The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-23
Moscow, Portland and Canton.

On the ordinary maps of the world, the
two hemispheres are represented within the
circumferences Of two large circles. To OBJ
tain any clear idea of the relations of points
in the different hemispheres, it is necessary,
either actually or by an effort Of the imagina-
ton, to place the two hemispheres back to
back, thus forming kind of collapsed globe.
Even then there remains difficulty in con-
sidering routes between distant points. Di-
rect lines, on our ordinary maps, are repre-
sented in most cases by curves. Only the
equator and the principal meridian in each
hemisphere are represented by straight lines;
parallels Of latitude and all the meridians but
one are curved, and as matter Of course, the
shortest line between any two points, unless
both happened to be on the equator or on the
principal meridian, would be represented by
curve which could only be accurately laid
down by the app lication of mathematical
rules. Mercators projection Is designed to
meet precisely this difficulty. All direct lines
on Mercator's map are represented by straight
lines. The meridians are straight and paral-
lei, and both hemispheres are represented ON
a single square map. It follows that as you
approach the poles the distances are exagger-
ated, which is of comparatively little conse-
quence, but the positions are rigidly exact,
and the shortest route between any two points
is represented by a straight line. od eia' laao',
Such map lies before us as we ,write-the
map presented last Wednesday evening to
the chairman Of the committee of reception
on the part of the Board OF, Trade, by Mr..
Massey of New York, vice president of the
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgt railway,
a man Of large forecast chastened and
strengthened by large experience. On that
map Mr.. Massey has drawn direct line from
Hong Kong In China to London and thence
through Berlin 10 the interior of Russia lit
tie south Of Moscow. There are several in
teresting peculiarities about this line, and
some which are Of especial interest to us here
in Portland. In the first place it runs through
the preponderant populations of Europe and
Asia-Russia, North Germany, Holland, Eng
land, across the North American continent
to China 800 millions of people, two-thiIds
VI tuC pUpttltttOil vi Tue WOIlua ut dlOllg t1lS
line. In the second place, it not only, passes
through the British Channel, the distributing
point for grain eargoes throughout Europe,
but near Detroit and straight through Chica-
90, the two points at which the grain crops of
our Western States converge for shipment.
In the third place, the Atlantic portion of the
line, leaving England at Bristol, strikes the
coast Of Maine at Portland, just blotting out
our little city, and produced across the con-
tinent strikes Oswego, the Niagara river,
Chicago, Omaha, and San Francisco a
From Hong Kong and Canton around the
world to the British Channel and the interior
of Russia, this the shortest route. Already
steamers are plying between China and Cali
fornia. The work on the Pacificrailway from
Omaha to San Francisco is rapidly progress
ing. Omaha and Chicago are already con-
nected. From Chicago the Michigan Central
and the Great Western railways stretch for
ward across the peninsulas Of Michigan and
Canada to the Niagara, and thence seek an
outlet to the sea. Our New York friends are
determined to build road along the Ontario
( ShOAC"-4SO AuitCo kly-lIOuI 1NldSdfd ~
Oswegoa From Montpelier railroads are al
ready in operation. To complete an all rail
communication across the continent, by the
most direct line, from Portland to San Fran
cisco, there is needed only the $50 miles more
or less, to be built up the Saco valley. and
through the White Mountains to the interior
Oh vermont. goIf iel9ag sidlIozl zsslaF
Twenty roads would not do the business of
the West alone; but here is a line which not
only opens new a7enue to the West, but to
the Orient, by the same route which Colum-
bus follows. With an all-rail connection with
San Francisco by the most direct route posi-
BILE, Portland lying also on the most direct
ocean route to England and Europe, win in.
fallibly become shipping point for Asiatic
products, and the completion of the Northern
Pacific railway, with the establishment ofnew
lines Of steamers from Puget Sound, win only
increase our advantages. In an age when
newer, shorter and cheaper routes of commu-
cation by land and water are most eagerly
sought, when all the nations are joining hands,
and even the Japanese have just ordered a
cargo of English school ol-books from New
York publishers, we find ourselves on great
International route, an air line from Canton
to London. five begin now, we can hardly
lay the rails for the Portland and Ogdens-
burg road before the first engine from San
Francisco will come laundering into Chicago.
There will be more business than the road
can do from the hour 1t is opened.