The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-06-17
All Smiles
Skies were the Fairest and Hills and
valleys Were on Dress Parade While
the Committee and their Guests
Viewed Possible Locations for Athens
Electric Line

EiOSlliI Aluc.
An important step in the project of
the extension of electric railway SER
vice in this county was taken on
Thursday of last week, the committee
of the town of Athens with Hon.
Amos F. Gerald of Fairfield, Engi
neer E. Z. Greenwood of this place,
S. w. Philbrick of the transporta-
ton committee of the Skowhegan
Board of Trade, and party of news
paper men, going over the routes
between Skowhegan and Athens to
view the possibilities of an electric
line in that section.
The party left here about eight
O'Clock in the morning, going by
way of Madison avenue, East Madi-
son and the Molunkus road, return
ing by way of Revere, Smith Pond
and North avenue. Frequent stops
were made, with occasional side
trips on foot, when necessary, SO
that other locations, especially to
the eastward, could be understood.
The investigation was for the pur-
pose of making some estimate of the
resources of the section to be
served by the proposed line, to de-
termine what routes were practicable
for railway building through that
territory, and to arrange for pre-
liminary survey. Everyone in the
company was impressed by the re-
sources of the section, and the posi-
bilities for a location with few
bridges and light grades, and other
circumstances favorable to the pro-
ject.
There are several routes between
Skowhegan and Athens, each hav-
ing its own distinct advantages. In
any of them it is not probable that
the highway would be followed for
the entire distance but the public
roads would be the less expensive
location and would generally offer
the best service to the public. Cross
cuts and detours would only be re-
sorted to to save distance or avoid
sharp grades. In speaking of the
various routes the highway is con-
sidered as the location. The pro-
posed line might go by way OF
Malbon's Mills, leaving either by
Water street or North avenue, and
following the West Ridge road to
Glass; Corner and Athens. The water
power at Malbon's Mills with the
possibility of a junction with roads
which are being talked of to come
through from the East being favor
able features for such location.
North avenue and the Smith Pond
or "New Road" 80 called, offers
another route, this also going by way
of Cass' Corner. Of this it may be
said that it is doubtless the shortest
of any route that is being considered.
| A variation from this location would
be via North avenue and the Mo-
lunkus road, passing near the viii
! lage of West Cornville and thence to
Cass' Corner. A fourth route con-
templates the use of the terminal
facilities of the Somerset Traction
Co., and their Madison avenue track
to a point just beyond Cold Brook,
! thence to East Madison, West Corn
vile and Cass' Corner. This last
named location has i'll it's favor the
summer cottage business on the
west shore of Hayden Lake, the
passenger and freight business to be
expected from East Madison and
West Cornville, and the fact that,
aside from the North avenue and
Molunkus road location, it is the
most level route that can be selected
between the two points. The dis
lance from Gold Brook to the bridge
in Athens is probably about II miles,
one mile more than the "New Road"
| line and about the same as it would
be via Malbon's Mills and the West
Ridge.
There are of course the bridges to
be considered but in general it may
be said that the cost of bridge con-
struction on any of the above routes
would be unusually small. The single
factor in the whole problem which is
not entirely ideal is the matter of
gravel and this is here mentioned
with the hope that parties living
along the various routes mentioned
will communicate with the gentle
men comprising the committee of
the town of Athens any information
they may have as to gravel anywhere
in their vicinity. The scarcity of
this material is by no means serious
but the original cost of grading, and
maintenance thereafter, would be
substantially lessened if deposits of
gravel could be discovered, dis
tributed at convenient intervals along
the proposed line. There is a fine
gravel ridge, one half mile beyond
| the terminus, and some at various
places between Skowhegan and
Athens. The committee are hoping,
however, that more gravel beds will
be discovered.
OF the amount of business waiting