The Portland daily press., 1868-09-29
Portland, White Mountains and
Ogdensburg Railroad.
MEETING AT CITY HAE1..


tendance was remarkably large, showing in
the most satisfactory manner that the impor-
tance of the subject to be discussed is fully ap-
preciated. Even the ladies, who are not usu-
ally called out by the attractions promised on
such occasions, were present in respectable
numbers. The most intense interest was man
iiested in the explanations offered by the yari-
Gus speakers, and almost the entire audience
sat patiently till the meeting broke up at
late hour. tfF t Ht
The meeting was called to order by Hon. J.
B. Brown, who named Mayor Mcclellan for
chairman. The chairman, without any ex-
tended remarks, introduced Gen. S. J. Ander-
son, who has been for some months the agent
of the road. Gen. Anderson said that since we
met last to consult some progress has been
made. The city has subscribed $750,00O to the
stock of the road by vote of almost five to one.
The towns of Conway, Fryeburg, Brownield,
Hiram, Denmark, Sebago and Baldwin have
all voted to take five per cent. of their valua-
ton in the stock. Moreover, committee COM
posed for the most part Of the business men of
the city have been over the whole route The
people of the towns through which the COM
the people of Portland He spoke in glowing
terms OF the resources of the country along
the line of the road, making special mention
OF Shelburne and Wolcott Many of the
towns in Vermont ha ye subscribed IL per cent,
of their valuation, making 40 per cent. of the
cost of the construction of the road through
that State This, with the bonds that will be
issued, will give sufficient sum to build their
part of the road. The question which we have
now to decide is whether we shall by private
subscriptions also raise 40 per cent in order to
build the road to Connecticut river.
In discussing this question he reviewed
briefly the progress OF railroads in this coun-
try showing that the wealth of States is gen.
orally in exact ratio to the extent of their rail-
road facilities. He then passed to an explana-
tiOn of the advantages of the Ogdensburg road
over other routes now projected or in opera
ton. When that road is built the -four which
comes to us by the circuitous Grand Trunk
route, will come direct from Ogdensburg at the
head of lake navigation. The objection that
the lakes are closed during the winter season
has no weight. No flour would be brough: to
Portland in the winter even if there were
Au0aho Va oioiopoiuhtiOu NY WdJcF, lOT IL Is uOG
at that season Of such a quality as our mer-
chants desire.
EAmong the o.her advantages of the road, we
have guaranteed to us so per cent. OF the net
profits of freight passing over connecting roads
from this, for the term of five years. . g,
Gen. Anderson called attention to the ex-
tent of water communication which this road
will render available to Portland. From o.
densburg, steamers. will convey produce to
Chicago OR to Fond du Lac, at the Western end
of Lake Superior, the Eastern terminus of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. A ship canal
which will almost certainly connect lakes HUI
ron and Ontario at an early day. will shorten
the distance very much between Portland and
the West. The Northern Pacific road has al
ready received handsome subsidies from the
government and is sure to be built. By build
ing 300 miles of road to Osdensburg we can
Immediately avail ourselves of 700 miles of wa
er communication. Gen. Anderson described
incogent and eloquent terms the advantages, of
this route across the continent over all Others
1t is the shortest route across the continent, it
has the greatest extent of water commupica-
tion, requires the building of less number of
miles of railroad, crosses the Rocky Mountains
at less elevation, the country through which
it passes is richer and it is the direct line of
traffic with China and Japan. When in three
years this road shall be completed Asiatic trade
will undoubtedly pass over this route, and
with our lines of European steamers Portland
will be, as has been well said. "the gateway of
nations" We have been gradually educated
to see that this is the thing that will give
Portland the position among cities that her
geographical position renders it feasible for
her to assume.
viii it pay? Henry A. Poor, an authority
on such subjects, says that the railroads of the
United States, north of Mason and D.xon's
line, earn 25 per cent. of their cost yearly, and
that their net earnings are per cent, the cost
per mile being estimated at $4,000. Most Of
the roads, too, have been built in the most ex.
pensive way. The projected road, taking ey
erything into considerations is an exceptiona1
one in the matter of being likely to earn a lar
ger per cent of its cost yearly than Others
The products of the West will shortly become
so enormous that the difficulty will not be to
get freight, but to find means of transporta-
tion. The cost of transportation by water is
only one-tllrd as great as by rail, and owing to
this TACT and to the fact that the road will con-
stitute tie shortest route between the sea and
the head of lake navigation at aOgdensburg,
the produce of the West will inevitably seek
this means of reaching tide water.
The corporators have had an offer to build
the road at $4,000 a mile, from responsible
parties, but it is not expected that it will cost
more than 925, 900 a mile.
Gen. Anderson had heard within a few days
OF persons inimical to the road who are plot
ting to invalidate the city subscription He
warned them that they would, at an early pe-
riod, deeply regret their action in placing
themselves on record as enemies to project
OF such vital Importance to the city. He had
favored every project for the promotion of the
business interests of the city,. but these men
must not expect a continuation of friendly
feeling toward their schemes, if they were hos
tile to this. I
The speaker said that we could not expect
much further increase in the size of the citv
unless we can build up western trade. The
farming and other industries have been deyel-
onea all they be until wo incrooeo -otn
trade, and build up city large enough to alb
sorb the produce of the country towns. ,..
Gen. Anderson closed with an eloquent an
peal to the citizens of Portland to come prompt-
ly up to the work. The speaker was warmly
applauded at frequent intervals during his re-
marks.
Governor Washburn was next introduced.-
He showed that the proposed route has. AMONG
others, the following advantages over all 9TH
ers: @ q
First. 1t is the shortest cut to the western
waters, and gives easier access to cheap matter
transportation than any other.
Second, 1t is, with its connections. the short
est route by rail to the great West. The On
taro shore road, from Oswego to the Niaoar,
River, is sure to be built, and when this link is
completed we have an all rail line between tbe
Grand Trunk on the North, and the New work
Central on the South, shorter than either.
Third, The whole line will be under our con.
troll as far as Rouse's Point, and there 10 only
one connecting road from that point 70 tbe
lakes. Boston and New York are embarrassed
by the great number of their connectino roads
some OF them controlled by adverse interests
This great advantage is increased by the fact
that the road with which we connect at Ronse,s
FONT is pledged to cooperate with ours and to
give it the preference over others All otbor
roads projected from this city have connec-
tions with roads that are controlled bv rival
cities-roads that will be managed in a man.
nfr antagonistic to our interests.
Fourth, The country through which the |
road will pass is so Situated thor II -, l... |