The national Republican., 1866-07-07
PORTLAND IN ASHES.

As seaport town and commercial me-
tropolis, Portland, Maine, had hardly rival
in the world in the beauty of its streets and
buildings, and the natural advantages of its
situation. The downeasters being fully aware
Of the stroug points Of their commanding To-
cation and the superiority Of their harbor,
which possesses an abundant depth Of water
and is completely land-locked, have of late
years been ambitious to build up city wor-
thy Of the northeastern State Of our great
Atlantic seacoast. No community has shown
more generous public spirit than the citi-
zens Of Portland during the last twenty
years, and none stood more fairly in the race
Of solid prosperity in commerce and manu-
factures.
Portland is situated on Casco Bay, at the
southern terminus Of the Atlantic and St.
Lawrence railroad, and communicating with
all the principal railways of New England
Its site is pleasant one, on a narrow penin-
sula or tongue Of land on the western shore
Of Casco Bay. The harbor is one of the best
on the Atlantic coast and it was at first in
tended that the Great Eastern should make
this her port, wharf having been built for
her reception by the enthusiastic Portland.
ers. The city was built principally on all
elevated ridge; 1t was handsomely laid out,
and the buildings were mostly Of brick. The
most considerable thoroughfare is Congress
street, which extends from Munjoy's Hill on
the east to Bramhslps Hill on the west fol-
lowing the ridge Of the peninsula.
One Of the public buildings destroyed by
the fire was the City Hall or county and
court house, built in 1859, of drab colored
sandstone. 1t was intended for the accom-
modation Of the Legislature, an effort then
being in progress to make Portland the cap
ital Of the State. 1t was really beautiful
and commodious public building. One of
the chief beauties Of Portland was its fine
and luxuriant shade trees, Of which not less
than $500 were growing in the streets Of the
town. The total valuation of estates in the
city in 1864 was s26,9s4,oOO; population in
1860, 26.342.q z, sr.sa. ....
The commerce has been chiefly West In
dian. which Portland seized when Ports
mouth, Salem and Boston let it drop, and
improved. The exports are ice, lumber, fish
and provisions, the imports sugar, molasses,
iron, salt crockery, &c. Lines of steamboats,
run to Boston, St. Johns, Bangor and other
cities. The European line leaves and arrives
weekly during the winter The imports in
1850 were about 81 $751; 900, and the exports
$i,225,OOO. In that year there were 600 for
eign arrivals, and the aggregate tonnage Of
the port was ll5,098, of which 1869 was
steam. The registered tonnage was 6S,367
tons permanent and 25,537 temporary and
the enrolled and licensed 24,S4l. The place
was termed Machigonne by the Indians and
was incorporated town in 1856, and city
in 1882. The business Of Canada, called in
by the Canadian railway, with the increasing
business Of the city itself and its constit,
uents, has built it up very largely and rap
idly. nd
We learn that Senator FEssENpES loses q
large portion Of his fortune by the conaagra,
ton; and hundreds Of men who were reck.
oned wealthy there before the Fourth OF
July must have lost their all by the disaster,
while still greater number of poor families
have been stripped Of every penny they pos
sessed.
About dozen years ago q charge was
made in the newspapers that Portland had
wilted." The remark was made from inter
ested motives. and we remember very dis,
tinctly chat an angry controversy was kept
up on the subject for long time. No one
will now deny that Portland has wilted.
Such Stsrribls eonHsgrstion would wilt any
city IN America. ir ms ss ''H.'l =
There tss hardly more eligible resort for
,ealth and recreation in summer on the
1hols sosst than Portland JUy. DAvm