The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-07-16
Republican Nominations.
a. FOR cOvERSOR ef
JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN,
Letter from New Mamp.hIre.
OF BRUNSWICK.

eu last FRIDAY. IL was little longer tnan
usual but still model session for dispatch
and amount of business. It is a source of.
pride to the inhabitants of the Granite State
that but little oser month is consumed an
nually in reeonstructing the old laws and
making new ones. ~ ,i--l.slft ..t3
Among the important business transacted,
the railroad legislation has been pre-eminent
"The poor but respectable" public know as
little about the why's and wherefores of legis-
lation, as "Lol the poor Indian" Of the
grandeur of civilization.
We propose to speak plainly of matters in
connection with railroad legislation "with
malice towar none and with charity toward
all. 1t is about time the poor deMded public
should begin to comprehend the situation.
Corruption did notabsent herself from Con-
cord during the session of the Legislature.
Members were not less susceptible than in pre-
vious years. Good measures were defeated in
spite Of individual conscience and bad ones
triumphed against the protests of honorable
men.
The Portland and Ogdensburg railroad, was
successful in getting authority to 60 through
Vermont either uia Dalton or Carroll. The
time for building the Northumberland extern
sion of the Boston, Concord and Montreal
road was extended. The Concord and Roch-
ester railroad was chartered. The LAX e
shore (Alton Bay to Weirs) road as is vel
known was defeated. "Hereby hangs talew
Gov. Onslow Stearns is Concord man !;
Concord has in Col. John FL. George a
strong advocate and he is the lawyer and
strong team of the Consolidation scheme.
Concord really fayors consolidation although
the Concord and Rochester delegation did not
in Portland come out boldly for it. Col.
George does the skirmishing in advance. Last
year and this the Concord people promised to
| go for the Lake Shore road and asked for the
aid of the Lake Shore parties in behalf of the
Concord and Rochester road. The latter adj
vocating broad, generous policy, fasoring
the granting ofaT the charters asked for, OF
course, said they should vote for it and asked
in return the votes of Concord in favor of the
Lake Shore. IL scGs promised. Only one
from that city voted for it. "Brutns was
an honorable manp Before the Railroad
Committee of the House, eight lawyers ap-
peared against the little Lake Shore road, the
young David and Concord the Goliah! But
one lawyer appeared for the Lake Shore,
and no lawyer member in the House. Cries
of wolf wolf! were raised against the Lake
Shore, that they were using money to carry
their scheme. Nothing was used beyond the
| mere honorable necessary expenses. The
charge unfounded and was made to draw off
the fire from the other side. Ports mouth
wanted the Dover and Portsmouth road
guaranteed to be built at same time as the
Lake Shore and therefore they were not so
jealous for it at first as they ought TO have
been. At the last end of the session the COM
promise of unity was made but too late. III
fact the Lake Shore never had any chance
from the first and its friends alter seeing the
formidable array of lawyers, railroad men
lobbyists and Others opposing them, conclud-
ed to make the best fight they could and gain
over last year. Coos county raised up cry
OF opposition, that the Northumberland ex-
tension would not be made beyond Boston,
Concord and Montreal road, If the Lake
Shore was chartered and built as it reduces
the income of the Boston Concord and Mon
treal by drawing off from its business and
cripple the finances and prevent them from
building its said extension. Whewl absurdi-
ty, nonsense, traps to catch greenhsrns. There
is considerable of ray Of the ludicrous in
such pretence.
Every sensible man acquainted with railroad
matters knows that the Grand Trunk railroad
is overloaded with freight. 1t cannot do its
business as promptly as the business people
require. In spite of the difference in gauge,
there would a large amount of freight leave
the Grand Trunk railroad at Northumber-
land, if the B., G. & M. was built thence. 1t
would be a grand paying enterprise. The
Dover G. Portsmouth and the little Lake
Shore road would bring business to the B., O.
& M. road. Portsmouth would revive and its
commerce increase, and the balance of busi-
ness would be in favor Of the B. @. & M.
road. This Coos cry is humbug, to blind the
country members eyes. The real "cat in the
meap is consolidation. The real opposing
force is the Concord railroad and Concord.
1t is the determination of the Consolidation
lists lin railroads, for Col John II. George is
opposed to consolidation in politics. to pre-
vent the eastern section of the State from
uniting and making an opposing line from
| Montreal to Portsmouth, or even to Boston
via Dover. Hence this mighty agitation, this
upheaval of all the powers of the lobby to
prevent the chartering Of 16 miles of rail-
road-which some of its opponents from Coos
county say only fifteen families want-that it
cannot be built What harm, then, in char
tering it, if it cannot be built? Such talk is
for effect. This very opposition is the great
est argument in its favor. Last year the vote
on chartering it stood, 10 yeas and 22S nays
aConcord, Consolidation and Coos" boasted
that it would get less this year, and then be
buried in the tomb of the Capulets-but alas
for the peace of the opposers! the vote this
year on it was lis yeas and 191 nays-a glo-
rious gain. The sterling, honest appeals Of
the business men from Rockingham, Straf-
ford, Carroll and Belknap counties was more
effectual than Concord and its lawyers and
their cohorts expected, and they now admit
that next year the Lake Shore will be success
full. aasa.s
The friends of the Portland 6 Rochester
road, therefore, need not be discouraged with
regard to the Lake Shore. 1t is all right for
June, 1870. Go ahead, build to Rochester
and that win be still another great aid in Sc.
curing the Lake Shore road. JUNIOR
The clergyman who remains in the city gets
II the following first class notice from the New
York Times:
Rev. Charles B. Smyth is not o summer
wa,efing place patron, is not a European tour
ist, is not the shepherd who goes away to leave
his flock to take care of itself lie gets up no