might be cleared away by such meeting and
| frank discussion Of the subject with refer
cnce to these matters. II should be shown
either that some other course than that
adopted by the transit company is best, or OPP
| position to it should cease, giving place to a
friendly cooperation by which the interests
Of all may best be served with the least injury
| to any.
Ifeei amply justified In signing and send
ing this letter, first, because was attorney
for the petitioners for the Ellsworth & Mt.
Desert Railway Co., which withdrew in favor
Of the Mt Desert Transit Co., believing this
10 be the surest way to get railway connec-
ton between Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, and
.uI..a' poin's' a"a 'eeoh"is, from 'ne iac'
'nss nav eohsu'e" many VI the prominent
citizens Of Bar Harbor and they heartily re-
quest and endorse this action.
o'fs very aus,
ELLIOT N. BENSON.
Mr.. Addison in an extended letter in
reply to Mr.. Benson, after emphasizing
the point that Bar Harbor,s princinal
| uindusfrv,, In the summer v;sitor and
,ha-.to-s ,h. ;r,.-az,s "a ,,;.ha. :, ~.
-,
m
p01ta"ee, !" uiseusoihk tne eieceric roso
project says:
whatdoes the summer visitor think about
rail roads and automobiles on this island?
| My experience as n real estate man, and my
acquaintance with other visitors lead me
/ strongly to believe that they are almost
unanimously in opposition to both This
opinion rests, not on the belief of any one
T, man, but on the fact that one year ago a vote
| wns taken among the summer visitors as to
| the desirabilitv of admitting automobiles
here, that was almost iudicrous Five hum
| dred and odd yisitors voted unqualihedly
against them, and one solitary vote was cast
| in their favor.
| Very strong for all practical purposes Is
| the feeling against railroads. There are but
| few summer visitors who want TO see a rail-
road on this island. Even the promoters of
| the present chartered line are reported to
~ go - a .'onI .,s =, !.