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successes; two of their students went on to become medical
doctors: Dr. George Cahill in 1870, and Dr. Michael Wall
in 187 617 (See Appendix 3 for the names of the doctors who
were born in, and who practised in, these five communities.)

After the completion of the main railroad in 1874 atten-
tion turned to a branch railroad through eastern Prince
County. The advantages to any community through which
it would pass were obvious: fast, reliable transportation for
farm exports, and convenient travel to major centres.
Numerous meetings were held, and communities from
Bedeque to Kelly’s Cross argued why the railroad should
pass through their districts. Hon. James C. Pope, who had
entered federal politics, becoming Minister of Marine and
Fisheries in the Federal Government, was a popular speaker
at these meetings!8 The decision went in favor of the
shortest distance between the main line at Emerald and the
shipping port at Cape Traverse, a distance of about twelve
miles; this route took the railroad directly through Newton
and Somerset. Work began in September 1883 and was
completed in November the following year. It was a boon
to the area. Workers could earn a dollar a day, and if they
had a horse and cart, they earned two dollars a day]9 It was
also a boon for the rum-sellers as the following letter from
Somerset in November, 1883, suggests.

The grading of the Cape Traverse Branch Railway is
being rapidly pushed forward, and every effort made
to have the work completed early in December next.
A considerable number of men are employed and
wages is (sic) pretty fair. The rum -sellers, ever alive to
self-in terest, seeing the golden opportunity now open-
ed up in their particular line of business for money—
making, have in many places along the line establish—
ed “shebeens”, Where the rollicking railroad navy may
fill himself as full, and get himself just as drunk, as
a keg of whiskey, providing always he’s got the money

35

for it. One of these dins which the “boys” have
facetiously denominated as “bummers roost’i is par-

ticularly notorious for the number of drunks it daily
and nightly turns out.”

Stories about those times are still told around Kinkora
and Newton; especially about why the railroad zigzags
along the twelve mile route. Somerset was given a station
on the line, and a new name for it. The following descrip—

tion from a reporter on the first trip on the new line in 1884
explains:

The first thing to note on the new line is theiron bridge
over the Dunk River. It is of rails fastened together in
the form of a trestle, and it is supported on either side
of the rapid stream by masonry of the most approved
kind. Those who know say it is without a doubt one
of the strongest and most durable railway bridges in
the Province. The stone for the masonry was obtain-
ed in a quarry not far from County Line. It is hard and
red, and stands the climate well. . . .

TWO side stations have been established for the accom-
modation of the farmers who reside near the new line.
One of these is the village of Somerset, and rejoices
in the historic and poetic name of Kinkora. The name
Kinkora is known to those interested in the history of
Ireland as then name of a spot on which the famous
Brian Boroimhe held his court and supported a royal
magnificence as early as the year of our Lord, 980; and
it is therefore appropriate as the name of a station in
the midst of one of the most flourishing settlements
of the sons of Ireland in this New World. The other
side station is near Cape Traverse and is called
Albany?1

Father Patrick Doyle is credited not only with selecting
the name, Kinkora, but with getting the railroad through