Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-08-05
Steam Communication with Europe.

In the American Railroad Journal OF
the 20lh inst. we find On article upon the
feasibility of the proposed new route to
Europe, by extending railway from
Maine 10 the eastern part Of Nova Scotia,
and by establishing a line OF steamers from
that point 20 Galway Bay in Ireland, to
connect with line of railroad from thence
to London.
The Journal states the advantages or the
route TO be in its directness and consequent
shortness; nearly one thousand miles will
be performed by railroad in about one third
the time steamer can run il. The cost
Of the trip will be reduced and the voyage
be much safer than on the present route,
as most Of the accidents occur in the Irish
Channel and on the coast of Maine and
Nova Scotia. which will be entirely avoid
ed by the route advocated. The Journal
argues The feasibility of the route and adds:
"This being admitted. the next question
is, cap it be opened? To secure this, all
that is wanting is the construction Of rail-
road from Waterville, Maine, to the prop
er point in Nova Scotia. Now. we have
every reason to believe that that portion Of
the line in New Brunswick and Nova Sco-
tia would be undertaken by the Provincial
governments. The feeling in the Provln-
ces in favor of railroads is very strong
They are looked upon as the only means
by which their former prosperity can be
restored The only reason why their con-
struction has not been engaged in has been
the want OF feasible scheme. They
have been laboring under the hallucination
that the Halifax and Quebec road was the
proper work to engage their efforts. This
project, utterly impraclicable in itself. and
unjustifable upon any mode of reasoning.
kept possession Of their mind and embar-
rassed all their movements. II was looked
upon as work national 10 its character,
and called for by the possession Of these
Provinces in relation to the Canadas. For
similar reason it was believed that the
home government would aid a work, the
design Of which was 10 unite into harmony
conflicting interests, and Provinces hostile
to each other. This hope is now entirely
cut off, and with it the attention Of the peo-
pie Of the Lower Provinces is now turned
towards the only scheme which is practica-
ble in itself, and which will secure the end
they have endeavored to attain, The car
rying out of the proposed road will open to
the Provinces the cities The United States,
their natural and appropriate markets, the
want of which is the gaeat cause of the de-
preston which exists there. 1t will place
them on the line Of the great route OF irav.
ell between Europe and America, and at
tract TO them population and wealth. and
secure the development Of their resources
to their fullest extent. These results will
be fully appreciated there, and we have no
doubt will secure, not only the prompt CO.
operation of the Provincial authorities, but
Of the home government, which will not
suffer itself to lose SO favorable an oppof-
tunity as this 10 regain the favor and good
will of her DISCONTINUED Provincial subjects.
The success OF this portion of the line we
may count as certain. The most difficult
part Of accomplishment we think is that
from Bangor to the eastern line OF the
Stale. This portion of it is almost an en-
tire wilder mess, and the country traversed
can afford no aid to the work. But if il can
he made certain that the Provincial line
could be built, we think that there can be
no doubt that the road extending east from
New York would make common cause in
favor of the line in Maine, and extend the
necessary did 10 its construction. Such
would te for their interests, and such we
have no doub: would be the result"