The Portland daily press., 1868-02-10
Portland q Ogdensburg Railroad.

To the Editor Of the Press ~
The Portland & Ogdensburg railroad VIII be
the most direct line of communication with
the great lakes and the West. with Montreal
and Canada West, possible to Portland. Dis
lance from Portland to Rouse's Point about
212 miles; to Ogdensburg $50 miles.
This road will be in its interests and man
agement a Portland road which can scarcely
be said of any other terminating here.
1t will nut us in direct communication with
northern New Hampshire and Vermont, will
bring all that section much nearer to us than
to Boston and will develop and create an adj
ditional new business and trade for Portland,
equal to that it now has.
This will be the cheapest route between Chs
cago and the Atlantic seaboard for grain and
heavy ffeights unless theroute via Buffalo and
the Erie canal should be excepted iva
1t will be far the cheapest and most direct
outlet to the Atlantic for the Lake Superior
mining regions of northern Michigan and
Wisconsin, and for northern Minnesota, the val
ley of the upper Missouri, and the mineral
producing territories Of Dakota and Montana,
and so on to the Pacific. ~ 80
This route will be constantly improved by
the completion of other projects contemplated
or in progress. For instance, the Niagara Ship
Canal, connecting lakes Erie and Ontario,
transferring the terminus Of lake Transports
ton for vessels of the largest class from Buffa-
10 to Ogdensburg. and the still more important
project to us, of the contemplated canal from
the Georgian Bay to Lake Huron, to connect
with Lake Ontario at Toronto, distance of
100 miles, found by careful survey to be emil
nently feasible. The completion of this canal
will give all the vast country west on our par
| allel now just beginning to be developed, a
short, easy and cheap water communication
with Oswego and Ogdensburg, thence by rail
to Portland. This immense business, now in
its infancy, can reach the Atlantic by no other
possible route so direct and cheap, and when
here, will be nearer Europe than at any other
port in the States -.s.tf ri Itsa.t.s
This road will form link in the chain of the
great northern route across the continent via
the Northern Pacific railroad ..t.
There is reason to believe that the compile
ton and opening of this road will ensure to
Portland weekly line of European steam
ships, and make the regular importing of goods
as distinct business, possible to her mer-
| chants. Is As- Fl ce cL Utd ett
It is believed that this road can be built and
opeEed up to Portland within two or three
years from this time, if Portland and the towns
adjacent to the line will build the road to the
State line of Vermont. 1t is further believed
that this can be done on a stock subscription
of ST. 100000 perhaps something less. 1t is be-
| lieved a liberal individual subscription can be
obtained in this city, and as much more in
town and individual subscriptions upon the
line Of. the road, ard that.the city in its munc-
ipal capacity will willingly subscribe the diff
ference. 1t is also believed that unless the
city will do this the road cannot be built. 's5
1t is believed that the valuation of this
city viii be, largely increased by such action.
| and taxation proportionably lessened. If the
valuation of the city shall be increased only
two millions (and it will be many times more)
at the present tax rate the income will exceed
the interest upon the citys stock, should it be
entirely lost, which is not probable and an in
crease of three millions will afford an income
sufficient to pay interest and create sinking
fund to take care of the debt itself within
few years. ID gi 5ilaq 3dt m9Ii aoi59si9b "A
1t is believed with good reason, that the con-
Meeting roads and transportation lines, to be
benefited by the opening of this route, will
furnish substantial aid equivalent to any loss
likely to occur in negotiating the securities
that will be put upon the market to construct
the road, ensuring the building of the road at
the lowest rates for cash.
Such are some Of the opinions, right or
wrong, of the writer, who is interested in the
business and prosperity of the city, who desires
to see its financial and municipal affairs eco
nomically but wisely administered, and who be-
lieves in the Ogdensburg railroad, and did not
$3.50 ssigi3Cirr said s.uis REMONsTRATE. Il