The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-09-04

For the Press.
The Future of Portland.
The Continental Gazette paper published in
the English language, in Paris, France, re-
CARDS the city of Portland as a place of great
commercial Importance in the future from the
fact that it lies on the direct route from Chica-
go to London, using tie longest line of'railway
and the shortest sea-voyage. San Francisco
and London will be brought within IL days by
means of the Trans Continental Railaoay, says
the Continental Gazette, already built from the
Pacific Ocean to Chicago, to be extended from
Chicago to Portland over the most direct prac-
ticable route:; atwhich point it will connect
with the line of the E. and N. A. Railway al
ready in progress from Portland to Halifax, a
distance of 600 miles. This Paris newspaper
says that New York will hereafter send her
passengers to Europe by rail to Portland, and
thence to the most eastern packet station on
the American side, on the completion of
the projected lines. Here must necessarily be
two lines from Chicago to the Pacific Ocean,
while trunk line from Chicago east, touching
Buffalo at the foot of Lake Erie; Oswego, near
the lower end of Lake Ontario, Whitehall at
the head of Lake Champlain; Rutland and
Portland; will give the shortest possible route
to Europe.
To carry out the proposed plan convention
is called at Oswego, on the 9th of October
next, which promises to be an occasion of I'M
usual interest," from the fact that the measure
in question will lead to the formation of new
combinations and connections, commercially
as well as by railway, and will excite also, the
hnuk - -, "a
way. ',a.
The Board of Trade in Chicago of May last,
adopted strong resolutions in favor of this
project and submitted the same to the city
authorities of Portland, declaring their imme-
date object to be, to secure the most direct
practicable line of railway from Chicago to
Portland. >' 81
The Board of Trade of Buffalo subsequently
adopted resolutions of an equally decisive
character, declaring that the necessities of
commerce required them to seek an outlet to
the sea at Portland, more available and valua-
BILE to them, than any route to New York har-
Dor.
The city of Oswego, lying nearly on the di-
rect route from Buffalo to Portland, and $50
miles nearer to Portland, is already engaged
in securing direct route from Buffalo to Os-
wego. and .sAAks to extend this line to White
nan by direct route, rnr.s- ..-n--.---
and Saratoga railroad at Glenn's Falls, or Fort
Edward. From this point to Portland the
line is chartered, and sections of it in progress;
SO that on the carrying out of the enterprises
already spoken of, Portland will be in direct
connection with the Great Lakes and the
West, by cheaper line than to any other At
lantic seaport, and on the direct route of the
shortest line from Chicago to Europe.
The carrying out of the project or projects
herein suggested or spoken of, seems likely to
work as great revolution in the carrying
trade of the country as the building of the
Erie canal; and Portland must become great
shipping port for Western produce; as also the
point characterization and distribution of emil
grants from Eurspe Not till this is accom-
plished will Portland take her true place
among the important commercial cities of the
Atlantic seaboard. By this and the develop
ment of manufactures, by means of the water
power of the State, she will attain commercial
Importance equal to the most sanguine predic-
tions of her friends.