The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-09-16
The Great Eastern-A Sketch
Of Portland Harbor.

A despatch from Montreal, to S. T.
CoRsER, Esq, Superintendent of the Grand
Trunk Railway, at Portland Maine, was
received on Saturday, announcing the re-
ceipt of official information, by the Grand
Trunk Company, of the destination of the
Great Eastern, and that she would sail for
Portland on Thursday, the 18th inst. This
settles the question as to the destination
of the Great Eastern.
\ correspondent of the Pittsburgh Ga
zette gives the following description of
Portland harhor:
PORTLAND, Aug a, 1850.
MEssRs. EDToRs:-I arrived in this
beautiful city few days ago, and have
thought that at this time a line from here
might not be embarrassing. | say at
this time" because expectation is on tip
toe in anticipation of the promised coming
of the Great Leviathan to this city. As
you probably know, ngements were
made here year since for the accommo-
dation of the mighty steamship which was
promised at that time. Portland enjoys
the reputation, and | believe deserves it,
of having the best harbor, all things con-
sidered, in the Union From the entrance
of it, up to the wharves of the city, the
distance is not more than three and half
miles.
A deep, narrow passage, between an is
land and headland Of the main coast, which
is crowded with lighthouses, fairly invite
a ship to enter. Through this passage the
favoring tide would bring any ship into
the harbor without danger of touching.
At the distance of a mile above the entrance
an immense granite break water, mile and
a half in length, extends into the harbor
from the southern side, which entirely
breaks Oft the ocean swell which a south
east wind used to roll in from that direc-
ton. On all other sides the harbor is
land locked A handsome fort stands on
! either shore, at the narrowest part of the
entrance, and a new fort is erecting which
commands the approaching from the east
When the great ship shall have passed
the break-water few turns of her mighty
wheels will bring her to the wharves built
for her accommodation. There are not
less than forty fve feet of water at low tide
beside the wharves of whichthere are three
They are built on piles and covered with
solid plank. Storehouses are built on
them to accommodate freight.
Within fifteen rods of where the Levia-
than will land is the track of the Grand
Trunk Railway, connecting this city with
Montreal. With switches and the neces-
sary turn-outs, the cars can be loaded from
the ship without drayage, The effect of
the contemplated visit is said to be mani
fest in the city already, in the sort of semi
anglicised tone of the people, and the bur
then of all the talk is of the Great Eostern
1t is thought that an excursion will be ar
ranged from our shores to those of the Old
World. and that probably a thousand peo-
pie may be found who will take the first
trip in the steamer to England, where they
will be able to spend a portion of the
month Of October, the pleasantest in the
year. From the description of which ev-
erybody has read, [ suppose that one thou
sand people would be almost lost in her.
She is over six hundred feet in length, on
deck, and would accommodate at least i've
thousand people at one time. Her mag
nificence is equal to her magnitude for as
[ saw it stated in the London Times. the
mirrors, gliding, carpeting and silk cur
talns for her saloon alone, cost $4,000.