Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-04-03
European and North American
Railway.


mittee appointed at the portland, Couyen-
lion. last July. ss>copy Of House dorumeat
NO 81, Massachusetts Legislature, being
Epeti,ioa Of said COMMITTEES tia. the Slate of
hinssaqhpse,ls viii apply aroruon of the
tprocestso tAspublic Iaad. Of .the Common
wealth, lying Massachusetts in aid Of said
undertaking.
The Committee state that the moiety oil
ahs puAlisi lands in Maine falling 90 Massa-
thnsetts az the separation, arier deddcting
the territory ceded to Great Britain, amo united
10 4,30S, 379- acres; and that q bargain was
almost cohsuinmated, soon after'the separa-
ltion,- TO yield them 'ait UP 10 Maine for
100000. But MASSACHUSETTS, has since
received from them Sl,99S ,236; and there
are yet unsold ,S34 SAT acres. r r
We have room tor few extracts only
from the memorial The Committee first
alude to the greater advance in population
aud wealth made by Massachusetts than by
Maine during the last decade, and 10 the
network of railways which now covers that
State. lHey linen say:
Efforts have been made within the last
few years in Maine, to introduce railways,
and in other respects 10 initiate in some
measure, the policy of Massachusetts. A
system of railways has been entered upon
which promises the most satisfactory results,
the value and importance of which are by no
means confined to the limits of the State.
Some of The railways in Maine, in which
little if any Massachusetts capital is embark
ed, are as we believe, OF paramount value
and importance TO Massachusetts. This
will he admitted by any one who thoroughly
appreciates the intimate business relations
OF The two States. rl. .. af f.
After arguing that the present tendency of
things is to draw western trade from Boston
to New York, and that the trade of Maine
cannot be drawn tosNew York, except
through Boston, they say:
Every merchant and business man of
Boston Is aware oi the fact, thai a very large
portion of the business OF that metropolis
comes from the State OF Name an amount
far greater than The community generally
suppose. Any hue OF railway that throws
business and travel east OF Boston, contributes
directly 10 her trade.
1t seems apparent 10 us therefore, that
MASSACHUSETTS has the most direct interest
TO give encouragement TO every enterprise
ca lcuIaled to advance lie prosperity of
Maine. aside from tue great interest in her
public lands.
Among the important enterprises of the
dav, and one OF equal Importance to Ma ssa-
chusetts as 10 Maine, is the plan of the
European and North American Railway.
The accomplishment of such an object
must add largely TO the value Of all the real
estate in Maine, and particularly 10 the
public lands oil Maine aud Massachusetts.
II is not supposed that The line can pass
through any of The lands belonging to either
State, but branch lines are already proposed,
reaching to the neighborhood OF townships
10 which the State of Massachusetts is inter.
esled. II carried across The State it must
inevitably enhance, by at least one hundred
per cent, the lands of Massachusetts.
The undersigned, therefore, in behalf Of
the interests we represent, earnestly but
most respectfully request. that the proceeds
of the public lands OF the Commonwealth, or
al least one half thereof, tor term of years,
or an amount equal 10 what the Stale of
Maine may appropriate therefor may be sci
aside for the purposes within sci forth, and
that the Commonwealth of Massa chusets
will grant such other and further assistance
and encouragement to the undertaking, as
The Interests OF the people of the State may
require.
(SigneD JOHN A. POOR.
ELIJAH l.. HAMLIN.
ANSON G.. CHANDLER.
March 5, 1851.
The memorial was read and referred.