Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-11-21
Tie Grand Trunk Road. and the Fes-
tival ut Montreal.


treal, from the Wing and Courier
1t is the best, and most condensed &C
the history given of the great enterprise,
with the speculations of its future If
fects and benefits, make it very interest
ing reading. We believe our readers
will thank us for giving to them this ac
count.
\ number of our citizens had invita-
tons to attend this truly liberal, and
splendid affair, but were prevented from
attending. on account OF the sitting Of
tn Court here last week. We had an
invitation, and intended to have availed
ourseli of the liberality of the Mana
gers, but the "lates," or .'concatena-
ton of events pu, it out of our power.
The great Railway Festival at Mon
treal is one of the most magnificent dem
onstrations Of the kind which has ever
taken place in America and when its
international character is taken into ac-
count, it combines more of interest than
any other for the people of the United
States, and especially for the people OF
New England. and of Maine.
The Grand Trunk Railway is a splen-
did international enterprise which does
the highest honor to its projectors. and
is destined to exercise a wider and more
beneficial influence upon the trade and
commerce both of this Province and OF
Montreal its capital. and also of New
England and Maine especially. than any
other of the great projects Of this pro-
gressivc age. The immediate effects of
opening the Grand Trunk to Toronto
aud Strattord in Canada West. Ito be
continued to Port Sarnia. at the foot of
Lake Huron. next season. will be to
throw he trade OF that great Lake region
and of Canada West. into this channel,
to the immense benefit of NJ ,ntreal.
and of this Province. and also of Maine.
The full benefit, however. particularly
to Maine. will not be realized until the
lower Provinces are connected with us,
by the completion of the European and
North American Railway-an enterprise
which. If we can predicate anything upon
the intense and gratifying international
feeling witnessed at this great Festival.
will not long be delayed in its compile
ton.
The Grand Trunk is now open to STRAIT
ford, 50 miles west of Toronto, and 795
miles from Bangor. To Port Sarnia.
whore it touches the foot OF Lake Huron.
will he 500 miles From thence the
Northern Pacific route will proceed
north Of Lake st. Clair to Detroit and
81 IN an air line across the State OF Mich
lgan and meeting with Milwaukee BY
steamers across the ake.-the rail
thence exteniing direct to the Mississippi
pi river 40 miles to Iowa city. and soon
to be stretched across that State on the
route to Nebraska. and ultimately
through the mount .ins to the Pacific
coast. 1t is a magnificent route. and we
should not be surprised to see it COM
pleted through to the Pacific before any
other line.
Tn distance from Bangor to Chicago
via. the Grand Trunk route and Detroit.
- H." ~ ttttS W way vi DOStbl,
Albany, the Suspension Bridge and De
troit. 1t is l237--showing difference
of 46 miles in favor of the former route.
The capital of the Grand Trunk Rail-
way Co. was originally put at S47. 5aO.-
600: but has lately been increased to
$4,000. 0o,-trom which fact. the ex-
tent and magnihcence of the enterprise
may be conceived. ltalready embraces
with the Atlantic and St. Lawrence
road which it has leased. and with the
branches it has built over 100 miles
of road. The Victoria Tubular Bridge
eight or ten of the piers for which are
already completed-will constitute a
large item of the sum total of expense
costing probably, from eight t. ten mil
lions Of dollars. The Victoria Bridge
is expected to be completed as early as
the spring OF 1850. 1t is supposed that
in its erection $50, 900 tous of stone and
1900 tons Of iron will be used. The
iron superstructure is supported on "a
piers and two abutments. The centre
span being $50 feet. there are - spans
on each side of the centre, 242 feet each
The length of the abutments is PAP feet
each. The height above summer water
level in the centre opening is 60 feet. de-
scending to either end at the rate of
in 1870. The contents of the masonry
will be three millions of cubic feet
The weight of the iron in the tubes.
5000 tons. The following are the men
sions of the tube through which the |
trains are to pass in the middle span
viz: % feet high, l6 feet wide at the
extre"e ends 10 feet high. l6 feet wide |
The total length from river bank to river
bank. will be l0.2S4 feet. or about so
yards less than two English miles.
1t is truly said that this gigantic
structure. when completed, will be one
Of the worlds wonders.
The present celebration at Montreal
is attended by more than ten thousand
strangers. Between 5000 and 6OOO in
vitations were issued BY the citizens of
Montreal. leach invitation including la