The Portland daily press., 1867-08-03

81
Those who imagine that the recent railroad
trip to Portland, made by delegations from
New York, Vermont, New Hampshire aud
Mas sachusetts, was merely pleasure trip, are
likely, we think, to awaken some morning and
find they have been dreaming .SsAlthoueR the
people along the roure and especially at Port
land, contributed most generously towards the
enjoyment OF the party, there was all the time
i'll the minds OF both visitors and entertainers
the idea of business. 1t cannot be doubted
by the most superficial observer that the pro-
Visions for transporting the present and pros
pective products of the West to the sea-board
areI entirely inadequate. 1t is a serious tact
that corn has been burned for fuel in our
Western States and Territories because it
was impossible to market it, and it was there
fore cheaper than any other fuel. 1t is pretty
well known, also, that ten and twenty cents
per bushel for corn have frequently been the
highest prices, because there was no chance
for shipping anywhere near half the surplus,
and the home market was full in the West
AS the West is emphatically grain growing
country, such state of allairs certainly has
been. and is, poorly calculated to promote it's
Interest, or aid those communities both in the
East and North, and in foreign countries,
which have needed the grain held so cheap at
the place OF production. If there had been,
or We're now, sufficient railroads connecting
the western States with the Eastern sea-
board, we need never quote flour at $16 to $40
per barrel, corn at $l25 10 So per bushel, OF
pork at $2S per barrel. Sufficient commu-
nication with the West means for the few
a brisk transportation business, and for the
many cheap food in abundance. 1t means
such intercommuncaGOn as will place the
needy within the ready reach Of those who hold 4
abundance. This is the meaning SO far as
food is concerned an enormous itenf-
Bnt it has meaning beyond all this; for
multiplication of lines to the West insures
cheaper travel to the emigrant; and, with the
great inducements which the West, with an
open commerce, would hold out it means the &
n nf
consequent increase OF wealth, and lighter
because more widely distributed, burden of
taxation. 1t means easier interchange of pro-
ducts, and tendency for oneness of interest
winch duly fostefed and promoted, results in
that incalculable benefit to a nation UNITY.
In fact, the project of great line of travel
and exchange between the East and the West.
with the certainty of extension 20 the Pa
cific coast on the one hand, and the almost
equal certainty OF an extension 10 Europe on
the other, is full of meanings which can onlv
be beneficial. 4OA OtsfN
The need of extended facilities of CONNER ce.
between the East and West is acknowledg ed
by all. The certainty that new line to the West
will pay somebody is also as sure 1t is of
course apparent, then, that the project of such
connection ought to receive, as it is receiving,
the earnest attention of business men along the
route. There is no doubt that, should the con-
nection wished for be formed, i'll addition to
the general advantages there would also be
many special advantages accruing to certain
places. Among the places likely to be benefit
ted, it must be evident at once that Portland
the Eastern terminus stands first. Her port is
preferred 10y mariners to any on our coasts Her
harbor ut tue wharves is the deepest, and is al
SO the best in other respects, of any Oh the
Eastern coast or perhaps in the world 1t is
large enough to accommodate all possible de-
mands. Portland and its surrounding coun-
try is in all respects adapted to be
the site of great city. Nature, seemingly
for the accommodation of man, has been emf
nentiy lavish in good gifts TO her. With the
trade which would come to her by this new
hne, and other elements which are making her
grow, there would be scarce a limit i'll ration
al thought to her prosperity fN
without such connection with the West as
this route promises, she will and must remain
a third or fourth rate city; for it is wisely pro
vided That the greatest prosperity to Portland
Is condlo.oned upon the greatest benefit She
not possesses tor, but-extends to man, 1t is
III vain that she possesses the best and most |
magnificent harbor in the world, or that she is
nearer by so or 100 miles to the West than any |
other Atlantic port, if the West only reaches |
her by pauper means, and in patches of mer-
chandlse that mock her unlimited possibility |
of accommodation and shipment. We doubt |
not that the wide-awake capitalists of that city |
see all this, and that they will move in time to |
avail themselves Of the privileges which are at |
this moment theirs They have, seemingly, all |
to gain, and nothing to 1Ose They have only |
to build, in way which they can devise, line |
ofroad such as Northern New York built with |
no such prospect of business, and such as has |
spanhed the Green Mountains at greater la
~ ooI Ia anu iar less Inducements to join their city
10 tine wheat fields of the West and the mar
kets of Europe, securing Tins a hrs;,ass nt
easy cost which must in the nature of tbinr.
continue always to increase.