The Portland daily press., 1869-09-24

"S0V CVhvcAuOh'
A communication has been received by the
Mayor, and laid before the City Government
on Tuesday evening, September 21st, and re-
ferred to the joint special committee, in the
words following:
TRANS-CoNTINENTAL RAILWAY.
OsDego, N. y, Aug. 8, 1869.
have the honor to forward herewith a copy
of the call for q Convention to be held at Os-
wego, on the 9th of October, A. D., 1862 for
the purpose Of taking measures to secure the
construction of line of railway by the most
direct route from Chicago to Portland, by the
way Of Detroit Buffalo, Oswego, Rutland,
Woodstock, Bristol, and the Ossipee Valley.
The great lines of railway from the West to the
sea-board have been built mainly with view
to the enhancement of business at their re-
spective termini at the Atlantic sea-board.
rather than as commercial enterprises. purely
in the interest of commerce and trade.
The plan of the proposed line to the Attain
tic sea-bOard by the most direct route from the
northwest is designed to secure the shortest
practicable line of railway az an outlet for
western produce, from the greatest receiving
and distributing point upon the continent
Chicago, to the best harbor upon the Atlantic
sea-board, Portland, touching Buffalo at the
foot of Lake Erie, Oswego near the lower end
of Lake Ontario, and Whitehall at the head of
Lake Champlain, the line itself being coinci-
dent with the shortest line of transit across the
continent at its widest part-shortening the
| time of transit to its lowest limit of time and
expense between China and Japan at the
East, San Francisco and Chicago on this con-
| tinent and London.
1t is already demonstrated that direct line
| from Chicago to Portland--over the line pro-
dosed-is eminently feasible and practicable,
making use of existing lines of railroad where
| ever they coincide with the most direct route,
and forming connections on either side with
all existing or projected lines. shortness and
cheapness of transit are the essential elements
of commercial success, and the eyes of the
commercial world in. both hemispheres are
turning to this trans continental railway as
the great and ultimate necessity Of the age.
Every city, town and locality on this route is
| interested in securing its accomplishment, and
at the earliest practicable moment, as the line
In question will become not only golden belt
| across the continent, but an ever expanding rv-
| or of commerce that shall plant upon its way ,
for the entire route, prosperous Cities thriving
villages, busy workshops and an industrious
population. -'i ie
We trust, therefore, that every city, town
and village on the route, from Chicago to Hal
ifax, Nova Scotia, will elect delegates to said
convention, as well as the various public bod
les interested in its success. The purpose of
this communication is to ask your municipali-
| ty to send delegation to said convention.
We beg leave to request that you will reply to
this note on or before the 30th day of Septem-
| Der next, informing us of your action in the
premises, and in case of the election of dele
gates that you will give us the names, resi-
dence, official title and address of the delegates
selected. By order Of the Committee.
! HENRY L. DAVIS, Secretary.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Coun-
ell of the city of Portland. ..f