The Portland daily press., 1867-04-11

Johns and jugs containing the Hquor which
had been transferred from the kegs aforesaid
so as to dupe the investigating officials. This
is considered one of the last lodges, far out
stripping the famous striped pig OF auld lang
| sine.
fhe Railroad from Montpelier 10 Cor
| To the Editor OFT Press.
| hat the Portland merchants are earnestly
discussing the project of railroad connection
noii "ohtpeher, VT, to Gorham, N. H., is evil
dence That they are alivet to their true bnsness
interests. Such connection could not fa;
to add immensely to the business of the c;tv
The route proposed for such road. so far os
the wriier has observed in various newsno-
per articles, Is from Montpelier to st. Johns
bury, thence through Dalton to Gorham. or
else new route entire along the Saco valley.
| The former route, to connect at Gotham, has
| seemed to meet with the most favor, be-
| cause of Its requiring less amount of road to
be built. The distance contemplated is about
| seventy-ive miles. .TitF al hf,4.
Now the writer wishes to propose the in
| quiry, If a route could be found making pre-.
| cisely the same connections at each terminus
| of the road, which would require twenty miles
less road to be built, whether it would not be
more acceptable 10 the business men Of Port
land who are asked to give their money for
this enterprise? ...,4-.- s..
Such a route any one can find who will
carefully examine correct map of the region.
The route suggested is from Montpelier to
Wells river, thence on the White Mountain
road to Littleton, and from Littleton to Cor
ham. The distance between these two routes
varies scarcely at all, while twenty miles OF
one route Is already built, with an extension
often miles under immediate contemplation.
Lay measure upon the map in direct
line from Montpelier to St. Johnsbury-and
apply 1t to the scale, and the distance is found
to be thirty miles. Lay it on again from st.
Johnsbury to Gorham, and it is found to be
forty-two miles, the whole distance in direct
lines seventy-two miles. Now take your
measure and lay it on from Montepelier to
Wells River, and the distance is found to be
twenty-seven miles, from Wells River to Lit
Teton direct line is eighteen miles, from Lit
Teton to Gorham twenty-seven; the whole
distance in direct lines, seventy-two miles,
precisely the same as the other route. In
either route se7enty-fve miles of road would
be required. But Of the road from Wells River
to Littleton twenty miles actual length Of
road is already built and more in contempla-
tion which would shorten the route to fifty
five miles of actual road to be built. Again
lay down the rule and draw direct line from
Montpelier to GorhaM; then survey with
your eye the direction of the two routes. St.
Johnsbury, the most Northern point of one
route, is found to be quite as far North of this
line, as Wells River the most Southern point
of che other route, is South of it. By these
several tests any one can see that the distance
by the two routes is nearly or quite the same.
The writer is not familiar with the affairs
of the White Mountain Railroad corporation,
but that an arrangement could be made with
them for the use of their road either by lease
or otherwise need not for a moment be doubt
ed. And that any material difference could
be found in the cost OF grading mile by mile
no one acquainted with the two routes would
affirm. Why then should seventy-five miles
of road be built when fifty-fve miles viii an
swer just as well?
The principal advantage of the route through
St. Johnsbury seems to this writer to be, the
business which that thriving village would
bring to the road. That this would be con-
siderable need not be denied; but aside from
this there is hardly any business centre of any
Importance un the entire route But on the
other hand there are weighty reasons in favor
Of the Wells River and Littleton route
FIRST, t,uenty miles OF the road are already
built, with large and constantly increasing
local business. Report says that gold, copper
and slate are found IN abundance along this
road. Next, an immense lumber region
around the Western base of Mount Washing
ton-now practically sealed-would be
brought several miles nearer railroad connec-
ton than by the other route. Years would
elapse before the lumber could be exhausted.
1t would bring large and immediate busi-
ness to the road. A third advantage would be
the no distant prospect of a branch road in
to the very heart of this lumber region. to
COuuCCt WAtu OuC 4AOuuC w
This would add largely to the business of the
road. A fourth advantage would be the d.
rect connection which would thus be formed
with the Boston, Concord and Montreal road
| Such connection could not fail to add inn
| mensely to the business of that part Of the
road between Montpelier and Wells River.
Such route from Concord and Eastern New
! Hampshire through to Montpelier, could not
| fail to divide the immense freight and cattle
| trains of the Vermont Central and Northern
roads, while it would lessen neither the freight
| or passengers that would naturally 60 to Port
land. But fifth, and still greater advantage
will be the mountain travel over the route
| This is something that will prove permanent
| Summer travel to the mountains is already
large, but it is yet in Its infancy. A railroad
| is now building up the western slope of Mt
| Washington. Men of wealth and energy are
engaged in the enterprise; there is not a
doubt of its success. Large hotels, in addi-
| ton to those already existing, with surround
| Ing villas, are already planned and soon to be
erected; so that this western side with It's
steam cars to the top, together with Its access
Utility by railroad-it being the only point
| about the mountains where railroad can ap
proach to the very foot of Mount Washing
! TOMS destined in future to become the prin-
| cipal centre of mountain travel Now this
vast multitude that will come up the Con-
necticut Valley, from the West and the South
would It not be an item Of business worth
considering, to secure the carrying of these
thousands some thirty.fre miles or more to
the nearest possible mountain station p
Whereas should the route through st. Johns
bury be chosen, this would be nearly or quite
1 all lost. 4 "'''
Now, that these several local advantages can
possibly be counter-balanced by the business
Of st. Johnsbury, the writer cannot believe.
Moreover, St. Johnsbury itself could not be
greatly discommoded by such a road. Twenty
miles of travel on the Passumpsic will give
them the connection.
But the main business of the road. as ever,
one knows, would not be local but through
freight from the seaboard to the West. and
from West to East. The question, therefore
OF routes, II ever such road is to he built
should not be decided by local and persona
interests, as 1t seems likely to be, but by sucI
| considerations as the number of miles To h,