The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-08-03
The European aud North American
Railway.

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The European aud North American
Railway. -r
We are glad to learn that all the hiIdrances
and obstacles in the way of the International
railway, have been overcome. and that the
work is now going forward with every assur-
ance of success, not only in Maine but in tie
Provinces. .u
The carrying out of this work has been a
matter of no small difficulty, owing to the
conflicts of parties and changes OF admins
traton in the different Provinces; and the in
reference, direct and indirect, of the British
Government with its plans. For more than
seventeen years there has been constant strug-
gle between two projects, one known as
the inter-colonial and the other as the Inter
National railway. The British gov
at one time pledged aid to both
projects, but this was afterwards withdrawn,
the Provinces refusing to give up the Com
mercial line for the sake of the inter-colonial
alone.
Without going over too much ground, we
may say, that New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia unwilling to accept OF the Confederation
and the inter-colonial railway, as sufficient
for their prosperity, adhered to the plan OF the
Portland Convention. Nova Scotia built
line from Halifax to Truro. 81 miles toward
ST. john, and New Brunswick built 108 miles
in the direction of Halifax, leaving only 100
miles unfinished between the two cities, which
have of late been put under contract.
In 1868, the people of st. John moved for
western extension in concurrence with the
people Of Maine, and union of interests has
been effected, so that the line from Bangor to
st. John is being built by one company-the
government of New Brunswick, in 1865, do
mating $4,000 per mile as gift to that por-
tion of the road lying in New Brunswick. b p,
The Maine Corporation in 1868 and 1864,
having purchased the rights of the Penobscot
railroad company and OF the Oldtown and Lr-
coin railroad company on its route, on which
100000 had been expended-issued stock to
the amount of 100000 and bonds to the
amount of S9s 500 in payment for these pur-
chases. II then obtained the grant from Maine
and Massachusetts of their claims against
the United States government accruing prior
to 1860, and conditional grant OF the pub
lie lands OF Maine amounting to over 100000
acres, and then contracted with Messrs. Pierce
and Blaisdell for building the entire line
The work commenced in New Brunswick in
the fall of 1855, and in Maine one year later.
The work in New Brunswick proving very
expensive the Provincial Government at its
late session increased its subsidy or gift, from
$4,000 to $13, 800 per mile, made more favor
able terms as to payment for work, and took
off the Government lien, enabling the New
first mortgage bonds as the first and only
lien upon the road. Work is now in progress
on about so miles of the line from st. John to
the Maine boundary. ,r.
The city of Bangor loaned its credit for ST.
100000, and the citizens of Bangor subscribed
$500, 900, payable as soon as $l50,000 are paid
in and expended by the contractors toward
the Bangor end-the contractors undertaking
to bui the line from Bangor to Winn, dis
tance of 81 1-2 miles, having the benefit of
the Bangor loan, less the outstanding bonds
of the company which are by agreement to be
exchanged for city bonds at par. Several
wealthy and influential railroad men here
became associated with Messrs. Pierce and
BIaisdell in the contract, and have paid $780,
600 into the hands Of the Treasurer, and of
this amount s64,s75 had been expended to
the 1st day of July last, and the balance of
the S150,O00 is in process of expenditure, so
tina. the Bangor subscription of 100000 is
already, or about due.
The work of laying the rails was delayed
by change of the draw across the Kendus-
keag at Bangor--the authorities at Bangor in
sisting upon a draw upon each side of the
stream, which had TO be changed at their re-
quest and their expense, requiring a pivot
draw and heavy pier in the centre of the
stream as first proposed by the company.
7 This work is now well advanced, SO that
the laying OF rails may commence the present
month, and proceed as far as Lincoln the
present year. The bridges at Orono and Old
town are being replaced with new structures,
and the grading is in a condition for receiv-
ing the rails. 90t
The funds not already provided, for COM
pleting the line to the New Brunswick bor-
der, are to be supplied by sale Of bonds Sc
cured on the line of the road and the public
lands of Maine, beyond what money may be
obtained from the claims of Maine and Mas
sachusetts against the United States govern.
ment .t fsaI-} t,.
The opening of Front street in Bangor,
90 feet in width from the depot of the Maine
Central railroad across the Kenduskeag, is
work not unlike the opening of CONNER
cial street in Portland, with even more prom
is of good results to the commercial business
of that city. a. .