The independent-reporter., 1910-03-03
MUCH INTEREST FELT IN
ATHENS ROAD
Work will be Started Early In the
Spring

that IS keeping the promoters from
building the road now is the snow and
frost. Plans are fast developing where
by crew will set to work at the ear
liest possible time in the spring.
There Is hardly a day passes that
there is not added some one who is
ready to give aid in financial way
for the construction of this line. 1t is
true that those most interested in the
line are individuals, but they are will
ing to put in large sums of money to-
wards the development of this project.
There is little doubt but that the towns
of Cornville and Athens will vote five
per cent of their valuation at their an
nual town meetings in March. This
will mean from $4,000 to 100000 from
them towards the construction of this
line. The Brighton Lumber Company
has shown it's desire to have this line
and is ready to appropriate large
sum of money. Farmers within a
radius of five miles of where this line
Is to run are giving the towns and
the committee on the proposed line
most hearty support. There are many
individuals who are pledging them
selves to give from 500 to $500 1t
this line is constructed. So sure are
many of the farmers and local lumber
men near Brighton and Athens and in
Cornville that they are doing a great
deal of business this winter in prepar-
alton for the use of the line. Many
of the farmers have gotten their ground
ready to put in large crops of pota
toes and corn. Several farmers have
ploughed up 40 or SO acres to plant
potatoes.
Few realize the advantage that
railroad from Skowhegan to Athens,
and perhaps further on, would be to
the lumber industry. This county
near Brighton and Athens is still
abounding in large growths of timber
There are a great many acres that
have not been touched because of the
inconveniences In the past of tram
sporting the lumber to market. The
new road will not only afford market
for the lumber in this part of the coun
ty, but it will mean a development in
the water power at Athens.
Athens had five water powers. One
is above the village about one ana
one-fourth miles below the pond. The
waterfall here Is IL feet. Another one
just below this has a waterfall of nine
feet The others are near the village;
one just above the village Is 10 feet
and one just below the village, where
the saw mill is, is IA feet. The pond
near Athens covers 1926 acres. The
Wesserunsett river which runs through
Athens village affords the water pow
er. 1t is considered by good authori-
ties that here is a good site for wool
en- and cotton mills.
Athens is noted for its historical
beauty and productiyeness in many
ways. The first roads were mere
paths from house to house, but from
time to time as necessity demanded,
they increased in number and excel
lence and In 1898 petition was pass
ed in to the clerk of common pleas
for a road across the town. The fret
town meeting held in Athens after
its incorporation into town, was held
at the home of Clement Bunker, MAY
4, 1904 At this meeting no business
was done except to elect town officers.
The next meeting was held at the same
place two weeks later, when it was
voted to raise $100 for the support of
schools, and that corn, rye and wheat
should be the currency to pay the
taxes of the town, corn at shillings,
rye 5shillings and wheat shillings per
bushel. In 1861 the population of the
town was 1860. OF this number 1t is
probable that there might have been
$50 voters, but when the war cloud
enveloped the country and there was
cell for volunteers, bravely did Athens
respond and of the 108 who stood be-
tween the union and its foes, 81 never
returned.
According to the report of Engi
neer John Jones of Lewiston who, in
the early fall made a survey for this
proposed line, he considered that the
line should come from Athens and
take in East Madison, so called, which
Is situated on the east side of Madi-
son pond. For about 10 years the
west side of this pond has been grow
ing up to be a popular inland summer
resort, but In making this summer re-
sort a great deal of artificial land
building had to be done on account of
so much low land originally. On the
cast side of the pond the natural
landing and surroundings for sum-
mer resort are ideal. The land is
high and the shore shady. The pro-
posed line will develop this side of
the pond into summer resort sur
passing a great many in the state.
East Madison is a beautiful, historic
settlement of about 800 people. The
scenery is natural and the streets
picturesuue The possibilities for the