The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-22

To the Editor Of the Press:
Few people are aware of the superior advan-
tages which Portland possesses for manufac-
turing city. 1t has been asserted by persons
largely interested in manufactures in Saco and
Biddeford, that Portland possesses many adj
vantages, even over those places with their
abundance of water power, for the manufac-
ture of cotton goods. Steam is daily efIecting
wonderful revolution in manufactures. Port
land, with her various railroad connections,
advantageous harbor, and facility for procur-
ing operatives, as compared with smaller plac
es, is by good judges pronounced better
place for the manufacture Of cotton in steam
mills, than any in its vicinity.
1t was proposed by certain members of the
Por tland Shovel Company, before their works
were finally located, TO establish them on wa
ter power at Saccarappa; but when the esti-
mates, which were carefully made by compe-
tent men, were brought together, it was found
cafapmpan pfaSipring with water power at Sac
could not compete with the same business
carried on by steam in Portland. The Shovel
Factory was accordingly located in Portland.
Among the best sites for manufacturing I'M
improved in Portland, and probably TO which
the public attention has been the least drawn.
is that large extent of shore line ON the east
erly side of Back Cove, about 1000 feet i'm
length, extending from Lincoln street to Back
Cove Bridge. For three-fourths of the extent
of this shore line a greater quantity of pure
spring water can be obtained near and in the
vicinity of the shore line than in any other
part Of the city; in addition TO which the
great natural reservoir of all that portion of
Munjoy Hill east of North street, is only from
80 TO 125 rods distant, from which pipe of
water of over 100 feet head could be carried
on to Back Cove
understand that parties interested in the
Back Cove land flats have obtained a charter
from the Legislature, under the name of the
Portland Marine Railway and Back Bay Land
Company. The whole area Of flats east of
Franklink street, lying between the shore aud
Harbor Commissioners line, is estimated at
three million superficial feet, with water
front on the natural and excavated channel
equal in extent to line measured on Com
mercial Street from the foot of India Street,
to the foot Of High Street, being distance
of shout forty-fve hundred feet. Vessels,
as may be seen by an examination of the
Coast Survey chart, can 20 around into
Back Cove at low water twelve hundred
feet above Back Cove Bridge, drawing a
greater draft of water than they can come
up the front harbor with. From this point
to the excavated channel at the foot of
Franklin Street, vessels can now come at full
tide drawing sixteen feet Of water 1t is pro-
posed to excavate so as 10 have twenty-four
feet at full tide. Solid .wharves can here be
made at from eight to nine cents per superb
cial foot. The reason given for the small
cost of building wharf on the Back Cove in
comparison with the cost on the front side is,
that while the depth on the flats is only about
ten feet, the required depth OF water at the
ends of the wharf is made by excayating with
a Steam Digger, and the material is worth all
the cost of excavation for filling the flats :;
worth as much 10 fact as If it was carted from
the Hill. One great feature in this property,
which gives it additional value, is the vast
area Of fiat in the center OF the Cove, beyond
Tue rights Oh the flparlan prOprletofs, from
which with the steam excavator material may
be obtained lor filling the flats. House lots
can be made at from i've TO six cents per super
fetal foot. The company in addition to the
right To buy, sell and improve flats and lands
in the vicinity of Back Cove, have also the
right TO build railroad from the vicinity of
the York aud Cumberland to point of eonnec-
ton with the Atlantic and ST. Lawrence rail
road at the northern base of Munjoy Hill.
distance of mile and quarter.
When the Company succeed in raising the
necessary amount of stock TO carry out their
plans on the Back Cove, they win give Port
land an additional water front equal in extent
to that now fronting on Commercial Street,
between India & High Streets, and of greater
depth of water, where Coal, Wood, Lumber, d
other articles can be landed at a greatly re-
duced expense of wharfage,-besides giving
an impetus to manufacturing in Portland
that the most sanguine have not yet dreamed
OF, and adding largely to the taxable property
OF the city. G.
gB-While New York is debating the ques-
ton, Ohio has enacted that her soldiers in the
National service shall hereafter vote at every
u