The Portland daily press., 1869-09-27
Oswego Convention.

The meeting called at City Hall, Saturday
evening, for conference upon the objects of the
oswego Convention, and to appoint delegates
TO represent the city thereat, was quite an en-
thusiastic and animated gathering. About
two hundred gentlemen were present, repre-
sehting nearly all professions and interests.
John Neal, Esq, called the meeting to order
and nominated Hon. Phnehas Barnes as Chair
man. Allen Haines, Esq, was requested to
act as Secretary.
In taking the chair, Mr.. Barnes remarked
that this meeting had an additional interest,
because it was held on the anniversary of a
meeting which took p ace in a much smaller
room and was attended by fewer people quar-
ter of century ago, to bring forward the
scheme of the Atlantic s. st. Law renee Rail-
roa1; and at large meeting held on the 18th
of june following, they were actively consult
ing together how to raise the sum of one mil
lion OF dollass for the starting of the road.
The speakerthought the enterprise to be con-
sidered by the approaching convention would
be SO attractive that the danger to be appre-
hended was that some one else would try to
get in and steal the prize; it would soon reach
far beyond the limited precincts in which it
is now discussed. This is railroad which con-
templates crossing the continental trans-con-
tinental line Of communication. But there is
another word which We are soon to become as
familiar with as the word trans-continental;
and that is inter-continental In this age of
speedy results, the consideration of the one
naturally suggests the other; and when you
embrace the two ideas. you perceive what they
hn
that you can build across the very widest part
OF the contradiction the surf OF the Pacific
to the eastermost point of Cape Breton; and it
may not be more strange to see Europe and
Asia sending their travel and productions
through your very streets, than it was ten years
ago to anticipate O line from Chicago to San
Francisco. Mr.. Barnes then proceeded at
some length to demonstrate, in o familiar man
ner, that in diminishing the ocean distance be-
tween the continents, we correspondingly re-
duce the time and expense of transportation
between the extreme West and the European
markets. The interest of mankind is to travel
by land rather than by water. If the objects
of the Oswego Convention is worthy the at
tention of the great American people, certainly
it is worthy of ours.
Hon. John A. Poor followed Mr. Barnes
He reviewed the history OF the struggle which
eliminated in the construction of the Grand
Trunk Railway; and in the course of his re-
marks, to show how valuable that road had
been to Portland, stated that within the past
five years it had brought into the city, for con-
sumption in New England and the lower Prov
inces, moro than half as much value in pro-
duce, as the whole foreign imports of Boston
Three hundred and twenty. nine thousand
the lower Provinces. He referred to the COR
respondence which he had had with the lead
ing business men and statesmen of the coun- |
try, in regard to the Oswego Convention, to |
show the deep and widespread interest felt in |
it. Chicago is the only great city that has de- |
clared for Portland as an ocean harbor; and he |
proceeded to relate the enthusiastic expression /
OF the business men of that city, in favor of /
the recent action of their Board of Trade upon |
this subject. Portland is really ON the route be- |
tween Chicago and Europe, via the eastern
point of the continent. If you draw straight
line from Oswego to Bangor you will find that
We are only little south of that line; but the |
conformation of the country will require this /
slight detection as a measure Of economy |
Some of the links of the chain are already con-
structed. All the great towns on the line are
awake and IN earnest, as will be seen by look
ing at the signatures to the call for the conven.
ton. A response to the proposition of the
Oswego Convention is the turning point in our
history, and We may, in twenty five years, ex-
change places with Boston.
John Neal said Boston derided our attempt /
to build the Atlantic & st. Lawrence Rail
road, and stimulated us into action. They /
now challenge antagonism again, and so far as
BIO was concerned they should have it,
Henry p. Deane spoke of the importance of
the proposed Convention, and moved the APP
pointment of five gentlemen to report the
names of thirty or more delegates. Mr.. Deane,
with Messrs. Fl. J. Libby, T. O. Hersey, John
A. Poor and John B. Coyle, were subsequently
appointed said Committee.
After conference the committee reported the |
following resolution, which was unanimously
adopted:
Resolued, That the citizens of Portland. here
assembled, accept with pleasure the invitation
to take part in railway convention, to be held |
Mt OswegO on the 9th of October next to con- |
slider and act upon measures necessary to Sc |
cure the completion of direct line of railway
between Portland, Oswego and the Great West
The committee also asked further time to
prepare their report on delegates and suggest
I'd an adjournment to Thursday evening next,
1t IL O clock, and the meeting adjourned to
Ii 1t time.