Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-14
RAILROADING IS
DISCUSSED AT
ROTARY MEETING

An interesting discourse on the
| various phases of railroading with
| particular emphasis on those sections
| that are of particular interest to
| Gardiner people was given at the
regular weekly meeting and luncheon
! of the Gardiner Rotary Club at the
| Johnson House Wednesday noon by
| James NJ. L. Bates, Maine Central
Freight Agent. Mr.. Bates opened his
| talk by referring to his experience in
| the business saying that his father,
| the late James Bates, learned rail-
| reading at Skowhegan In 1866. COM
| ing to Gardiner in 1874, and held the
| position of agent until 1909 at which
| time he was succeeded by the speak
| err He pointed out that IL he held
! the position more years it would
mean that this agency has been filled
f, by father and son for a period of
| 60 years, indeed an unique record. In
1874 there We're in Gardiner paper
| mills, machine shops. spring axle
| works, wood working shops, wooden
mills and saw mills. Large quaint
| ties of farm produce such as eggs,
| butter, poultry, vegetables and hay.
! He estimated that at that time the
| total shipments of hay from this re-
gion by boat and rail would be equal
| to seven or eight hundred carloads
a year, and figured that now SO
would cover ii, probably the effects
of the automobile. Then or car
! loads of lumber were shipped out by
rail every day. Now an occasional
carload OF box boards moves. and
carloads of lumber arrive here daily
| from Oregon, California, Arkansas,
| Idaho and Arizona.
On the other hand, Mr., Bates said,
| the volume of paper mill business in
| and out has increased with the i'm
provements in machinery and speed.
| The manufacture of shoes has come
! to be our most prolific source of ac-
tivity. Mr.. Bates declared that he
! would not dare to make an estimate
| of the comparative value of the shoe
supplies and shipments as against the
value of the products of the saw
mills and other industries of former
days. He pointed out that it was
doubtless. true that the increase of
any community as a manufacturing
| center caused decrease compare
lively in the farm production of the
| adjacent region. There was a time
a few years ago that the Maine Cen
trail shipped 1880 carloads of pota-
toes each season from Gardiner, now
but $3.50 cars are shipped. The ap-
pie crop also frequently ran up to
5000 barrels per year. and has now
become a minor industry. The local
movement of coal over the NJ. c. K.
r. wharf from vessels has been di-
! verted to the coast ports Where
ships Of much larger tonnage can en-
ter. This was once an important
feature of the local station. Mr..
! IL nf nd
ministration brought about by the
| World War caused many changes,
some detrimental and some benefi-
cial. Pointing out that the grouping
of several small roads into large sys-
TENS will surely be a benefit TO the
cause of good transportation.
The auto has done its great share
in the change of railroad conditions,
the most noticeable change here be-
ing the almost entire loss of ship
ments of household goods. Also the
general public must have some idea
by the loss to passenger traffic caus-
a ed by the general use of automobile.
In predicting possible changes in the
future. Mr. Bates showed that in
view of Names distance from the
markets. the weather the heavy ma =
ture of our principal commodities
necessitating carload shipments the
further inroad of the freight truck
would be precluied. The passenger
bus can be used by the railroad to
some extent and it may be that in
the freight service the English sys-
tenn of railroad collection and de-
livery of freight will become general
by consolidation of express and rail-
roads. Mr. Bates ventured to say
that in his time might come the cleo
IRRIGATION of our railroad system,
perhaps by the utilization of tidal
power.
In closing he stressed the point
that we must have the railroads. and
that they should be so wisely admin
istered and supervised, and patron
lied that there shall be rendered to
the public adequate service at the
right cost to the investor due re-
turn on his capital, and to the en-
ployee. the living wage that is ever
his due.
The Rev. Edward c. McAllister in
structed the two new club members,
attorney George W. Heselton and
superintendent NJ. J. McGrail, of the
Commonwealth factory in the ethlcs
OF Rotary. President Littlefield con-
graduated the club members on the
excellent attendance, over so per cent
at the Gardiner Day of the Rotary
, Conyentio nat Poland Springs last
Tuesday. The guests present were
Winfield Pope, George Macomber ana
George Hewett of the Augusta Ro-
, tary Club.