The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-08-19
THE BELFAST BOARD OF TRADE
Discusses the Prospect for New Indus
stries and Talks about Trolley Lines.

discusses the prospect iH NeW m0uS-
stries and Talks about Trolley Lines.
The regular meeting of the Belfast Board of
Trade was held at their rooms on High street
last Monday evening. In response to the
notice received by members that matters of
the utmost Importance to the business inter-
ests of Belfast will be taken up at this meet
ing" there was good attendance Of business
men and other representative citizens, and all
were imbued with the spirit Of progress Presi-
dent Small presided and in opening the meet
ing said that now that our board of trade is
fully organized it should lose no time in get
ting to work to advance the interests of Bel
fast, and of Waldo county. In speaking of the
new industry just located here, the Coe- -Morti-
mer Co., he said that while others were entit-
led to credit for the initiatory work, he felt
that the board of trade had also done their
part. The coming of this new industry he
thought would bring other industries. 1t has
been demonstrated that potatoes can be raised
as successfully in Waldo county as in Aroos-
took county, and with fertilizer plant located
here there would be an increased acreage in
potatoes and that would no doubt lead to the
establishment of a starch factory. He also
spoke of a concern in Massachusetts that is
establishing linen factories, using new pro-
cess by which flax can be turned into the fin
ished product in twelve days, and said that fax
could be grown here successfully and that this
concern might be induced to establish branch
factory in this city or vicinity. President
Small also referred to the proposed electric
roads, which were later discussed at length by
the board. In closing he said that Mr.. Dorman,
the secretary, had statement to make con-
cerning the electric road from Belfast to Cam
den.
Mr.. Dorman said that if the matter of land
damages could be satisfactorily settled work
on the electric road from Belfast to Camden
would begin at an early day and be pushed to
completion. From Camden to this side of
Northport campground satisfactory settle
ments had been made, many of the people
along the line not only giving the right of
way but expressing desire to help the road
in every way possible. A property owner in
Camden who had been selling his land at $275
per acre had offered the road the land needed
at the rate of 500 an acre. From the North
port campground to Little river the claims
made by property owners aggregated more than
those for all the rest of the line and in one case
were in excess of the total valuation of the
property passed through. Unless these claims
could be satisfactorily settled it might defeat
the building of the road. This road is intend
ed to be of standard gauge, with heavy rails,
rock ballast, and equal in all respects to a
steam road, and would do freight and express
business The time between Belfast and Cam
den would not exceed one hour; and in reply to
a question Mr.. Dorman said that this time
could be made including stops.
From Little river the road will come to Bel
fast over Northport avenue and Mr.. Dorman
suggested that the rails should be laid in the
center of the avenue, with carriage way on
each side, and that the road be parked from
Belfast to Little river, distance of about two
miles. This would make one of the finest
avenues in the State. If the rack is laid on
one side it will leave only narrow roadway,
entirely inadequate for the vehicles and auto
mobiles passing over this thoroughfare Under
the plan suggested, and all vehicles taking the
right hand way, there would be no danger of
collisions.
Mr. Dorman's suggestion met with very
favorable response from the members and
committee consisting of Messrs Dorman, Wes-
colt and Horton was appointed later by the
chair to confer with the promoters of the road
and the city government. This proposition
will without doubt be acceptable to the railroad
people as it will greatly facilitate their work
of construction, and they can well afford to
bear a considerable portion of the expense of
widening the avenue as it will give them a
permanent road bed on which to lay their
track
1t is here recalled that more than twenty
years ago board of trade of that day had
before it plan for widening and parking
Northport avenue, but as it was advocated
mainly by the owners of horses threatened
with speed it met with so much opposition
from citizens, who contended that it was pro-
posed to turn Northport avenue into speed
way, that the project was defeated, and prob
ably but for that opposition it would have been
talked to death.
1ue Hidtlei u Lit beildSt anu SdiilueH eleC-
trio road was discussed in its various phases
and the committee on new industries was in
structed to confer with the promoters and to
aid, so far as possible, in settling the question
of land damages. The sentiment of the board
in this respect was adequately voiced in res
olution offered by Mr.. Estabrooks and unani-
mously adopted. The fact that the opening
of this road would enhance the value of real
estate along it's line and add very materially in
the near future to the valuation of the towns
through which it passes was generally recog-
nized, and if its construction should be defeat
ed, or even deferred it is felt that it would be a
public misfortune.
| The matter of an electric road to Liberty
came up and two of the business men present
told of business that had been diverted from
Belfast to point on the B. & M. L. R. R.
where the freight rates from the west were
the same as to Belfast and the haul to Lib.
erty is shorter and easier. One of them said
that the business with Searsmont was nearly
if not quite equal to that with Liberty, and
this statement was confirmed by the other
The sentiment seemed to be that railroad te
| Searsmont, Freedom and Liberty was good
proposition and it was suggested that the com
mittee on new industries be instructed tc
ascertain the feasibility of the route and the
amount of business that might be secured