• Gradually the gasoline motor is displacing the hand car on the railroads of America. The vision of a road master ensconced on a clumsy hand car with four stalwart section hands pumping at the handle bars of the slowly working machine has been a familiar sight on railroads for many years. But now in place of the old grind of the sprocket chain is heard the puff of the gasoline motor car that is readily handled by one man. The new motor car will carry seven or eight men and a considerable quantity of tools or provisions.

• The greatest of all Hebrew holidays, Rosh Hashannah, or the glad New Year, is approaching. Commencing Wednesday evening at sundown, the Hebrews in Lewiston and Auburn and all over America will begin a two days’ observance of the opening of the new year by a solemn service of prayer. The observance lasts two days during which there are frequent services in the temples or synagogues.

50 Years Ago, 1956

The Maine Central Railroad has announced its plans to discontinue weekday and Sunday passenger train service between Farmington and Portland.

The main reasons for the seeking discontinuance of the once daily trips are lack of passenger patronage, no need for the service and heavy losses encountered as a result of the first two reasons.

MCRR also noted that fuel and crew expenses alone are more than five times the revenue derived from carrying passengers on the line.

25 Years Ago, 1981

If you keep a careful eye on your calorie tally each day, you’ll be interested to know about a new low-calorie sweetener called Aspartame that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will be test marketed after October 22, 1981.

Aspartame combines two elements found naturally in protein and gives the sweetness of a teaspoon of sugar with about one-tenth of a calorie. Sugar has 18 calories per teaspoon.