The Portland daily press., 1866-04-03

| To the Editor Qtthe Press:
- Every person who has the least degree ofin-
terest in the prosperity of our city must be
glad to see the effort that is being made to
complete the Portland and Rochester Rail-
road. The completion of this enterprise will
open direct, continuous, and very pleasant
route to New York city, and form another av-
enue for bringing the agricultural and mechan-
ical products of the country through which it
passes to our market. 1t is well understood
principle in the business world that every en-
terprise which opens new avenues of transpor-
tation to any city, Or improves those already
in use, increases its trade, and thereby ad-
vances the interests of all classes ofits citizens
The man who depends on transient jobs for
his daily bread, as well as. the mech anic and
merchant Of extensive business, will be bene-
fitted in proportion to the amount of their op-
erations. Some forty years ago the people of
Boston commenced putting this principle to
the test. From that time to the present they
have firmly and persistently pushed their rail-
roads into almost every section, and wherever
they could they have made connection with all
extensive and important roads in the country.
The city of Boston has expended large sums of
money in railroads-and what has been gain
ed by it? Her population has trebled, her
real estate has quadruplcd,' and her whole
wealth is ten times what it was when there
were no railroads. Boston at this time NAV
be compared to an immense cauldron into
which the accumulating wealth of hundreds
of miles of territory is constantly pouring
The hundreds of cars which arrive there daily,
laden with the rich products of mechanical
and agricultural industry, give employment to
a numerous population and fill the Golfers Of
merchants with immense treasures. Great
numbers ofsteam and sailing vessels are en-
ployed to transport this accumulated wealth.
and the same cars which bring it to the city
return laden with imported merchandise.
Now, Mr.. Editor, l wish to ask what binders
Portland from becoming successful rival of
Boston in this business? 1t is not the want
OF fine and secure harbor, easy of access to
ships OF the largest size, ncr is it the want of |
extensive forests of the bestkinds of timber in |
the interior Of the Stale, or water power to |
SA' ehSr1 1ilupcI lutO Jumper ana articles |
OF use' neither is enterprise, capital nor the
physical power of manual labor wanting to |
pei'orm TINS work. We have rich and pro-
ouctlVe SOIL and intelligent, industrious farm
erS 10 compel that soil to weld liberal in
crease from the rich storehouse of no+,ro |,
Before railroads were built the farmers from
Eastern Vermont and New Hampshire brouobt
their produce to this city by horse teams
While we slumbered and slept the Bostonians
pushed railroad from their city into that seo
ton of the country and took the business f.o,,,
us. When we walked up we built the Atlantic
& St. Lawrence (now Grand Trunk) railroad
and recovered some of our business. Let
any intelligent man consider what Portland
was before that road was built and what it is |
now, and say whether the money it cost has
not been profitable investment to the city.
Ihe voters of this city will soon be called
upon TO decide whether they will as city as
sist 10 carry through the P. & r. railroad or
not. 1t does appear to me that in view
Vi TINS whole matter and all former experi-
ence, we are forced to the conclusion that the
want OF railroads is the great impediment to
Tue success OF our city. Our citizens have