The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-06

udy dL lU0l =. Its Otici eIoS" ." ~
SO per cent below par. Such is the og-
densburg railroad to-day.
This line sends vast quantities OF lum-
Der to Burlington and finds an improving
BUSINESS all along its route. But lumber
wiz not come from Ogdensburg to Port
iaiiu' line were built all the way
through. It's business at the present time
is done in connection with the Vermort
Central railroad at Rouse's Point or with
the Rutland road by way of Moore's juno
ton and Plattsburg, both of which lines
proved complete failures and are now run
by trustees or new companies made up of
bondholdors, holding the lines at nomi-
nal cost. Anyone can see therefore thaea
new line over more expensive route from
tide water at Portland to Rouse's Point or
Ogdensburg. running in the face OF active
rivalship and bitter hostility of existing
lines, must prove lamentable failure.
We do not blame Ogdensburg mei for
making the most of their place, and for
seeking new outlets from their city to the
sea-board. Nor do we object either to pri-
vatc individuals or private companies put
ting their money into new schemes. If the
Ocean Insurance Company or the Portland
Company choose TO put their money into
such a scheme as that of a railway through
the Notch, no one but the stockholders
has any right to object; but it is different
thing with city subscription, where every
taxpayer is called upon to contribute to
the enterprise.
One word further in regard to the busi-
ness of Ogdensburo. Does it hold out,even
on the statement of the editor of the Jour-
nal, such temptations as to induce sensible
parties to embark their capital in building
line of railway from the sea-board at
Portland, through the Notch of the White
Mountains, to reach 1t? This is the only
question we have to consider. The writer
in the Journal claims an increase of busi-
ness at Ogdensburg, hut does not claim
any increase of its grain orprovision trade,
matters that alone concern us in Portland,
in considering the question of building
new line of through railroad. We admit
the value of railway to Fryeburg; we
strongly sympatlize with the people on
the route in their efforts to obtain it the
people of Portland and along the route
might be taxed to build such line if they
thought proper to do so, but the subscrip-
| ton of Portland was obtained for another
purpose-the opening OF new route TO
the West, affording another outlet for
Western trade. -Hu lA
In considering this question we are
bound to look at the assurances of busi-
ness which such a project holds forth. II
is admitted-or, at any rate, not contcnded
that there has been any increase in tie
through business or movements of produce
from Oedensburg to the seaboard. Not
so of the trade Of Oswego, Buffalo, De-
trot and Chicago at the west, or Montreal
at the north. s,655,9 ,9O4 bushels of grain.
in 1868; and 13,9S7,377 bushels of grain
came into Oswego in 1s6S-a greater
amount than in any year since
1862 when the grain trade reached its
highest volume. Buffalo in 1868 received
SO sos, ,056 bushels of grain from Chicago:
and a line of railway from Portland to
Oswego, Buffalo and Chicago would tap
| the grain trade of the West at IT'S leading
points, and produce could reach Portland
| by railway from Buffalo cheaper than by
any existing route from Buffalo to New
York.
As to the business of the Northern Trans
portation Company, whose headquarters
are at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1867 they had
a good business, and in the winter follow
ing increased their capital and put on six
new boats in 1868, named Concord. Nashua,
ST. Albans, &c., from the cities or towns
| from which they obtained their new capital.
In 1868, 400 trips were made by this COM
pany between Ogdensburg and western
ports, bringing 90,000 tons east, and carry
| ing 60,000 tons west, a total of 10000
tons, and carrying 1900 passengers. The
business was not profitable, and the people
of Concord, st. Adams and other places
| complain of the failure of expected divi-
| dends. In 1869, the westward bound
freight has greatly fallen off; the company
has put no new boats afloat the present
year; or been able to make dividends, as
we learn from official statements. AT
| Montreal, we visited the new office of the
Northern Transportation Company and saw
their boats unloading into ocean steamers
The only point worthy of consideration
/ g. ID L., =, N,.I q
a line of railway through tie Notch ant
to Ogdensburg where there is not and
never can be great through business for
Portland. when by running a line to Oswe-
| go and Buffalo we can with less expense
and with certainty of success, reach the
| great depots of western trade? .-
| ..........s JOHN A. PooR.