The Somerset reporter., 1909-07-15
Possibility II Rail Line to Norridge-
Wock.
Rumor that this Oft Proposed Project IS to
Materialize

Rur1or that this Oft Proposed PROJECT is to
Materialize.
For more than generation the
project Of a steam railroad from
Skowhegan to Norridgewock mas been
in the public mind. Since the con-
struction of the Somerset railroad
from Oakland TO Norridgewock, in
about 1863. it has been talked of as a
connecting link and Of late years.
after the Somerset went through TO
Bingham and later TO Moosehead
Lake, it has been proposed as part Of
a through line. Since the Somerset
Road became a part of the Maine
Central System there has seemed to
be more prospect than ever that
something of the kind might be done,
and, while no one speaks with au-
thority in the matter, it it generally
believed that the officials of that road
have given the Skowhegan and Nor
ridgewock location serious considera-
ton on more than one occasion
With reference to the matter the fol-
lowing is clipped from the Lewiston
Journal of Saturday last.
Skowhegan, Me, July 10 (Spe-
ciaD The doubt seems to be
cleared now in regard to the rail
road line running from Kineo thru
to SkoWhegan aud then to Boston.
The report that the line would be
built from Norridgewock 10 make
this thru line came from Portland
Friday from those who have Off
cial interest in the matter when
Hon. L. L.Walton returned home
Friday night.
This road would save for all
time the maintenance of a bridge
at Norridgewock and the building
of a new one, which will have to
be done in short time if the
change is not made. There will
have to be only one crew where
now there are two. 1t will be
more convenient for those COM
ing from Boston and other places
to Kineo and Moosehead Lake.
1t will lock Madison in with
Skowhegan and make Skowhegau
more the business centre of the
county.
The plan of this line is to come
from Kineo on the old line as it
is now built as far as the railroad
bridge at Norridgewock. 1t will
then turn and come to SkoWhegan
on the north side of the river and
cross the river at Skowhegan
over the bridge here (and a new
one is TO be built in September)
and then direct to Boston. A new
bridge will have to be built at
Norridgewoek within a very short
time unless the above change is
made, which would involve a cost
nearly half what it would cost to
extend the road to SkoWhegan.
There are no stations below Nor
ridgewock until you get to Oak
land, and by the prospective line
there would be no disadvantage
to any of the towns that the line
now touches but it would be uni
yersal blessing to the county.
The above is misleading for i
would give the impression that tht
road to Norridgewock was assured
and that this had been announced by
Mr.. Walton, who is an attorney 70,
the Maine Central, on his return from
a conference with the officials il
Portland. Such was not the case no
did Mr.. Walton make any converse
ton 10 that effect. At WateryIlle, OF
his way home from the Law Cour
session at Portland last week, n,
heard the rumor Of the building of The
Norridgewock link and on his arriva
here repeated it to his partner, Hon
S. j. Walton. The later told it as {
rumor only but a local reporter go
hold of it and, knowing that Mr.. L. L
Walton had been in Portland, sent i
to the Journal as his announcement
in an official sense. 1t is quite posi-
BILE that the Norridgewock link may
some time be built, but there is n(
such certainty about it as the Journa
account would imply.