Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-03-12
Portland 4 Rival of Boston.

Portland 4 Rival of Boston.
We take the following, on the enter
prise of Portland, from the Springfield
Republican Of Monday, 1t will be seen
that il concisely states the advantages of
the Portland and Rutland route. Cih-
zens Of Rutland while Portland i.
aroused in favor of this project and the
metropolitan journals are pointing on,
its advantages to commerce andits direct.
ness for the sea-bosrd, arr you keeping up
with the popular movement for the build
ing Of his route so important 10 our
business interests and the growth Of our
town.
While Boston laments on the one hand
with half incredulous smile that the
Cunard steamers should find her com
merce too unremuneratiyo 10 Justify their
visits, and desert her for New York, on
the other hand prcsage Of promised
rivalry from Portland. presses into in
creasing prominence. Portlands mag
nifcent harbor. sheltered from ocean
storms by numerous islands, spacious, ac-
-eessihle even in the eelae-t winters, and
with sufficient depth of water for vessels
of the largest class, presents, 10 say the
least, quite as natural an outlet for the
cereals, the petroleum, or the manufac-
lures of the West. as does Boston And
contrasting the enterprise Of the two
cities, the odds are certainly in favor OF
the younger competitor Boston is treat
ing the whole matter OF interior railroad
communication in cool and leisurely
way. The only project of additional
western communication now entertained
there is the indefinite prosecution of the
Hoosac tunnel, and that TO point which
will in no way improve on its present ad-
vantages. Portland, on the contrary, has
for years eyineed energy and determine
ton in creating connections and increas-
: ing facilities, and bearing ON the question
of centralizing in that city streams OF
western commerce. and strengthening its
shipping alliance with the old world. The
great fire of 1866, for little time, and
but little, postponed active measures,
and the new city has grown out of the
ashes, stronger and better than before
The Grand Trunk railway to the West
via Montreal. is too circuitous TO drain
the produce Of the prairies and the prom
inent men of Portland are now entertain
ing two feasible routes for reaching the
West, either or both of which will event
uate in making that city grand terminus
for western routes.
These plans contemplate direct railroad
extension from Portland to Ogdensburg.
and from Portland to Rutland, the last
named being the latest in order. At 0g-
densburg the great lakes are reached with
their unrivaled facilities; and from Rut-
land the rail routes Westward are reason
ably direct, and this route is the most
sure of immediate completion. These are
not, however. antagonistic lines. At a
late spirited meeting of Vermont and
Maine railroadists in Portland, Gov. John
b. Page of Rutland and Gen. Washburne
presented the salient points of both roads
in strong light, and both were ably adyo-
Gated as having, to a certain extent, a com
mon interest. The road from Portland
across New Hampshire to White Piver
Junction on the Connecticut, and thence
by Woodstock to Rutland, will shorten
the transit in Western freight, which now
reaches Portland by way of Boston, ITO
miles, the direct distance between Rut-
land and Portland being but a few miles
further than that between Rutland and
Boston At Rutland the Rensselaer, and
Saratoga Railroad is eager for an outlet,
and through that road, by the way OF
Schenectady, is the most convenient chan
mel between the West and the manufao-
turing interests of the East, as.well as the
grain shipping business between Portland
and Europe, at present existing. AT pres.
cnt; for the lessons of Mr. Cranes lee
lures before the Legislature remind us
that there are holder and wider schemes
than these for Boston. Win the staid and
solid dignity OF Boston awake, or will her
capitalists and merchants rest sluggishly
content TO see a younger rival steal from
them the prestige OF genuine Yankee en-.
terprisc 1t cannot be concealed that
whatever Portland gains i'll Western bus.
mess, Boston loses.