The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-30


meet with them But my purpose is to cor |
rect the following statement: dbSE
"The Kennebec railroads swept away from
the towns on that river q large mart of their |
business. The road from Waterviiie to Bangor
did the same thing for that city.
1t is not surprising that !, writer who thinks
Portland can never be anything more than a
sway station" ON through routes, should have
overlooked the iadvantages of her position over
these inlands cities; that she had one of the
finest harbors in the world; that she had
weekly line of European steamers halt the sea-
son, and could import goods as cheaply as any
City in the country. But the statement that
the Kennebec 81 Penobseot railroads We're an
injury to the cities named is not correct The
business ioi Augusta, Gardiner, Bath and Ban
gor was increased by the building of these
roads, and not one Of those cities could be in
duced to discontinue them if you would give
them double the amount for which they were ev-
er liable on their account. Upon what conditions
could you obtain vote in either of the cities
named, to discontinue the roads which they
have built? Again the writer says:.ls- -l
"The trade of York County once came to
Portland; but since the railroad was opened,
Saco and Biddeiord, within fourteen miles of
US, 20 a hundred miles TO Boston, and have for
years been strangers in our streets"
This statement is as wide of the mark as the
other, The trade of Portland with. Saco and
Biddeford has largely Increased since the rail
road was opened and in consequence thereof;
and il "*" will inquire,of the Grocers and I'm
porters of Commercial st, he will ascertain
that so far from the traders of Saco and Bid
beford being Strangers in our streets" they
are among .our best customers. Since the
opening OF the Railroad to Boston, we have
been constantly, and steadily gaining trade
from towns along the line of that road, to-
ward Boston, and when the P. S. and p. road
can be induced to putin such local trains to
Portland as we are entitled to, and as we can
obtain from them when we have competing
road to.use as a lever, we shall increase our
trade in that direction much more SO much
for the facts. Now for a theory which those
who remember the early days of the Atlantic
and st. Lawrence Railroad will recognize as
decidedly Bostonlan:h ii1 d iG beaH.iI =, -i.5ii
h"Maine is border State,-with the whole
country on the west. Every thing draws in
4. 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
III 70 - -! - Eijeuei f!-aiguf s.iI
That is "Portland is a way station" on
through routee from, the "North and East to
Boston; and if she win only use proper exer-
tons, she Can, ,citltout mourning ,sdny risk,
deriDe someadvantage from the patronage
bestowed Upon her refreshment saloons, by
passing travellers, .sss- on i, ssg,,ielsi.,s
sf'Sn,aU tdUors thankfully geceiUed' all pru-
dent men, in favor Of making Portland sway
station between the "NorM and East and
Boston, say may all rash fellows in favor of
making Portland a''way station between the
North East and West, and Europe say "AYE."
g.,t3st II rs .;,iI goa sgo. @.
Financial Condition of ihe Portland and
II 1851 Rochester Railroad Company.
The following statement Of the present finan-
cial condition of the Portland & Rochester
Railroad Company is furnished in reply to
many inquiries :--Dh linlii1' avs = 1854 p. af.l
The present Company took possession of the
road upon the 15th1of November, 1865 its capt.
tai stock being $56o,OOO The only liabilities of
the Company at that time were the unpaid
land damages of the York g. Cumberland Rail
road CO., estimated TO be about $40, 900. More
than $4,000 of that amount has been paid dur
ing the past year, leaving about $4,000 still I'M
paid NifoL 10 Es6lE1fxI 9<EIlIJaallIz
| In addition to the above the present indebt-
edness of the Company is as tollows:- uqg s4s
For building piers and abuiments for 20 ga
| bridge at SacO river $40 500. 90
Two hundred tons new iron, 9105.57
| Repairs upon locomotive, 28Si73
ON yl3l ias5.cs 1a4gg asag s.s.g sa So 800 80
These debts have al been contracted within
the past year, b sul4la
| The receipts of the road since the Company
took possession have increased so rapidly that
the Directors felt it incumbent upon them ito
anticipate theyearnings Of this year, and bought
on the first of December last the 200 tons of
iron above mentioned. al During the winter it
became necessary to- make extensive repairs
upon, one Of the locomotives, which was done
at an expense of nearly $1,000, of which
$28S473 remain unpaid. s5uui1Hos $3.50 hfaa
/ The first twelve months the road was oper-
ated by this Company its receipts We're S4S-
467 .sS against $3S,8Sk65 for the previous year.
months have been Ss72 ,37174.5 In 1860 and '61
the road was in the hands of Receiver for
nineteen months, and earned during that time
Sss33S 205.02 81 In 1851 and PSI, when the road was
new, it earned in nine months SO, 9S2 IA for the
corresponding mouths in 1866 and 1866, $780,
.562.4l.9d Eisl8af 8IsA9 81 litsi1 llf 5ttf ns0H
1 The receipts of the road for the twelve months
prior toApril, 1867, were from il
! Passengers, Of saIl35t do1 JJd $18,015.28
| Freight, ,-.. .t. 22.3O347
EXCURSIONS mails and express, s,757.4
( -AJ0d - DdliI1Jt Gag oI J@sJ rft} 49,
/ Oh isd8 Joal gz.laOlg Il s5ob Igl $i907629'
The running expenses have consumed about
GO per cant. of the earnings. The balance has
been expended in tho Reconstruction and re-
equipment ofathel road.0i 3il.f sao yina .sou ,.l
The present. Company has added to the roll
ing stock one steam car, one passenger car and
seven freight cars, at cost of $12 600. The
rolling stock of the road is now two locomo-
tiyes, one steam car, three passengers cars,
thirty-two freight cars. I'd si0m .as - 5lie .
( ms11 ,pq 31sdi LEWIS PIERCE, Treasurer.
gAtg4 -v------7- ------------------ ii 5tl ..
hBuildiusl Loan Or Railroad Loan.
Our Loan Commissioners applied to the
Earrings of London, to take the building loan
for two millions, to aidiour people in rebuild
ing their houses and stores. They have just
received notice that owing to the present con-
dltien of affairs in Europe, the loan cannot be
taken there. This will compel us, as the
agents ofthe Earrings suggest, "to depend on a
home market" for the building loan. 81 .ial.la.
But what can we do in the home market, if
the people vote to add to it a railroad loan for
81 100000 more?tf III. t.ilf5-f.,. f-..-...,. D..