The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-04-28
4s6
299
1881
a3272
bloomington
Salem
Derby
Total

Total s3,272
Now, Sir tho compiler Of this table most obviously,
designed to convey the impression that far The
olaus Of the respective routes depend upon the pop
ualion orthe country through which they pnss, they
have nearly equal merits, and such must have been
the impression produced upon your citizens who saw
! it, conceiyng, no doubt that it compiled with all
| fairness.
| But, Sir what are the !acts7 or the towns con-
tanning 33, 1897 inhabitants, upon the Portland route
| four, namely, Wostbrooke, Falmouth, Cumberland,
and North Yarmouth, containing 10 .627 inhabitants,
are comm ercal towns lying CascoBny and within
10 miles of Portland. Eight of the towns named with
population OF 5223, are in Cumberland County, of
which Portland is the shire. 0,s02 OF the SO, 1897
inhabitants on the route reside in the towns situated
within tho first half Of the route, the part nearest
Portland leaving but 1886 scattered through the
mountainous country from Rumford TO tho Provincial
linemore Than half Of the entire distance glance
at tho mnp Of Maine will show you the correctness Of
this statement-R umlord being sixty miles from Port
land. The route thence through Andover and the
unincorporated townships, C. and b. strikes the line
Of New Hampshire at Errol. Here, the upper
Androscoggn,is a small settlement Of l04 nhahit-
ants. Thence to Cuebrook, on the Connecticut rv-
or, through Dxvilie inhabitants found is
the country susceptible orcultivation.
No charter has been obtained from the Legislature
of New Hampshire for this section of the route, and
it being unimporant 10 any considerable portion Of
her citzers while the rival is cherished as of
paramount importance to the interests Of the State,
there must necessarily be much uncertainty touching
the granting Of the Dixvie charter.
havealrendy called your attention to the consideration
that capitalists will be cautious about investing funds
for the construction of railroad however desirable
it may be for certain interests when the route must
traverse. for any considerable distance an unproduc-
tive territory. But we have here project for con-
sructing railway, where, for seventy miles lat least,
the population orthe inersected is 5ut 2,595,
with no considerable settlements on either side, ca
pablo of furnishing feights or passengers,-to say
nothing of tho rugged and mountainous character Of
the country, Of the further fact that, after crossing
the line there considerable settlements on the
route until you arrive at Sherbrooke.
Contrast this project, Sir, with that OF tho con-
struc,ion of railway through the territory have
described from Concord 10 SteRstead-every mile
of which is inhabited by industrious and enterpri-
sing community, also the country wide from it
either side. Consider that the feasibility Of this
has been established by competent surveys, and that
it has the sanction of the large number Of capitalists
and business men in Boston whose names were ap-
pended ito the doeOmentwhich appeared in your paper
Of the 18Th inst. Consider, further that this route
strikes the province line Stnnstoad ofIhe mos,
enterprising, wealthy, and populous Of the Eastern
Townships, communicating, either way, with popu-
lous portions of these Townships and allow to
enquire il there remain doubt that the decision
Of the only class ofthe community whose province ii
will be to decide the questionable cOptalists-wi
be in favor of the Concord route il railroad
shall connect your city with the Atlantic.
Your very obedient servant,
ERASTUS FAIRBANKS.
ST. Inhnshnrv Vt March 2S 1919