St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-08-16
From the Portland Pres August 10.
Portland d OgdensburD Railroad.

road Company was held at the common
Council room Saturday evening. Hon.
S. f. Spring presided, and in the alb
sence of the clerk II. W. Richardson
was chosen secretary pro tenn. Messers.
A. f. Stevens. Charles j. Gilman, S. 7.
Corser. John Neal, Lewis Pierce and H.
W. Richardson were elected associate
corporators.
The chair then called for report
from the committee OF seven, appointed
at the last meeting and instructed to ar
range for opening books of subscription
to the capital stock of the road and to
provide for a survey of the route with a
view to furnishing estimates of the proba-
ble cost of construction.
Ex-Governor Washburn, chairman of
the committee, reported that no steps
have hitherto been taken towards OPEN
ING books of subscription. The commit
tee regarded it as their first duty to
demonstrate the entire feasibility OF the
route, and to that end had engaged two
competent engineers to make a recon-
nolssance of the line from this city to the
Vermont border. The engineers, Messrs.
John F. Anderson and Charles J. Noyes,
were to leave the city to-day, and pro-
coed to Conway, and thence to the
Crawford House, where they will meet
Mr.. Linsley. who has already surveyed
the route through the Notch, and with
him pursue the reconnaissance through
New Hampshire to the Vermont line
Arrangements have also been made for a
meeting, perhaps at Oswego but more
likely at ST. -Albans, OF gentlemen inter
ested in and representing all the links in
the treat chain OF railway communication
between Portland and Chicago-repre-
senting the Maine, New Hampshire and
Vermont interests, and the Vermont
Central, Rome, WATERFOWL and OgIens-
burg, Great Western and Michigan Cen
trail railroads. The plan for this meet
ING Is nearly matured. The committee
had also learned that the corporators of
the Portland. White Mountains and
Ogdensburg Railroad Company, lately
chartered by the New Hampshire I.egis-
aturc, propose to meet i'll Il short time
for organization at Littlcton. Finally
the committee have been in conference
during the week with responsible parties,
attracted by the obvious merits of the
PROJECT, who stand ready TO contract for
the construction OF the entire line from
Portland to the junction with the Yer
mont Central
Mr.. Wa>hburn then proceeded 10
speak Of some of the advantages of the
route, which have not heretofore been
fully presented. While he believed that
the way business of the road would alone
justify lis construction. that business
alone would not open 10 Portland the
future that lies before her. The through
business from the West will make Port
land an important shipping point. But
that business requires 4 line of steam
ships from Portland to Europe, and that
line We already have. 1t Is the possess
ion OF that line, already established
which gives u an immense advantage in
competing for the business OF the West.
The subsidy which has hitherto been
paid to the steamers of the Cun.rd line.
sailing to Boston. will cease at the expi-
ration OF the present year, and the ships
will be Withdrawn from that route. The
merchants of Boston have built at great
expense two steamships. 1t Is hardly to
he expected that the number will be in
creased at present. They will have next
year then one steamer month TO Europe.
We have here already weekly line to
Liverpool durin. the winter. and As soon
as we can furnish business enough for
them the owners OF the line are willing
to put on rs many as We need the year
round, We have our ocean Transports
ton already provided then: the pro-
duets Of the West are waiting for an out
let; ii Is only necessary to complete this
line from Portland to Vermont, and the
connection from Chicago to Liver
pool will be complete. For passengers
and freight it will be the shortest trans
atlantic route.
Hon. }. Is. Brown made some remarks
explaining the proposition received for
building the road. The contractors are
ready to enter upon the work as soon As
subscriptions are received. They are
gentlemen of experience and means.
and will put Oh force sufficient to
carry the work through in the short
est possible time. In his view. however.
it would be proper to wait for the report
OF the engineers before opening books
for subscriptions. 1t was necessary to
satisfy the public of the complete feast
bliity of tie route He was satisfied be-
cause he had been over the route with
competent engineers but it was proper
that the public should have the data of a
careful reconnaissance before inveting in
: the undertaking. There would he nc
: difficulty in raising the moncy,it it were
shown that the enterprise is entirely fea-
siblc
On enquiry it appeared TO be the i'm
preston of the committee that the sur
vey would take about twenty days.
On motion of Hon. John Lynch, the
corporators approved the action of the
committee in employing engineers to sur
vey the route.
On motion of e.. +. b. Jackson. Esq.
it was voted that the meeting stand adj
journed, subject TO the call of the chair.
man.
LATEST FROM WATHINGTON.-Gen
Grant this morning aug. l3) formally
entered upon the discharge Of the duties
Of secretary of war, ad interim. Mr.
Stanton was also at the department to-
day-engaged in turning over the books