The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-07-13
PoRrrANn. Jnna. a0tb 1890.

MY DEAR SR:-Ienclose copy of the COM
munication of the President Of the Chicago
Board of Trade, enclosing resolutions of that
Board, favoring the construction Of the most
direct practicable line of railroad from Ghica-
go to Portland. -
The vast importance Of this matter to the
whole country, aud more speciallyto our city,
leads me to hope that you will be willing to
aid in every way the carrying out of the prof.
ect in question.
I hope it is not asking too much of you to
request the insertion Of the Communication
and resolutions in your paper.
Very respectfully,
Your cbedient servant,
rf JOHN A. Poor.
BOARD OF TRADE TO THE CITY OF PORTLAND.
a Secretary's Office,
iaiasisF4 CHICAGO, June 18th, 1869.
To the Mayor Aldermen and Common Coun-
Gil of Portland, Maine.
Ge7ltlemen:-I have the honor to transmit
for the Information of the city government of
Portland, copy of the doings of this Board,
in reference to the Trans Continental Railsoay.
The immediate object of this Bond is, to Sc
cure the most direct practicable line Of rail
way from Chicago to Portland.
With distinguished consideration,
have the honor to be your obt. sery't.
j. w. RICHARDS,
President of the Board of Trade, Chicago.
CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE. Da I
Extracts from the records Of its proceedings.
CHICAGO, May 10th, 1869.
+ The President laid before the Board ON
change the following resolutions, viz:
Resolved, That the construction Of line of
railroad from Chicago to the Pacific ocean, in
vites attention to the necessity of securing a
direct line Of railway from -Ghieago to the
most eastern shore of the continent of North
America, at its widest part, 50 as to secure the
shortest practicable line of transit between
the commercial centres of Europc and Asia.
Resolved That the immediate advantage to
the commerce of Chicago, of adirect line of rail-
way to the most easterMlshore Of the continent,
touching the unrivaled harbor of Portland,
Maine, running along the south shore of Lake
Ontario, and from thence by way of whitehall
and Rutland due east to Portland, over q
route recently chartered by the States Of Yer
mont, New Hampshire and Maine, calls upon
the Chicago Beard of Trade to take action in
favor es this line with a view to encourage the
preparation at Portland for facilities for the re-
ceipt, distribution and shipment of merchan-
disc to and from Chicago, without the delays
attendant on other Atlantic ports.
RESOLVED, That the city of Chicago, at the
heart of the continent midway between the
eastern and western shores at its widest part
over any practicable route for railroad can
only realize her greatest destiny by adhering
to the policy of avoiding the circuitous route
by way of New York for the transit of passen-
gers, mails, and valuable merchandise, which
by means Of the longest land conveyance and
/ the shortest sea voyage, can be transported
from Hong Kong to London in thirty weight
days, and from Yokohama to London inside Of
thirty-fve days. *'
Resolved, That the citizens of Chicago and
of the central portions of the continent will
welcome the completion of a line. of railway
by the most direct route from Chicago to
Portland, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to St
Johns, Newfoundland, already projected,
built or in progress, as portion of the trans
continental rail,cay, an event of the greatest
importance to this city, second only to the line
to the Pacific, enabling pleasure tourists, men
of business and emgTants from Europe to
reach the heart of the continent and future
of the delays, restrictions or detentions which
come of circuitous routes, multiplicity Of COM
panies and governmental intervention.
ResoEved, That the laws of commerce disre-
| gard national or artificial boundaries, that the
| free transit of passengers, mails and goods
over all national and artificial routes in pos
session of the English-speahing people upon
the continent of North America, is the fnality
of American 2statesmanship-tha canals in
connection with our great chain of lakes must
ultimately be provided, and Of sufficient ca
pacity to allow steamers suitable for economi-
| cal ocean navigation to pass from the ocean
by way of the lakes, to the heads of Michigan
and Superior, with inward and outward car
goes; while the immediate duty of the hour is
to secure ship canals between Lake Erie and
lake Champlain Of sufficient capacity to
| transport the produce of the west seeking. an
Atlantic to market without transhipment be-
tween Chicago and Whitehall.
TINE AND DISTANCE
& The following tables show the distance from
London to Hong Kong, via. Newfoundland
Portland, Chicago and San Francisco, also the
time consumed: