Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-03-18

How do you like the new train
schedule?" Probably this question
has been asked by nine out Of every
ten of Skowhegan's citizens during
the past week and the answers can
be expressed in one slangy. but in this
case expressive word. Pun" The
real facts in the matter are. that the
two steps backward.
Sometime during the present win
ter, a few of the citizens of this town
awoke to the fact that the conditions
and size of the community warranted
an Improvement in the train service.
service up to l o'clock +. NJ. was fair
ly efficient and satisfactory. but the
freight service was poor, and for that
matter, is today.
A protest was promptly sent to the
Federal authorities at Washington
who referred it back to the division
al authorities, with the result that
meeting was called in Skowhegan
which was attended by the railroad
officials. After listening to the de-
mands for a better service, the cit
liens were asked. What do you
want?" This was more or less of
poser and resulted in Skowhegan be-
upon a schedule the railroad would be
pleased to take the matter up and
would give the town any schedule
that would not be antagonistic to the
interests of the road.
After several meetings of the Boaro
of Trade. schedule was agreed upon
and a committee appointed to present
the matter to the railroad. which was
done. Concessions wele granted by
both the committee and the railroad.
both parties were satisfied al the
time, and the new schedule has been
in force for one week.
The real. unadulterated fact is that
Skowhegan did not krow JUS what
they did want for train serv'ce.
There seems to be tendency to lay
the blame on one or two individuals.
1t should be considered that no one or
two citizens o. Skowhegau attach so
much importance to their personal in
fluence as to be able to tell railroad
corporation when and how it should
run it's trains. 1t would follow then.
that all must bear the blame. get to-
gether and try again.
AS far as the Few service goes from
the mail standpoint, conditions have
been reversed. and We now have a
very good dispatch service and no
mail receipts until nco'. AS this ar
fects the mail service On the entire
branch. Fairfield included. it will be
seen that twelve or fifteen t:'cusand
people are entirely cut off FROM tLe
world for nearly IS hours. For
community of this size, this is 'eal1y
a hardship. For example. the lieavy
mail. including the morning papers.
arrives in Skowhegan at Ills. two
hours after the rural carriers have
gone. and these approximately zoos
rural patrons receive news of the out
side world SO hours late. This has
been remedied to a certain extent at
this office. Commencing "Wednesday
the rural carriers will leave the Of
fee at 1915 instead of 9 o'clock.
Skowhegan is dissatisfied with the
cancellation of the early morning matt
which they have been accustomed to
receive for many years. and more so
when there is no logical reason for
this condition to exist. This condi-
ton cannot nor will not be handled
by the Postal Department on its own
initiative. There must be concert
ed and unanimous action taken by
the people and the sooner this is done,
the sooner the morning mail service
will be restored. This. in connection
with what We have, will give Show
hegan as near what she needs as the
town will probably ever get.
Following is a list of the real es-
week:
Cambridge-sanford E. Bailey of
Cambridge to Carroll F. Bailey OF
Cambridge, one undivided half of the
Ford Brown farm. so-called.
Embden-Frank H. Russell OF
Madison to Arthur Chandler of Mad
ison, one half acre Of land with build
ings on easterly side Of Hancock
pond in Embden.
Standardization E. Delano, Ma
tilda Pooler and Charles E. Pooler of
Fairfield to Alvah l.. Morrison Ct
Benton. land and buildings in Fair
field village.
Harmony--Hattie E. Bachelor of
Harmony to Wingate Baine of Har-
mony. land with buildings in Har-
mony.
Hartland-Ethel NJ Craig of Stur-
bridge. Mass. to Daniel A. Packard
of Hartland. land with buildings in
Hartland village. Hattie E. Blake OF
Hartland to j. A. Ordway of Hart
land. land in Hartland village.
Madson-Winnie NJ. Sylvester OF
Madison to Charles H. Cross of Nor
ridgewock. land with buildings On
westerly side Of Madison street in
Madison village. John r. Bicknell
Of Madison to Evelyn S. Tibbetts
and Addie NJ. Burns Of Skowhegan,
15S acres of land in Madison.
Mercer-Charles N. Jones Of Skow-