The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-27

ASOamsnB tmo SEOuAs "a O1tys
The question whether our city debt shall be
increased nearly million and hall, for rafl-
road purposes, is one upon which every citizen
should vote, one way, or the other. The pres
ent tendency Of cities and towns to rush into
debt, for immense sums, which they never ex-
pect to pay, should warn US Of troubles sure to
come. If the people would only consider that
all these enormous debts soiu haze to be paid BY
somebody, they would be more cautious in this
respect.
g..t THE oGDENsBURa ROAD "'"'
If built by route running northerly from the
city, might be of some advantage; and if here
after presented by itsel, the question of aiding
1t will be different. But If connected with the
Rochester road, it would be likely to divert
more business from US than 1t would bring to
US. +-f ttaHAt .t'. ll
As neto route to the Vest it would be likely
to disappoint its friends. There is great diff
Guilty and delay in forwarding Western prod
ucts. But this arises from the fact, that they
come into market so late that but a small por-
tion of them can be shipped before the close OF
lake navigation. For a month or two the
steamers do an immense business in bringing
-four, grain, pork &C.; but as soon as they are
stopped by the ice, these great staples accumu-
late at different points beyond the means OF
transportation The Ogdensburg road will
not relieve the difficulty, because the trouble
is beyond. Its freight must come over the N.
Y. Central, or Great Western; and it is upon
these, and still farther West, that the delay ex-
lists. At Buffalo, and the Suspension Bridge,
aud still more at Detroit, and Sarnia, the prod
ucts of the West are blocked during the whole
winter. From places this side of those points,
freights come promptly enough. The recent
trial in our Supreme Court demonstrated the
fact that the delays are at those points, as soon
as navigation is closed. Another railroad
acest Of New York would remove the difficulty
under which our merchants are suffering. An
other this side Of N. York would be like clearing
out the channel of river, not at the point OF
the obstruction, but far below it, The num-
ber Of railroads near the coast is already very
large. As they run toward the Northwest,
they converge and join, until there are but
three for the entire business of that whole re-
gion, coming eastward. The necessity for new
roads is there,-not here. fa t
THE PORTLAND AND ROCHESTER, ROAD b
presents still weaker claim to our support.
Its strongest appeal is as neso route to Boston
but this, instead of doubling the trade of Port.
land" would be far more likely to diminish
it. trt.a Hsa.a..ir.r rsaE aH
The Kennebec railroads swept away from
the towns on that river large part of their
business The road from Waterville to Bangor
did the same thing for that city. The trade of
Franklin, Somerset, and Piscataquis counties,
that formerly went to the valleys Of the Ken
nebec, and the Penobscot, has been turned by
these railroads into the general western cur
rent rIt.. .U..t. ar.I ...- ...... .........
Railroads practically bring together places
distant from each other. Trade tends to the
great centres. What can Portland do, in COM
petition with New York and Boston? y, b. Is
Maine is a border State,-with the whole
country on the west. Every thing draws in
that direction n,-trade, commerce, politics, vis-
iting. pleasure seeking. As well attempt to
turn back the rivers or the stars in their
courses, as to reverse this tide. If we can di-
rect it, to some extent, from the East, and from
the North, through our City, we shall gain
something by it. But every new channel open
ed toward the West, will enlarge the current
that goes aaOay from as. The trade of York
County once came to Portland; but since the
railroad was opened, Saco and Biddeford, with
in fourteen miles of us, go hundred miles to
Boston, and have for years been strangers in
our streets. Let the Rochester road be opened,
and the whole Saco valley will 60 in the same
direction. t4aif f sf1f.
1t is true that some of our best citizens take
very different view of this question. But
many ofthem are too deeply interested to Judge
fairly. The very object they have in view, is
to increase the vdl,ie of their stock. Men who
expect to make from five to fifty thousand dol
lars each by the loan, are not the men whose ad-
wise it Is safest to follow.
As to the effect which this scheme will have
upon the proposed loan for building purposes s
perhaps enough has already been s'ila' .e ~
Commissioners have not yet negoIa'eu 'ni'
loan win they be able to do it9 Every man
who wants employment is interested IN 'h's
loan If the credit of the city Is impaired oy
these railroad schemes, so that Its bonds can
~ so,d only at large discount, any one can see
a. = money will not be likely to be raised in
mi. way to loan again, even to repair the ruins