Year: 1869

To the Editor Of the Press:


The rapid and successful prosecution of the


railroad from Bath to Rockland opens new
and interesting questions of the future. 1t


is not merely local road that they are build


ing there. 1t has great public importance,
as being the last piece of coast line railroad
which is likely to be built in this State for
long time to come, and particularly because
it will save, for those who desire it, all tie
hazards and discomforts of outside naviga-
ton between the whole country around Pc
nobscot Bay on the one hand, and the West
ern part of the State on the other. At pres
ent one may go from New York to Portland
by rail near the coast. But going east from
Portland to any town on the seaboard, the
way must be either stage ride, wearisome at
all times, and at some seasons extremely un-
comfortable, or the traveller must 90 out to
sea. The six hours steaming from Portland
TO hockland is nearly all outside, and there
is no avoiding the often unpleasant incidents
OF storms, fogs and seasickness, to say moth
ing of dangers. But with the road soon to
be finished to Rockland, great change will
take place. The whole shore of Penobscot
Bay on both sides, and all the many islands
within its waters, and along its eastern mar
gin, will be accessible to and from the rail-
road terminus in all directions, by wholly in
side navigation in comparatively still waters,
open at all seasons, without any hindrances
or discomforts, except what may arise from
occasional fogs.


This view shows the Importance of the
position which Rockland will attain. when
the coast line railroad reaches that point, and
stops there, as it must. Rockland must then


become, if enterprise takes the right direc-
ton, the most commanding point of all the
country around Penobscot Bay. With suita-
BILE lines of small and swift steamers, rum
ming up and down the Bay, on both sides,
and across as far as to Mount Desert, every
town and important island within the whole
circuit will have-shouLd have-communica-
tion with Rockland, as the point where they
will most easily and cheaply strike the rail-
road. That gives them access to all other
parts of the country, and this, without even


a single hour of ocean exposure.


As to mere purposes of freighting goods,


the change may not be so immediate or great,


because freight-carrying vessels and steamers


do not object to outside navigation. The


ocean is their way to the larger markets OF


commerce. Whether Rockland can become


prominent port for general navigation and


freighting interests is not certain. Its posi-


ton with reference to the whole of Penob-
scot Bay, and looking out eastward towards
all the rest of the coast of Mime, is very
commanding, but its harbor is imperfect, by
reason of unavoidable exposure on the north
east. To some extent this is even draw
back upon its facilities for the business of
ordinary steamers-a difficulty, however,
which will certainly be encountered and per-
powerful advantage of being the easternmost


terminus OF the great line Of coast railroad.
Does not this position Of Rockland, with its


railroad completed, point out to the towns


around Penobscot bay, and others to the east


ward, their true policy, for some time to
come, in regard to the way of connecting


themselves, in the easiest and cheapest man


ner with the railroad system of the country?


There are some statements in the newspapers
Of attempts to construct railroad along the


western shore of the bay. Eventually. no


doubt, that may be done, but who, at present,
can bear the burden of such an undertakings
A writer was also quoted, recently, from Els


worth. or near there, bewailing the unfortu-


nate condition of that part of the State, as


hardly habitable, for want of railroad COM
munication with the rest Of the world. No


one would discourage any practicable endeav-
or to supply such lack-but when? when


can it be done? Can anyone fatter himself
that within any brief period, a railroad can
be built east of Penobscot river, along the
cOGsts


On the other hand, is it not the true poll
cy of all that region around the bay, and east
ward to make Rockland their objective point,
as soon as possible, by inside steamers run
ming every day, at all seasons, making twice
or thrice the number of landings, now made
| by the outside steamers-the latter not hav-
| ing time, on their long routes to make so
many call? The cost Of ten miles Of rail-
| road, would put half dozen small swift bay
steamers into their waters, which could run


betweel Rockland and Frankfort and be-
tween Rockland and Union river and Mount
Desert, at all seasons, with all desirable regu-
larity and comfort for passenger travel, and
with adequate dispatch.


As to mere pleasure travel and the objects
which summer tourists and seaside visitors


have in view, the completion of the railroad


to Rockland will open a revelation-if our
people are wise AMI spirited-which will yield
| rich and important results to the towns and
islands of Penobscot Bay. OF this anon, by
| leave. u.