The Portland daily press., 1867-01-15
Railroad Meeting.

"A me6tlnS OF the merchants ana capltAhses
of this city was held yesterday afternoon, at
the Merchants Exchange, for the purpose Of
considering the matter of increased accommo-
dations, and better facilities for communication
with the Lakes and the Great West Not
withstanding the brief notice given, the meet
ing was largely attended. 1t was called TO Or
der by Jonas ii. Perley, Esq, on whose mo-
ton Ex-Governor Washburn was called TO
preside. ...s.-Is -,.- 80
Gov. Washburn stated the object of the meet
ing, which was to consider the project of some
more feasible route and shorter transit to the
great West, and which would also open to Port
land increased business. A railroad line is
IN operation from Ogdensburg to Montpelier,
vermont, and charter has been secured for a
line from Montpelier to Dalton, N H. BY the
building of about eighty miles of road to con-
meet at Dalton, Portland will have a direct
route to the great West, and will draw to this
city vast amount of trade, which is now di-
verted to Boston. %.
Northern Vermont is extremely DESTROYS of
being connected with the seaboard, and Port
land is some sixty miles nearer than Boston
therefore they were DESTROYS of making this
port their outlet to the Atlantic.
1t was matter of great Importance, not only
to the merchants of this city, but also to the
commercial and agricultural interests of the
whole State t9l-Di 10 ID f-f M
| T. g. Hersey, Esq, made some inquiry as to
the plan, &C., of the projected route.
Henry A. Jones, Esq, explained the contem-
plated project, which was to start from some
lint h. O. ID
Saco River, running up through Fryeburg to
connect with the road at Dalton, NJ III. The
present object was to obtain charter from the
Legislature. .ls
Hon. John b. Brown thought the project a
feasible one, but questioned whether arrange.
ments could not be made with the Grand Trunk
road TO branch off at Gorham and connect al
Dalton, thus making direct and short route to
ogdensburg at less expense and with much
less road to build. He would not say that such
route was more feasible than one to connect
at Saco river with the Portland & Rocheste,
road. ltw certainly desirable that an ave.
nue. should be opened to the great West, either
! by way of the Atlantic & st. Lawrence or the
| Portland & Rochester road, and if no arrange.
ment could be made with them, by an indie
pendent route.
some remarks were made by Colonel C. @
Clapp in relation to the Portland g. Rochester
road. He said if connection should be- made
with the Grand Trunk road, it would REQUIRE a
change of gauge. He contended that the short
est route to Montpelier would be via the Port.
land q Rochester railroad, connecting at Roch.
ester with another road, making the distance
$50 miles. so a.l1l a .IsNa5a Bah
The following resolutions were offered by
Mr.. Jones, and after some remarks in favor O.
Them by Mr.. Hersey, Hon. j. B. Brown and
others, were adopted: --,4 .....4. ...t,. -.
Whereas, The material interests OF this citv. 4,
common with those Of the State at large would be
greatly promoted by the construction of railroad in
Montpelier, in the State Vermont to Portland GoI
more than One-third of which provision has already
been made) securing, as it would, continuous line
OF railway communication between the latter city
and Ogdensburg, N. Y, thereby making the distance
by railway between the navigable waters of the Wes
and the ocean less by more than fifty miles than By
any other route within the United States theref
Resolved, That the citizens of Portland, especial,
its business men and holders of real estate will Civ
to the movement which is being inaugurated to ac
complish this most important work their hearty sym
pathy and cooperation; 20
| Voted-That the President and Secretary of tn,
Board of Trade together with the Senator and Repre-
sentatives from Portland, be a committee to procure
at the present session of legislature the passage
4
from Portland to the Western line of the State to b.
| there connected with railroad from the West
foted--That a committee of --- be raised by
this meeting to confer with the Directors OF the seye
raj railroads in Maine, and with the friends of thi.
enterprise in other States, with view to secure the
early and efficient cooperation in organizing and car
rying it forward. ~ asT' ~ 80 y slI7l
| 1t was voted that the matter of raising the
committee mentioned above be left with the
Board of Trade. at their meeting to be held in
the evening --.
1t will be seen by the proceedings of the
Board of Trade at their annual meeting held
last evening, that strong and efficient com
mittee, at the head Of which is Ex-Gov. Wash
burn, has been appointed agreeably to the last
vote passed. This committee will give the mat
ter that immediate consideration it deserves
There was but one opinion among our business
men who were present at the meeting and nc
| project has ever been presented since that o.
the Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad, which
met with such universal favor. In the Board
of Trade last evening, the same feeling was
manifested that was displayed in the afternoon
Our merchants have only to show their accus-
toned energy to secure this great business
route. ..f. e.. fsr- -r-.t-...-.... arp -l' l-
Gov. Washburn introduced to the meeting
Mr.. Hamilton and Mr.. Dustan, the former of
whom made some statements relative to the
Dexter & Newport Railroad, and it was voted
to refer the matter to the Board of Trade The
meeting then adjourned. i