The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-11
Of Great Interest to Somerset
County.

With the purchase of the Somerset
railroad by the Maine Central, chap
ter in the transportation history of
this part of the state is closed. The
Somerset road. was built as a protest
to the Maine Central, in 1873, when
they would not build and seemed un-
willing that others should build be
yond Skowhegan in any direction.
The conditions have so changed that
the considerations of that time have
no bearing at present and the inte
rests which made for the retention of
the terminus at Skowhegan in 1873
have in the main disappeared.
The Somerset road was completed
to Norridgewock in 1874. In 1875 it
was pushed along to Madison, and the
following year to No. Arson which
remained the terminus for twelve
years. In 1888 it was determined to
build to Bingham and the construc-
ton was completed in the two years
which followed. The section north to
| Moosehead Lake was entered upon in
1905 and has but recently been opened.
Rights were obtained from the 73rd
legislature, just adjourned, to build to
the Canadian border, in a northwest
erly direction, also to build to the
northern portion of Aroostook county
with some restrictions as to encroach-
ing too closely upon the territory al
ready reached by the Bangor and
/ Aroostook. The right sell to another
railroad company was also conferred
by the legislature, under which the
recent transfer has been made.
There has always been talk of Il
connecting link between Skowhegan
and Norridgewock. So far as Show
I hogan has been concerned there has
been a sharp division of an opinion as
to the advantages to arise therefrom.
| On one occasion at least, more than
% years ago, the town was asked to
make an appropriation in aid of such
a project and finally did SO, the vote
being barely above the two thirds
majority required on such measures.
| The sum voted at that time was S15,-
600 and the proposition was for the
town to subscribe for that amount of
the common stock of the road, which
was to be built according to require
ments furnished by the engineers of
the Maine Central, which was to
lease the link and operate it after its
completion. After the appropriation
was voted the Maine Central manage
ment turned cold shoulder to the
enterprise and the specifications as
to construction were such as to make
the cost prohibitive and nothing was
done. In 1894, at the time that Show
hogan voted $4,000 in aid of the
Skowhe gan and Norridgewock Elec-
trio road, the vote of $4,000 for the
steam road was rescinded.
1t is not to be supposed that the
/ transfer of the Somerset system has
been made except upon well matured
plans for its operation, but, so far as
can be learned, nothing has been
made public with regard to them. 1t
is natural that there should be much
speculation concerning the whole
however, and even these speculations
become of interest. A very popular
belief is to the effect that the SkoW :
hogan and NorridgeWock link will be
built in the early future and those
who are of this opinion are also will
ing to prophesy that the Somerset
road will be discontinued below Nor
ridgewook. 1t is said that a new
i bridge must be built at Norridgewock
if the traffic is to continue to cross
the river at that point, and that the
cost of such bridge would be twice
as much as the cost of the line from
Skowhegan to Norridgewock. If the
dream of the NorridgeWock link
should at last come true, whether or
not the Somerset should continue i'll
operation below Norridgewock, it is
! likely that through trains, with par
! lor car service, would be run to
j Moosehead Lake, via Skowhegan.
We should have more frequent and
better train service, itself con-
venienee to be desired, and "A fair OPP
portunty TO bid for the retention OF
the trade with the section north and
west of us which we now have, or to
increase it in proportion to our merit
for commercial growth.
At the time the Somerset road
was built it is estimated that it cut off
20 percent of the shipping from the
Skowhegan station. Very little OF
this was ever regained, but we have
grown so much in other ways that the
loss was long ago forgotten, 1t is
best to believe that, should we be-
come a station of a through line in
stead of remaining a terminus, we
shall be able to demonstrate our ad :
vantages as a commercial center to
all the area naturally centering the
shire town of Somerset county.
Whatever the outcome the deal
which has resulted in the change of
railroad ownership, is doubtless the
most IMPORTANT, so far as Somerset
county is concerned, that has ever