The Portland daily press., 1868-07-11
international Commercial Convention.


At a meeting of the Committee of the Cor
porators of the Portland & Rutland Railroad
Company, held at the Office OF the Ocean In
surance Company, in Portland, on the 4th day
of June, 1868, Committee was appointed to
take into consideration the expediency of in
wiling convention of the friends of public
improvements to be held in this city during
the present Summer, for the purpose of con-
centrating public attel ton upon Portland
harbor, as the cheapest point for the exporta-
ton of Western produce, and the advantages
of a direct line of railway across the Cont
nent at its widest part, uniting Halifax, Port
land, Buffalo, Detroit Chicago and San Fran
rlsco, by one connected chain of railways
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
AT meeting of the said Corporators held at
the MAYORS office, in Portland, on Saturday
June 20, 1868. with other parties in connection,
as TO the measures now required to enlarge
the business of Portland it was
Voted, That, as the sense of this meeting, a
call for Convention should be issued, inviting
all those friendly to public improvement and
favorable to increasing the means of in err
course and trade across the Continent, and the
adjustment on liberal terms of the regulations
of trade upon the Continent of North Ameri
ca, to be held at the City Hall, in Portland, in
July or August next, at such time as shall be
fixed by said Committee. o..
Some anxiety has existed lest antagonisms
should arise among the friends Of rival inter-
est or in other words some have feared that in
pushing the claims of the Ogdensburg project,
and of the Rutland line as rival undertakings,
some conflict might arise, retarding if not de-
feating both. We are happy 10 say, therefore,
that these appre tensions are removed. Lead
ing men representing both interests have pro-
posed to make the call for said Convention
broad enough to include both. And it is
agreed that that portion of the distance from
Portland to the valley of the Ossipee, some 80
miles or more, shall be common to both routes,
leaving bat 81 miles of new line to be provid-
ed for. to complete the chain of railway from
Portland to Rutland by the Western route.
Tha Ogdensburg road is referred TO in the
call, which says: "Tke friends of the r. & o.
Railroad believe that the completion of line
of railway from Portland to the navigable wa
tiers of the st. Lawrence waters at Ogdens-
burg, in connection with the proposed Niagara
Ship Canal, will answer as outlet for Western
scription to which are already secured. not
only by the city of Portland and by municipal
corporations and individuals in Northern New
Hampshire and Vermont"
We are enabled to state that such an under
standing has been reached by the friends OF
these two projects tor railroad connection to
the West that all will unite in the proposed
Convention, allowing each measure to share
alike. By union of effort and harmony of ac-
ton, Portland will be enabled to secure such
lines OF railway to the West as shall add at
once and largely to her business and trade,
When enterprising communities in New
Hampshire and Vermont are seeking business
connections with us by railway, encourage
ment should be extended without stint or linn
it to all.
AGREEABLE WAY TO SPEND DAY.-One
of the pleasanteSt trips that can be made from
Portland for a days pleasure is to go out to
Saco River via the Portland & Rochester Rail
road. It is beautiful all along the route be-
tween here and there, as you catch occasional
glimpses of the Presumpscot and get fine
views OF the hills to the North. After arriv-
ing at the River nothing is lacking, for lovers
good scenery to have a glorious feast. The
river is beautiful at this point, and all along
its wooded banks are shaded paths and hooks,
from which you can get views for days study
and admiration. Nor is it lacking for wild and
grand scenery, for one mile below the Station
are the beautiful Salmon Falls, so much adj
mired by all who have ever visited them. They
are easily reached by paths along the banks.
If you wish to visit calmer scenes take the
little steamer Enterprise and 90 up river to
Moderation Village. 1t is a beautiful sail, the
river being smooth, the water clear, and the
scenery on the banks will give you aminiature
idea of a sail up the Hudson. Near Modera-
ton Village there is beautiful grove, located
on high ground, and from which you can see
a long distance down river. Some OF the en-
t.rprising citizens of the village have cleared
up this grove and laid large floor, which is
covered. This, we understand, they offer to
Sabbath School Excursions free, and we know
of no place that can be reached in a day from
Portland that has such inducements for ex-
cursionists as this. We are informed that the
High Street Society and Sabbath School of
this city are to make an excursion up this river
ON the 29th inst. If the weather is agreeable
we can't see why it won't be happy occasion,
for nature has done everything to make it
pleasant and the managers will spare no pains
10 have things pass off satisfactorily.