The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-26
Preparations for the Great Eastern ut
Portland.
OUR PORTLAND CORRESPONDENCE.


ass 5. PORTLAND, Oct q, 1852
The city authorities, who had begun to droop and de-
spond under the long delay and contradictory statements
regard the proposed visit of the Great Eastern have
become again hopeful confident and active. The pro-
gramme of reception has been revised amended and i'm
proved, and all things ready to welcome
the ship and the great crowds people who expected
10 here to see her. The arrangements at tho pier
have been completed for some time and the best that
could be made to safety and facility those who
may visit the ship The city authorities design to make
the demonstration OF welcome imposing as possible
consonan with the ability Of the place; and private ci
gems have contributed literally to carry the matter
through with ecld& There to be balls etcs and
Nominations and excursions, and bell ringngs and re-
ocings generally, in which everybody expected Join
freely, without money and without price. One can
hardly imagine the change which has over the place
within the past few days. Since the Of the
accident to the steamer and the consequent doubt as to
her being able to make the promised trip the Portland
people have seemed those without hope They
had placed great dependence upon the successful eee
Of the mammoth steamer into their harbor, and made
great calculations, businesswi upon that event.
To havo their hopes thus cast down and
their speculations defeated hard to bear
and there depression perceptbe everywhere In the
social circle and in the business mart But under the as
surances from source calculated to remove all doubts
spirit Of activity has sprung up which promises to lead
The people here regard the Great Eastern and her
mission closely allied with their welfare and the rapid
and hence is strange that they should feel
~ the disappontments and the subsequent propotooae
subjected to further taxation upon their hopes.
find Portland snug little city, quiet and Bostonansh
In its management In the tastes Of the people, in the
style of doing business and in appearance generally
The impression naturally forced upon stranger that
Boston influence enters largely into everything here and
hereabout and that Portland is but literally although 40
far removed, suburb of Boston, am constrained
to believe that Boston interests expect be largely bene
fitted by making Portland the southern port Of Canada
feature which forms very strong point in the pro-
gramme Of the Great Eastern experiment, to which
may again alude suitable time The city favora-
principal seaport city is but little understood by the
public South and West Last year the place contained
some % 600 inhabitants with q property valuation Of
$22, 240 300 The shipping reaches las ,242 TONS
and the banking capital So GEO. 1t has twenty four
churches and sixteen scboolhouses The city ia located
nearly upon island and lies in part upon the bay
partly upon Portland harbor and partly upon The river
Tone which skirts it's southern and sides and
navgable the entire front Of the popuous part Of
the city. The harbor is without question, one Of the
best the seaboard. 1t is the only harbor north of
Boston, and south Of the Thousand Islands which Of
any magnitude. In the winter season Portland ia the
only outlet easy Of for the Canada trade and when
consider the length and rgor of the Canadian winters
the Importance OF this harbor to that portion OF the
British possessions may be easily estimated The Grand
Trunk Railroad Of Canada, which is rapidly becoming
competing route TO the great West, has perpetual lease
OF the st. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad and by this
channel is enabled to reach the seaboard at all
OF the year. Already the efforts of the Grand Trunk
Railroad are beginning TO be felt i'll bringing to this
place But few days ago train OF freight cars loaded
with -four, and nearly half mile in length reached
here. Much of the flour directly from st. Louis
aud Milwaukee, by way of the Grand Trunk Rail-
road, at cost Of sixty FIVE cents per barrel The
owners OF the Great Eastern are also largely in
tcrested in the great railroad of Canada, ana the
selection Of Portland depot for the great ship is but
portion Of the scheme 10 deveope the resources and
advance the prosperity Of the mighty internal i'm.
provement of Canadian neigbbors But no part
Of my intention to discuss the policy of the great steam
ship experiments that time must unfold it is merely my
province to give you the current Of the
The great drawback to the comfort of those who will be
attracted here by the advent Of the Great Eastern will be
the entire absence Of hotel accommodations. There is
but hotel cf any notehe United Statesin the place
and that may be set down horse in size and
STYLE Many Of the citizens have resolved to turn their
houses into boarding places for the accommodation Of
strangers; but there will be perfect Of everything
like comfort during stay here. II is greatly to BIO re
GREETED that the managers of the Great Eastern will not
listen to and send the ship round New York.
where they would reap golden harvest and contribute
greatly TO the and satisfaction of those who may
visit her. But there is hope that she will New
York this season. the Portanders oppose it, the Canadians
oppose il, and the Grand Trunk Railway Company all
the premises will listen to it, and strangers
mus therefore, IL they wish to crafty their curiosity
como here, see the sight put up with every annoyance
ton that Is annoying to travel especially when finds
almost impossible TO get anything to eat place TO
sleep Don't TO Portland with any idea that you
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