The Portland daily press., 1865-01-27
NJ, Pan, and the Gauge Question,

Mr.. Poor and the Gauge Question.
We have received long communication
from John A. Poor, Esq, dated at Boston, ac-
companied by demand for Its insertion as an
act OF justice to him personally. As we are
unconscious Of having done Mr.. Poor any in
justice, he must pardon us If we do not recog-
nize the force Of his demand. On only two
matters have we referred to Mr.. Poor In a way
to which he takes exceptions, and on both ol
these he shall have the benefit OF us US
claimer.
I've referred to his removal from this
CITY to Bangor, and to this he takes excep-
lions We certainly did not know that he laid
claims to citizenship here at the present time,
but supposed he was, indeed and in truth, a
citizen Of Bangor, but we stand corrected;
and while doing so we cannot avoid the con-
viction that there is degree of unfairness in
claiming citizenship in Portland, for the pur-
pose of adding weight to efforts TO subvert
what large proportion of our people regard
as peculiar Portland interest. aas
I've spoke of Mr.. Poor as having been
one of the most active men in securing the
passage Of the law of March IA, 1850, which
prohibits, except upon special authority of the
Legislature first obtained, the change of rail-
road gauge west Of this city. Mr.. Poor takes
exceptions to this, denies all responsibility for
that statute, though he admits that he did
draft the original bill by request OF members
of the Portland Board of Trade, and did favor
ageneral law prohibiting the change of gauge
OF any road in the State, except by permit of
the legislature.
The above does full and ample Justice to Mr..
Poor, and further he has no claim upon our
columns. We do not recognize his right to
use them to argue the Boston side of the
question of railroad gauge. He has perfect
right to take any position that seems to him
right, and to argue it through any columns
that he finds open to his communications; we
do not choose, as at present advised, to COM
nit the Press to that view of the case.
tits but just to Mr.. Poor to say, that he
claims, as does the Advertiser of this city, in
its yesterdays leader, that the "extension of
the broad gauge" to Boston will benefit Port
lond, by bringing from the West to Boston;
via the Grand Trunk, large amount of the
freight and traffic that now reach that city
over other roads. He disclaims all hostility to
the interests of Portland, and all willingness
to compromise her.
In taking leave of this matter we cannot
withhold our admiration Of that perfectly un-
selfish spirit with which our Boston friends
discuss this subject; their solicitude for the
welfare of Portland, welfare as mere tun-
mel, probably,-the GOODNESS with which they
talk about the natural course of trade and
throwing distractions across it, &C., &C.. Now
whether the legislature will repeal the exist
ing law or not, we have no means of knowing,
but as we have heretofore minated, Portland
does not depend for future existence or for
future prosperity upon SO uncertain founda-
ton as mere break in railroad gauge, nor
does she expect to thrive exceptby legitimate
accretion-by drawing to and into herself
men and means, brain and energy, nerve and
enterprise, all attracted by the great facilities
which she presents for their successful exer-
else or operation. To this Portland is indebt-
ed mainly for what she is; to it she must be
indebted for what she is to be. Portland il a
part of the State, identified with and sympa-
thizing with the whole State, and she neither
asks nor expects nor seeks to uphold any poll
cy or interest not in harmony with the best
interest of the State. gts bss6 So II
In relation to the natural course of trade
there has been expended any amount of
"bosh." Trade, in these fast times, seldom
waits for the natural course. Railroads have
spirited it away from the sluggish Mississippi;
also, to large extent from the Great Lakes
and the "raging canawl." Portland enter
prise and pluck, persevered in in spite Of Bos-
ton sneers and predictions of failure, have
turned trade frou. its natural channel-the
st. Lawrence-into an artificial channel, and
poured its rich tide into Casco Bay instead of
the St. Lawrence Cult. And it comes to Port
land because, and only because, it finds there
the most easy outlet. 1t is the nearest Attain
tic port, available for winter purposes, both to
England and to the heart Of Canada. No third
rail under heaven can ever draw the European
steamers now making this their winter port,
to Boston. When those steamers cannot car
ry on trade with Canada through this city,
they will cease coming to our American port
/ for any such purpose. Water dont run up
hill. Trade don't flow by railroad along the
coast line. Portland has created an easy,
straight, direct channel from Montreal to her
wharves, and the trade she has brought here
in this way will be permanently retained only
by her natural advantages, andby the constant
exercise of that energy, enterprise and wise
forecast which has already secured it. To ses
cure trade Portland merchants must sell as
low as Boston; it cannot be secured in any
other way. Sugars, steam engines, shovels,
and the thousand products of our skill and en-.
terprise, find ready sale, not because the
purchasers cannot get to Boston, but because
they can do better in Portland. 1t is for their
interest to come here. This is the key that
unlocks trade. No other can possibly do 1t.
Ont in the Snow.