The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-23
SKOWHEGAN.AT
R. R. PROJECT
Brought Before Legisla-
ture Last Week
A. n. Butler, Jefferson Savage and
Others From Skowhegan Spoke Be-
fore Hearing.

discussion in that section of the state
for the past two years or more was
before the committee on railroads and
expresses last Thursday afternoon
and a lively hearing developed, the
proposition being very strongly back
ed and opposed. In order to build the
road the promoters believe the towns
through which it will pass will have
to help and this is what. is causing
the trouble. All the people who will
be directly benefited want the road
and most of the others but many do
not wish the towns to contribute any
money to it. Many town meetings on
the subject have been held and the
matter pretty we'll threshed out
Skowhegan and Athens have voted to
contribute but Madison has refused
several times as has Cornyille.
The situation in Madison, from
which most of the opposition that de-
veloped before the committee came, is
peculiar. The eastern part of the
town is separated from the western
part, or Madison bridge, and its nat
ural business center is Skowhegan.
This part of the town will be greatly
benefited by the proposed road while
Madison bridge will get only an in
direct benefit. The bulk of the voters
are in Madison bridge so they have
voted down any proposition to aid the
road although 1t is claimed the peo-
pie of the eastern section are so anx-
ious to have the road they would be
willing to pay the whole assessment
for the town If that could be arranged
legally.
In order to get around this Difficult
ty and the opposition in Cornville the
bill before the committee contains
the provision that towns be given
the right to contribute to railroads
up to one per cent of their valuation
and by majority vote and that the
question can be taken up at any regu
larly called town meeting. Accord
ing to the present law after a town
has voted once on a proposition to aid
a railroad it cannot take the matter
up again except at a regular town
meeting and then 1t must be favored
by a two-thirds vote and sums up to
five per cent of the valuation can be
voted.
The bill also gives the railroad
. g .;srl,t i,
steam road, having the privilege of
using the roads or private land as it
sees fit. 1t is given authority to do
an express business; construct tele
phone line for its own use and buy
out two lines now in operation in that
section, and furnish electricity for
Athens, Cornyille and part of Madi-
son. The road will be built as sub
stantially as a steam road and will
handle freight
The railroad was represented by
Harvey d. Eaton of Wateryille, who
explained to the committee the lay
of the land through which the road
will run and the need for it that ex-
lists. He stated that the section
through which the road will pass has
been falling off in population for the
past 40 years and at ributed this to
the lack of transportation and bust
ness facilities. He predicted that
the railroad would greatly increase
the prosperity of that section. He
explained that Athens had voted to
contribute the limit allowed by law
for the road and Skowhegan had voted
to contribute $15 900 The road will be
II 72 miles long and 1t is estimated
that it will cost $4,000 per mile to
build while 100000 or more will be
needed for rolling stock, making a
total outlay of about $l50000 1t was
desired by the promoters that $4,000
Of this be raised by the towns and
private subscription. The Maine Cen
tral had been asked to give $4,000,
Cornville $4,000 and Madison $4,000
Mr.. Eaton said that the railroad must
be a sort of neighborhood affair and
Is not an attractive proposition to
speculators. If it can be demonstrat-
ed that 1t is favored by the section
through which 1t passes he thought
It would assist in selling the bonds
and under the conditions all the en-
couragement possible is needed
j. F. Holman of Athens thought the
road would be of great general bene-
NJ and especially to the lumber bus
mess. He said that there are sec
lions of the original growth where
lumber Is rotting on the ground be-
cause 1t cannot be handled under
present conditions. He also thought
that there Is great chance for the de-
Feiopment of water power and the
buildings of many industries II their
product can be marketed while the
farmers will be greatly benefited by
the chance to market their products
George Aver of Athens stated that
II cost him 81 per ton for freight and
ne estimated the total amount hand
led In the section through which the
new road viii pass to be 1000 cars
year While this could be increased
easily by AGHo TO 1900 with a rail-
road
Jefferson Savage OF Skowhegan
stoutiy opposed the bill He claimed
that the town meetings held In Show
nesan had been Illegal and not fair
TEST OF the sentiment of the voters
lie did not object to having the rail-
road built but he did object to his
.oWn contributing any money to 1t.
ne asked that the hearing be contin-
ueo 80 that those who opposed the
proposition could get together and