The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-30
PRE SS
Tuesday Morning, April 80, 1867.



confessedly of the first importance to the fa-
ture growth and prosperity of the city The
question, stripped of all needless verb'ase' Is
simply this: Shall the prosperity OF the Guy ~
secured by opening new connections WIN .n
great grain and meat producing regions VI Wy
country, or, by neglectinS this, shaii We
the tide of our prosperity to ebp' anu '"o '''"e
which by natural advantages ana sraphiefu
position legitimately belong TO US 10 DC urawn
away by cities of more enterprise and clearer
foresight?
The loan asked for to-day beyond all ques-
ton, if granted, will secure one if not two new
routes to the West, and make Portland with
her splendid harbor the most available ship
ping port for the products of all that rich coun-
try lying on and beyond the great Lakes. Even
those who oppose this loan, as general thing,
admit the necessities which it is designed to
meet. 1t is perfectly plain to all business men
that, without increased means of transit from
che West to this city, we cannot maintain our
position as place of supply for the wants Of
the country. i.,.sflrl -.,,... -. 3 $500 80
The Grand Trunk road, it is well known, dis-
crlmnates unjustly against u.s. and in favor oi
Boston. That corporation has treated anu ~
treating our merchants with a degree oil un-
fairness that cuts it off from all sympathy, and
therefore. while we would do nothing TO injure
IL we would encourage competing road, all
within orr own territory, managed by our own
people, whose interests shall be identified with
the interests of our own city. &c y"
The Loan asked for if granted, will secure
l. The speedy extension Of the Portland s.
Rochester road from Saco river to Alfred,
of mill Il, A. IA
present business and bring close to our doors
the richest and at present most isolated por
ton of York county. 49, 4 -. s
2. When the Mayor and Aldermen shall be
satisfied of a sure connection with the Yer
mon Central road, through New Hampshire,
this loan will secure the further extension of
the 2. & r. road from Alfred to Rochester,
thus cutting two roads now penetrating the
heart OF the Granite State at point thirty
two miles nearer Portland than Boston; by
connections with Manchester and Nashua
open up new and direct route via. Worces-
ter to New York, saving thirty eight or forty
miles in distance, two hours in time and, in
Guiding the transit in Boston, two dollars in
expense in travelling from this city to New
York; also, by connections with tho Northern
New Hampshire road at Franklin, open up a
new route to the West which would afford us
some chance in competing with Boston for
the trade of that populous and wealthy section
of our common country. stie,.,af, fef5higifstf
3. When the Mayor and Aldermen become
satisfied that, by issuing the bonds authorized
by the vote to-day-proyided the Affirmative
prevails-a close connection will be secured
through New Hampshire and Vermont with
the Vermont Central at Montpelier, this loan
will be available to secure such route. From
Montpelier to Dalton ON the Connecticut river
the road is now being provided for, and will
soon be under process of construction. Ii
Portland will build the road from this city TO
the State line at North Conway, it is believed
by those best posted that interests can be read
lily brought to bear that will fill the gap in
New Hampshire, and a responsible road in
Vermont, now doing an immense business,
stands ready to lease the whole line at six per
cent upon the cost and equip and run 1T at its
own expense; thus making it for the interest
OF that road, now pouring its vast tide into
Boston, to divert the whole to this place. af,,g
But, says Messrs. Tmid, Croaker, Hoarder,
q Co., if you vote this loan you increase the
city debt, increase our taxes, and the city may
have to pay the bonds out of its own treasury ;
and SO we must stand still, see our trade and
business spirited away from us, and the SPLEEN
did stores and buildings going up, in our city
remain tenantless because the present bust
ness will not justify the rents needful to pay
even very small percentage upon the money
which they have or will cost! But the objec-
ton is not a sound one; is not justified by
past experience. The city is only asked to
Inn ifo 10 no. a V@ ~
amply secured Not cent of additional tax
will any citizen have to pay. There has never
been loan made by any city or town in the
State, for railroad purposes, that the city has
been the sufferer. Invariably the railroad
companies have paid-the interest, and the cor J
dition of the roads show that they will provide
for the bonds at maturity. But suppose that
at the end of twenty or thirty years Portland
sto@ld have to pay 81 600 and take the
roads,-which is by no means a supposable
case,-does it follow that the city would be the
sufferer? If the roads in that time by the in
creased prosperity gwen to the place, should
bring us up from population of 10000 to
10000 or 100000, and increase our valuation II,
proportion-say from 500 900 900 to 800, 600 900,
how much would the city suffer Iloss if it
should have to pay the bonds? ben9z 3fGf 5#
But who is to benefit by voting the loan and
thus securing the roads and assuring the city's
prosperity? All classes and all interests The
benefit would be public benefit. The tide
of population would flow in, new branches of
industry would open, steamship lines would be
constantly loading and unloading at our
wharves, manufactures would spring up, real
estate would be more valuable, if rents in
creased they would be more easily paid be-
cause the business of the place would be so
much larger and more profitable, and by
large increase of taxable property the rate of
taxation would be lessened.I Elii5saaqzar AHE
Who should vote for the loan? Every one,
because all are tobe benefited. Tt is no one
sided enterprise to benefit the few at the ex-J
pense of the many. The real estate owner
should vote for it because it will by increasing
population and business, make an increased
demand for his property. The merchant
should vote for it because it will afford new
facilities for trade The mechanic should vote
for it because it will quicken all the business
and industries of the city. The rich man
should vote for it because be can afford to do
something of his abundance for the COM
mon veal. The poor man should vote for it |
TO give him increased opportunities with |
less personal expense. And finally, no one |
can afford to vote against it unless he is pre-
pared to let slip the golden opportunity for the
city, to see real estate declining, merchants
removing from town for better business posi-
lions, mechanics stampeding to find work, an
the rural districts slowly but surely encroach-
ing upon the outskirts of the city, threaten
ing to crowd it into the most contracted
limits. ~ 80 ~ -.
All who are willing for such a result as this
will of course vote sNO;" all who would give
new impetus to the city's prosperity, will vote
Railroad Fever i'm Vermont. ~ g
The st. Johnsbury Caledonian says that
town pledges 100000 to the railroad from
Montpelier to the New Hampshire line at
Dalton. The same paper opens an able lead
er as follows: tiiii'lfiu' toa !
The more we have investigated the merits
oy,d aacib M fha