The Portland daily press., 1868-07-10
Railroad Connections with New Hamp-
shire.

shire.
We have before us the Daily Concord Mon
itor of July 6, containing the closing pro-
ceedings of the late session of the Legislature.
which was prorouged by the Governor on the
morning of the 4th inst. In the list of acts
passed at the late session is one incorporating
the Portland & Rutland Railroad Company
under the name OF the New Hampshire Central
Railroad, which authorizes the extension OF
the line of railway from the State line in
Freedom and Effiingham to the line of the Bos-
ton, Concord & Montreal Railroad at Mere
dith, and thence TO the line of the Northern
railroad at Danbury, so as to form a connect
ed line from Portland to Rutland.
bill also passed 10 incorporate Portland
d Franklin Railroad to extend from the line
OF the Northern road at Franklin to the line
OF the Dover q Winnepissiogee railroad at
Downing's crossing in New Durham.
These two projects were brought before the
attention of our people during the past sea-
son, and were urged before the committee OF
the Legislature by persons representing Port
land interests.
Two other cross lines were also urged be-
fore the Legislature, one known rs the
Lake Shore road from Alton to Lake village,
the other known as the Rochester, Pittsfield
d Concord road, which were reported upon
favorably by the committee, but defeated in
the Legislature.
The Monitor in its summing up the doings
Of fhn opic latr 4.
cussions in the following language:
The question of chartering various railroads
was the question which excited more interest
than any other. Three or four routes were
asked for, where not more than one is likely
to be built. Should they all be chartered, or
only one? We confess that or judgment
rather favors the giving as many charters as
may be askedfor by responsible parties. With
the experience which railroad men now pos
sess, there is not much danger that they will
build roads without there is good show for
business to make them pay.
Inc question upon which all the others
were made to hinge, was that of chartering
the Lake Shore" road, from Alton to Lake
Vile re. This road-it was said and not deni-
ed-was desired by the Boston and Maine
Road, and would il chartered, be
built by the friends of that corpora
tion for the purpose of ''tapping' the
Boston, Concord and Montreal road, and TAX
ing its business and passengers by Dover to
portland and Boston. The Boston, Concord
and Montreal road did not, however, fancy
this kind of tapping, and all its influence was
against granting the charter, which, as will
be seen by the proceedings, was defeated by
very large majority.
routes will be built, remains to be seen. We
hope so. We need We. much central route
across the State, and we do not care much
whose money constructs it. Railroads have
come TO be public necessity, and no large
section of either New Hampshire or any 9TH
er State can afford to be deprived of the facil-
tiles they fr-nIsh.
1t is certainly matter of qualification to
the people of Portland, that the lines propos-
ing to connect with Portland, were both
granted, and we believe that the sentiment
of this city demands the building of one at
least of these two lines.
From Portland to Danbury by the valley
OF the Ossipee, the distance is 81 miles as
show by the plans of surveys laid before the
rail.oad committee, and the building of this
liue, secures connection with Rutland and
the West by means of the Woodstock and
Rutls1d railroad now in process of construc-
tion.
From Danbury to Portland by way of the
Portland and Franklin route, the distance is
somewhat greater, but with fewer miles of
line TO be built. From Portland to Roches-
ter, the distance is 50 miles,-from Rochester
to Downings crossing the distance is IS
miles-.i'om Downirgs crossing to Franklin
35 miles and from Franklin to Danbr-y 10
miles, making total OF 122 miles, of which
the unfinished sections are, the 10 miles from
Alfred to Rochester and 35 miles from Down
ing's crossing to Franklin, or "a miles of new
line to be built
From Danbury to Boston is 144 miles by
railway, so that if the Portland and Putland
line is built to DanbuIJ, there is an advan-
tage of % miles in favor of Portland over
Boston in the transportation of merchandise.
We are informed that the friends of the
Portland and Rutland Railroad in the valley
of the Ossipee, propose to move at once in
taking up subscriptions to the stock. and Sc
curing az rganization of the company
The line from Portland to Danbury by
this route is said to be the cheapest one to be
found in New England,