Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-11
Portland. NE.

FOElAAuOs NE
EPortland is situated on Casco Bay, at
the Southern terminus Of the Atlantic
and St. Lawrence railroad, and communi-
eating with all the principal railways Of
New England. It's site is a pleasant one,
on q narrow peninsula 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 intended that the
Great Eastern should make this her port,
8 wharf having been built for her recep-
ton blythe enthusiastic POrtlanders. The
city wa built principally on an elevated
ridge; it was handsomely laid out, and
the buildings were mostly of brick. One
of the chief beauties of Portland wss its
fine and luxuriant shade trees, of which
not less than 1850 were growing in the
streets of the town. The total valuation
of estates in the city in 1864 was $685.
coo; population in 1860, 26,342. The
place was termed Michigonne by the l.
dams, and was incorporated q town in
1888, and city In 1882.
The has been chiefly West
Indian, which Portland seized when Ports
mouth, Salem and Boston let it drop.
The exports are ice, lumber, fish and pro-
visions, 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 1875, 600,
and the exports 81, 225,O0O.- In that year
there were geo arrivals of foreign vessels.
As a seaport town and commercial me-
tropolis, Portland had hardly q rival in
the world in the beauty Gifts streets and
buildings, and the natural advantages Of
ISs sTSuHFrUu. NO CUmmunTFy AdS sh011r
a more generous public spirit than the
citizens of Portland during the last twenty
years, and none stood moro fairly, in the
race of solid prosperity in commerce and
manufactures.
The FIRE on the fourth of July night
laid this splendid town in ashes, sweeping
away the accumulated wealth and manu-
features of its citizens, and leaving thous-
ands of them utterly destitute of food and
clothing. Hundreds who were reckoned
wealthy lost their all by the disaster,
while a still greater number of poor fsmi-
lies were stripped of every penny they
possessed. The people of Eastern cities
forwarded assistance at once-the morn
ing after the fre-without waiting to be
called upon. Even while the flames were
still in progress ear loads of cooked and
uncooked provisions were started from
Boston. Since then large supplies OF flood, :
clothing and money have been nobly con-
tributed for the relief of the sIfFerers by
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Provi-
dence, and other places, and measures
have been set on foot in Pitttburgh,
Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago and
Detroit to render such assistance as will
not only relieve the temporary pressing :
wants of the unfortunate people of Port :
and, but sustain them in some sort of I
comfort until they shall ,be able TO help
themselves. The duty of feeding and
the thousands Of human beings K
hus suddenly deprived of their substance II
md resources, is imperative. The claim .
f one community upon other commune q
les has never before been responded to \
0 promptly as in the present instance, Z
.et the demand is still urgent, and will a:
ontinue to be for sometime. te
No action has been taken in Cleveland. q
E yet, to afford our citizens an opportu- a
ity to contribute, in common with other G
tO+he Portland sufferers. What L
yer is done, should be commenced with y
ut delay. Our people stand ready to sa
i've of their abundance, and need only to I
9 shown the most efficient method of DO
an organized, concerted effort. -
he telegraph Tuesday morning an m
ounced that there was great need Of rel
Provisions being Of a perishable lie
supplies Of course must be sent :,
equently. It can easily be seen why in
'ntributions ofmoney will be more ber tn,
than anything else as it viii pur- sla
lsse the articles most needed in such !
and at such times as in the us
of those on the spot viii best up,
rye the purpose. We commend this tee
after to the earnest attention of our the
authorities and leading citi- 81
ms. 90
"