Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-22
Railroad Insures i,
Safety Industries
SheepscOt Valley


Lumber, dairy products and sweet
corn are the basis of the chief indus
tries of the Sheepscot River Valley.
where the residents of several ancient
towns recently bought the narrow
gauge railroad which serves their
communities in order to prevent it's
abandonment. In recent years the en-
tertainment of summer visitors has
become an important factor.
AS it's name indicates, the Wis
casset, Waterville and Pennington
Railway originally was planned to
connect the seaport of Wiscasset with
the city Of Waterville and thence to
continue to Pennington, making con-
nections at these two points with the
Maine Central lines to eastern and
northern Maine, This idea, however,
was given up and the narrow gauge
line as finally constructed and now in
operation runs from Wiscasset
through the towns of Alma, Whitefield.
Windsor and China to terminus in
Albion.
The idea of cutting through this
section of Maine with a railroad was
preached long before this line was
built AS far back as 1872 a charter
was obtained from the legislature for
narrow gauge line to be known as
the Kennebec and Wiscasset Railroad
It's hackers intended to have it run from
Wiscasset to Augusta and in their plea
for support they dilated upon the posi-
bilities of building up the industries of
the capital city by giving 1t direct rail
connection with tidewater at Wiscasset,
which has one OF the best deepwater har-
bors on the Atlantic coast. This project
failed.
The 'W. w. and F." prospered at
first but with the increasing Compe-
ton of motor transportation II began
to lose money and finally was forced
into receivers hands. Carson c. Peck
of New York bought the road from the
receivers and at his death bequeathed
it to his widow. Mrs. Peck. finding
that the road was not meeting eX-
penses. decided to give it up and a
short time ago she announced that
operation would be discontinued and
the railroad equipment sold for junk
unless $4,000 could be raised for pur-
chase of the railroad. Under the lead
ership of Samuel j. Sewall. for 25
years general manager of the line. the
residents of the valley towns sub
scribed $4,000 and Herbert o. Phil
lips Of Portland supplied the remain
ing $4,000 and also offered to serve as
president of the road at dollar a
year. A salary of. $4,000 a year for
the president had figured in the pre-
vious expenses of the road.
Since the first white men came to
this part of Maine the power furnished
NV hn viz 10 IL \
them to maintain their Industries. In
the early days every little fall on the
stream had it's saw mill or grist mill.
These gradually fell into decay but
were succeeded by more modern lum-
Der plants in all the towns on the
line Of the narrow gauge railroad.
Creameries in Wiscasset and Albion
take a large part of the milk and
cream raised on the numerous dairy
farms in the valley. The farmers
have large acreage of sweet corn
which is marketed through canneries
in China and Albion. There is con-
siderable trade in livestock and there
are few minor industries.
1t is a singular coincidence that
everyone of these Sheepscot valley
eowns at some time in it's history has
changed its name at least once. Wis
casset, the Oldest of the communities
figures in legends of visits of the
Norsemen to this coast and it's actual
settlement was started in 1868. when
with Alma and two other towns 1t
formed the ancient Pownalborough.
Alma when set aside as separate
stown was first known as New Milford
Whitefield was formerly the west part
of the old town of Ballstown. Windsor
was first named Malta and later Ger
ry. China was originally Jones' Plan
tation and later Harlem. Albion was
successfully Freetown Plantation,
and Lygonia.
In spite of its river industries the
Sheepscot valley has seen a steadily
dwindling population. In 1850 these
six towns had a total population Of
ll,572. In 1920 it was only $3.50.
China. the largest of the six in 1850
with 2769 inhabitants, maintained that
position in 1920 with 1857 while Wis
casset. the second in size although the
shire town of Lincoln county, dropped
from 1882 to 1892. Alma dropped from
ZIG to $40, Whitefield from 215S to
S62 and Windsor from 1893 to 500.
Albion showed the greatest resistance
to this tendency, dropping from 1904
to 900 but rising in relative position
among the six towns from fifth to
third place.
Nowadays the population is tenn
porar1ly increased by several thou
SANDS during the summer months.
Wiscasset, which has gained world
wide fame as the home port of the
Macmillan Arctic expedition, in addi-
ton to its own popularity as a sum
mer resort is centre of motor and
Steamboat transportation to other