The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-03-18
An Electric Road for Athens.

An Electric Road for Athens.
Once again the Railroad fever is
raging in Athens. The enthusiasm
for road and the unanimity OF opin-
ion in favor Of putting forth every
effort to secure the construction of
the road has never been equallea at
any time in the previous attempts to
have Railroad for Athens.
At the annual town meeting the
voters expressed their willingness to
do all that might reasonably be asked
them to do and committee of six of
the interested citizens were chosen to
consult capitalists to ascertain how
much would be required by vote OF
the town and by subscription or other
wise to secure the construction of the
road. The committee have already
entered upon their work. Three
points were considered from which
the road might start; one from Show
hogan by the way of East Madison,
one from Hartland and one from
Mainstream. Any one of these points
would be acceptable to Athens. The
distance from Athens to any one of
these places where connection can be
made with another road is about ten
miles. Should the Skowhegan route
be chosen connections would probab-
ly be made with the electric road
leading from Skowhegan to Madison.
There will be no cuts or fills along this
line and but few small bridges to be
built. The lay of the land is very le-
vel along the entire route.
In the completion of this road the
farming community of North Corn
vile, the commercial and business IN
terests of East Madison and Skowhe-
gan. the summer resort at hayden
Lake, and those engaged in lumber
and farming operations OF South Scion
would be greatly benefited. Several
of the influential citizens of some OF
these places have already expressed
their willingness to subscribe stock
for the construction of the road. Should
the Mainstream route be selected the
road can follow along the valley from
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timber regions that lie adjacent to
this line and through good farming
country, bringing prosperity to the
people of the western part OF Har,
mony and parts of Wellington and
Brighton. Should the Hartland route
be selected there would be but few
bridges to build, ana on a fairly level
stretch of land the road could make
hn
road at Hartland nearly mile above
the village. This means much to
Hartland, and wide awake, energet-
ic town like Hartland would not be
slow to appreciate its advantages and
to offer the necessary inducements.
These are the three routes. We will
gladly accept any one of them; and
we feel confident that the road wi be
constructed from one of these places.
Some of the reasons why Athens
and portions of the adjoining towns
want an electric road here, briefly
stated, are these; Athens possesses ex-
cellent water power, abundant timber
supply good mill privileges, both at
West Athens and at Athens village
and excellent farming advantages.
The conditions in Brighton are these:
The extensive forests of timber, the
natural facilities for carrying on farm
ing and the need of cheaper trans
portation of feed, fertilizers and other
merchandise, the lumber manufacture
ing plants including the new steam
mill at West Brighton and the Clapp
Manfg. Co.'S. plant AZ Brighton village
which manufactures between one and
two million feet of lumber annually,
all of these things make Brighton in
terested in this matter. We need bet
ter transportation for our imports and
exports, better mail service, and more
industries to come into our town.
While it is true that the freight
would constitute the greater part Of
the business of the road we must not
overlook the fact that with the pres
ent and new conditions the passenger
travel would also be profitable feat
ure. The travel for business and
pleasure by the people of Athens,
Brighton, the eastern part of Scion
and the western part of Harmony to-
gether with the transient travel and
that of the people along the line Is
certainly a thing not to be overlooked.
The people will have business oppor-
tunities which ever route IL selected.
They will have access to pleasure
resort, one at Hayden Lake If the road
comes from Skowhegan or one at
Moose Pond If 1t comes from Hart
land or Mainstream. These are
few OF the many reasons why Athens
is reaching out for an electric road
Mainstream. These are few of the
many reasons why Athens Is reaching
out for an electric road.
Dr. Daniels Horse Renovator-for your
Ia oil v III