Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-19
TO WATERv|LLE.
Work Of Building New
Electric Road.
Busy Crews Pushing The Work
Through Vassa|boro.
Life In the camps---ythat the New
Road Will Mean.

railroad is being rapidly pushed for
ward. From Winslow crews are busily
engaged hauling ties in preparation to
laying the same, while in prepare ton
to advance guards, are hard at work
cutting out the way, dwelling the road
bed and dtching for culverts. The
work is done by sections, there being
Is to lac men in section each in
charge of section boss. The sections
are again divided into crews in charge
of an overseer and the native bosses.
The men doing the work, with the eX-
ception of the surveyors, OVerseers
and teamSterS, arc mostly Italians,
Sicilians and Romans, the latter being
employed largely as the native bosses.
The life in these camps is very in
teresting to those who are unaccus-
toned to such scenes, and gives 4 fair
idea of the home life of these people in
tie old world. The men themselves
present strange picture with their
swarthy faces and black hair. dressed
in their quaint fashion and apparant-
" without regard to comfort or looks.
Many of them are attired, on thelhot-
test days, in heavy flannel shirts with
4 corduroy vest outside of this, pants
of the same material and heavy lob
nailed shoes. A heavy leather belt
about two and a half inches wide and
usually studded with small brass
rivets. so that it somewhat resembles
Il large dog collar, completes the out
fit. TO complete the costume they gen.
erally wear Il black felt hat pulled
dnNn over their heads.
AS nearly every man answers to the
name of Tony or John, some means of
identifying them must be had. To
this end each man is given q small
piece of brass with number on it.
which much resembles Il baggage
check. Time is kept in accord with
these numbers and recorded opposite
the name bearing such Il number in
the timckeepcr's book. The men wear
these checks attached to their person
all of the time. and it is a serious Of
Tense to be caughts trying to exchange
or steal another workman's number.
Camps have been erected along the
road for the workmen, which consist
of 4 large shack and contain the hunks
filled with straw mattresses and COW
cred with blankets and old quilts.
Many OF the men prefer to live in huts
or dugouts WHICH they build thefh-
selves of logs, bits of board and mud.
Here by the ala of little stone fire.
place and few simple cooking uten-
sis they prepare their meals. which
consist mostly of bread, macaroni and
beer, varied occasionally by meat
stew, highly seasoned with onions and
garlic. The bread and beer make up
tn" chief supply of food and the fail
IRE to keep plenty of these two neces-
stiles of life on hand is the surest way
to provoke the workman to strike.
The bread is far different from the
article of food the American people
call by that name. being hard, black
ana sour. The beer is not used as a
beverage as we think of the term, but
rather as we u.s. tea and coffee, and is
not highly Intoxicating. The Italians
are great lovers of tobacco, and their
pipe is one of their dearest treasures.
Strange, but for some reason they have
not yet become addicted to the habit
of chewing tobacco while at their
work. or at any other time for that
matter.
And now hit about the road Run
ming as it does from Winslow Just
across the river from Waterville.
across the country to Augusta it will
open up some of the most beautiful
spots in the State of Maine. Through
undulating fields of sweet scented
clover, along the shores of sparkling
lakes. then into the cool shadow OF
thick woods the cars will speed. giving
the tired traveller an vcr-changing
picture of beauty and grandeur Tn,
road bed is built on foundation of
solid clay. On top of this is gravel
crushed rock and clay. put on in LAYERS
to the depth of eight feet. making il as
level and smooth as a ballroom floor.
Heavy rails are being laid. thus assur-
ing perfect safety combined with
speed. The road is ready for the ties
within five or six miles of Augusta
| with the exception of the bridges and
| culverts. AS the work is progressing
at present it is hoped to have the
| poles in the ground before it freezes
and possibly run few cars over the
line before the snow comes.
The communities through which the
| road runs are anticipating great re-
turns when 1t is completed w. S
Bradley. the genial proprietor of the
| Revere House at East Vassalboro. eX-
| presses the opinion of the people in
| general when he says: 'This road is
| going to be great thing for every
man, woman and child in the commu.
nifty through which it passes. 1t makes
close connections with two of the lead
ing cities of the county and the
State. and will he Of especial advan.
tage during the sessions of court Not
only will it make it easier for us Il
reach the city. but it will bring thu
people from the city to us. Many are
already planning to open up boarding
places another year. and il som,
theater or place of amusement wer;
put up here. you would see this plac,
one of the leading summer resorts il
this part of the State within the mex
five years"
This without doubt would be true
for East Vassalboro is Just the plac
for a quiet rest after weeks labor il
the city. and if a chance to get some
thing good to eat is wanted. Mr.. Brad