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RAILWAY SURVEY

The New London Loop-Line Railway with connections at Ken- sington and Hunter River was surveyed in 1911.

Just before the Dominion Election was to take place on old man living near the Black Horse saw a bunch of men with surveyors equip- ment running a line of stakes across the fields. He asked them what they were doing and they explained that they were making a railway survey to Long River, he said, “you needn’t go to all that work boys for it is all down hill so just follow the road,” they said the train would have to come back, the old man said, “Oh! I never thought of that.”

The engineer was very diplomatic if the people objected to a railway between their house and road the stakes were placed behind the barn. Roads had to be cut through the woods.

The farmers in French River were harder to please than Long River, two brothers saw that their farms would be cut to pieces so they posted off to see the politicians, the the value of their farms would be ruined and they wouldn’t have a railway between their house and the main road, the politicians said they would put it between the house and the river but no no! no! that would never do so the politicians promised that there would never be a railway in French River in their life time; strange to say this pre election promise was faithfully kept.

The Clifton and Campbellton farmers didn’t care a whistle which way they ran their stakes so tenders were called for grading the road from Clifton to Stanley Bridge.

At the joint political meeting at New London the railway ques- tion really got hot, promises and counter promises flew thick and fast, a loud whistle was heard and Bill MacRae shouted all aboard Messervy the last train is now leaving for Charlottetown.

The election was soon over and no tenders let, perhaps just as well for about this time Pat Walsh found a surveyors stake through his largest pumpkin and was he mad!

CHAPTER IX YE OLDE MILL MUSEUM

In 1965 Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dunning bought the old Johnstone Mill for a museum, it was built in 1820.

The Government repaired the mill pond putting in a cement lo37-pass, it is surrounded by trees, a real beauty spot and a fishermans paradise.

The museum has an overshot water wheel, complete carding mill in working order, hand loom, spinning wheels and hundreds of articles used around farms and homes over a hundred years ago, the museum is now equipped with electric lights.

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