MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE The following document is provided by the LAW AND LEGISLATIVE DIGITAL LIBRARY at the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library http://legislature.maine.gov/lawlib Reproduced from scanned originals with text recognition applied (searchable text may contain some errors and/or omissions) l 'j l Public Documents of Maine: BEING THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE VARIOUS PuOlic Officers an~ Institutions FOR THE YEAR 188 4. VOLUME II. AUGUSTA: SPRAGUE & SON, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 188 4. REPORT OF THH Railroad Commissioners OF THE STATE OF MAINE. 1883. --·--- AUGUSTA: SPRAGUE & SON, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 18 84. • * • REPORT. 1'0 the Governor of Maine: The Railroad Commissioners respectfully submit their twenty-fifth annual report. The importance of the railroad system of Maine, as a means of developing the resources of the State, is becoming more apparent every year. By reason of the facilities it affords, mineral wealth is being uncovered, manufacturers are utiliz­ ing the abundant water powers, and our products are afforded ready markets; and, although in ·obtaining these facilities in some localities, heavy burdens have been assumed by cities and towns, still we think the benefit derived will fully com­ pensate them in the end. We do not, however, wish to be understood as favoring the principle of towns and cities aiding in the construction of railroads. The benefit to be derived by a large portion of the inhabitants of a town, is too remote to justify it in most instances. We again have the pleasure of congratulating the public, and the several railroad corporations operating roads in the State, on the remarkable exemption from any serious casualties during the year. While in a few instances accidents have occurred by which life haR been lost, confined chiefly to employes of the roads, there has been none that could· justly be attributed to any defect in the roads, or to the general management of the same. In our examinations, during the year, of the tracks, rolling stock, bridges, viaducts and culverts of the several roads, as required by law, we have generally found them in good repair ' 4 RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. and safe for public travel; and whenever we have had doubts as to the safety of any or either of them, we have given notice to the managers of such roads, in writing, of their condi­ tion, calling particular attention to the apparent defect, and are pleased to note the fact that all such repairs or renew­ als, required by us, were promptly made. NEW ROADS. During the year 1883 the following new railroad corpora­ tions have been organized under the provisions of the genera.I railroad law, viz : FRANKLIN AND SOMERSET RAILROAD. The road to extend from a point on the Sandy River Rail­ road, at or near South Strong, in the county of Franklin, in a north-easterly direction to North New Portland, in the county of Somerset. Length, 17 miles; gauge, 2 feet. MOUNT DESER1' RAILROAD. The road to extend from the village at Bar Harbor, in the town of Eden, into the town of Mount Desert. Length of the road about 3 miles; gauge, 2 feet. ANSON AND NEW PORTLAND RAILROAD. The road to extend from a point on the Somerset Railroad at North Anson, in a northerly direction to North New Port­ land, in the county of Somerset. Length about 8 miles; gauge, 2 feet. None of the above mentioned roads have been built, nor have their proposed locations been approved by the board of -. Railroad Commissioners at the date of this report. • RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 5 LAWS RELATING TO RAILROADS. Though there is to he no session of the Legislature the present winter, we deem it our duty, thus early, to call atten­ tion to some provisions of the statute which, in our judg­ ment, should be amended. We think that railroad corporations, organized under the provisions of the general statute, should be permitted to have the question determined whether or not the public conven­ ience requires the construction of their contemplated road, before being required to expend a large sum of money in making an actual survey of their proposed route, with plans and estimates, as now required by law. If the Railroad Commis:::;iouers, as they may, determine that the public convenience and exigencies <lo not require such road, and refuse to approve the location, such corporations are subjected to great loss and needless expenditure ; while on the other hand, if those questions could he settled at the time of approval of the articles of association, much loss and inconvenience to parties so organizing would be avoided . • RELATING TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, The statutes now provide that "when a serious accident occurs on a railroad, and any person is thereby injured, the commissioners shall immediately proceed to the place and examine into the cause thereof, may send for persons and papers, and make a full statement of the cause and results of the accident in their annual report, and in any other manner tbey think the public good requires." In addition' to this statute, we think there should be a provision requiring the officers of the railroad upon which the nccident takes place, to immediately notify one or more of the commissioners, so that they may " immediately " attend and obey the above requirements. 