The Portland daily press., 1868-06-15

suOre OF tne lake to F0SsS station on the Oon-
cord and Montreal road which runs to Wells
river; and by constructing new line thence
to Montpelier, a western connection to Og-
densburg would be secured by way of the
Vermont Central. The distance from Port
land to Swanton by this route would be GAG
miles-172 already built. 1t is said that the
Boston aud Maine, and the Concord and Mon
treal railroad companies and the city of Mont
peler have indicated their " illingness to give
such substantial aid to render probable the
completion of this important line, uniting
Portland with the West.
The friends of the Portland and Rutland
raj road are no idle spectators Their line is
through Carroll county to Centre Harbor and
via Fogg's Station to Danbury on the North
ern New Hampshire railroad. They make the
line 221 miles to Swanton, and there are 100
miles to build. This line runs north of the
lake, and there seems to be no unfriendly influ-
ence from this source to any of the projected
routes. The towns through which this route
passes are we'll represented by members who
feel deep interest in the success of the en-
terprise.
There has been in Concord during the week
| large number of influential railroad men
| from Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hamp-
shire, for the purpose of consulting in regard
| to the best means to bring about an immediate
connection with the city of Portland by the
way of the Portland and Rochester railroad
Hon. f. ii. Hennicutt and other directors of
the Nashua and Wor cester Railroad Compa-
ny, Judge Geo. Y. Sawyer of Nashua and sew
eral of the directors of the Nashua and Roch-
| ester Railroad Company, and other friends of
the line of communication between Rochester
and Nashua have had an interview in Con-
| cord, and express confidence that sufficient
funds can be speedily raised for the New York
and Western connections of the Portland and
| Rochester railroad. Arrangements are al
| ready in progress to secure this result. 1t
| seems certain that if the cars were running
to Rochester, before another season there
would be through route to New York city
from Portland. ..-. -....-r
Gen. P. I. Washburn of Woodstock, Yer
mont, made an able speech before the railroad
committee last Wednesday, and was strong
| and earnest in his expressions and estimation
of the importance to New Hampshire and
Vermont of having all the avenues and con-
nections that could be built, in order to reach
the city of Portland. John Cain, Esq, editor
| of the Rutland Courier, has been here during
the week, and bears testimony to the interest
| and wide-awake efforts that are being made
| by Rutland and other towns and interested
| corporations, to secure a railroad over the
mountains to White River junction in New
Hampshire. 1t is fifty miles from Rutland to
| White River Junction. The portion of the
hot h NJ,
shire line is under contract, and the work is
| speedily going ahead. Woodstock with val
| uation of 81 100000 contributes $3.50 1000, and
| the balance of the line is in the hands of en-
| gineers. 1t is admitted by all that Portland
has proud future, and the effort her capital
| lists are making to secure trade and CONNER
| cial importance commands the attention and
respect of enterprisng men all through New
England.
There still exists in New Hampshire little
OF that narrow selfshness, which would con-
fine the railroads of this State to course run
ming north and south, because this ground is
occupied; but the great public mind seems to
favor more liberal policy, and we feel conf
dent that the Legislature will charter at least
three new outlets from Maine to the West
through this State. The House committee
have closed the hearing on the Portland and
Franklin charter. but will make no report I'M
Gil they have finished the hearing of each of
the other petitions for charters. The Portland
and Rutland railroad charter was before the
committee Thursday and Friday. and the ad-
vantages of that line of road were ably pre-
scented by Hon. John A. Poor. The Alton
and Lake Shore route comes next in turn. The
friends ofthese different routes are all at work,
| and notice several gentlemen from Portland
| in Concord. 1t is not the intention of the
| friends of either of these lines to interfere
with the prospects of the Portland and Og-
densburg Railroad Company, but there is a
general expression of delight among all par
| ties at the prospect of its ultimate success.
| ..e MAINE.