6 RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. w AYS ACROSS RAILROADS. The Legislature of 1883 in its wisdom saw fit to confer jurisdiction upon the board of Railroad Commissioners, in cases where ways are laid out ac1'oss a raifroad, to determine the manner and conditions of crossiug such railroad; notwith­ standing the fact that another statute provides that in cases where railroads cross the highways jurisdiction as to the manner of crossing is conferred upon the County Commis­ sioners (R. S.,.Chap. 51, Sec. 13). Why this seeming con­ flict of jurisdiction of the same subject matter is made we are unable to determine. We think the conditions and manner of crossing of ways over railroads, as railroads over ways, should be determined in the same manner and by the same board, and that the Railroad Commissioners should have juris­ diction of all such crossings, or none at all. • RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 7 RAILROADS IN MAINE. ------ Aroostook River Railway...... ...................... 30. 30. Atlantic and St. Lawrence (Grand Trunk) ..................... 82! 149.5 Androscoggin ( Maine Central) viz: Bath Branch, and .•••..•...•. 8.i Brunswick to Farmington, including branch to Lewiston .•.•.••••• 66.9 l 75.65 Bangor and Piscataquis •.....•...•...•.•••••.•.••• , •••.••••••. 62.5 62.5 Bangor and Katahdin Iron Wqrks Railway ..................... 19. 19. Belfast and Moosehead Lake (Maine Central) ................. .. 33. 33. Boston and Maine ......•••••••.•.•.•••. , .••.••••• , .••• , •••••• , 44, 116. Bridgton and Saco River.........••.••...••.•.••••••••••••••.•. lii.5 15.5 Eastern Maine, formerly Bucksport and Bangor (Maine Central) .. 18.8 18.8 European and North American (Maine Central) ................. 114.2 114.2 Green Mountain Railway .•.•••.•••••••••••..••••••...•••••.••. l.13 1.13 Grand 'frunk .........••••..••.•••.•......•.••• , ••.••••••••••. 4,560. Houlton Branch (N. B. and Canada). • ...................... .. 3. 8. Knox and Lincoln ......•••..•.••••••••.•••••.•••••.•••••••..• , 49. 49. Kennebunk and Kennebunkport ............................. , •• 4.5 4.5 Lewiston and Auburn (Grand Trunk) .......................... 5.5 5.5 Lewiston and Auburn (Horse) ................................ 7.5 7.5 Maine Central (to Bangor via. Augusta, inclusive of Portland and Kennebec, 63 miles) ................................... 136.6 136.6 Maine Central (Cumberland via Lewiston to Waterville) •.••••••• 72.93 72.93 Monson.· ...•........••..•..•.•••.•••..•.••••.••. •••• •••• ·••· 6. 6. New Brunswick (Aroostook River) ........................... .. 174. New Brunswick and Canada ...........•....•..•••••••••••••••. 128. Newport and Dexter (Maine Ventral) •.. ·...................... .. u. 14. Norway Branch (Grand Trunk) ............................... 1.5 1.5 Old Orchard Junction ....................................... .. 2.5 2.5 Orchard Beach .... .-•••......•.....•.•• , •••. , ••••• , , , , · . , • , • • • · 3. 3. Ocean Street Horse ...•..••..••.•••..••.•••..•.•.•..•..••••..•• 1.5 Portland and Kennebec (Maine Central) ...................... .. 63. Portland and Ogdensburg.•.•••••••..••..••••••••••.•..•.•.•••. 51. 110. Portland and Rochester...•..••••.•.••..••..•••.•.•••••••••••.. 49.5 52. Portland, Saco and Portsmouth ...••..••.•••••••.••••••••••••••. 50.75 51. Portland (Horse) •.•...•••.•.•••••••••.•••.•.•••••••••••••.••• 7.25 7.25 Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway ........................... 2.92 72. Rumford Falls and .Buckfield ....•••.••...••••• , .•••••••••••• , • , 27.5 27.5 Sandy River.•.••••.••..•••.•••.• , •••••••••• , ••••••••..•••. , •. 18. 18. Somerset •...•.•••..••.•.•.....•.•.....•••.•• , ••••••• , ••• , • • • · 25. 25. Somerset and Kennebec (Waterville to Skowhegan, Maine Central) 18.19 37.75, St. Croix and Penobscot ..•••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••. 18. 22. St. Croix (New Brunswick and Canada), ... , ................... .50 7, Whitneyville and Machias ..•••.••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••• 7.5 7.5 -------- Total .............................................. 1,079,52 6,238.18 8 RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. AROOSTOOK RIVER RAIL w AY. From State line to Presque Isle in Aroostook county, 30 miles. Dfrector8-Hon. Isaac Burpee, St. John, N. B. E. R. Burpee, Bangor, Me. Geo. Stephens, Montreal. J. S. Kennedy New York. J. Kennedy Tod, New