The Portland daily press., 1869-05-17
THE PR r S.
Monday Morning, May II, 1869.
Portland. Rochester aud Nashua Rail-


By our special dispatch, our readers will no
tice that the second sober thought of the city
government of Nashua has resulted in tho re-
consideration of its former action on promo
sition to loan the credit Of the city TO the
amount of 100000 to the Nashua Sc Roches
ter Railroad. The result has been obtained
against fierce opposition from monied and
railroad interests which center in Boston, and
is one of those triumphs which brings with il
great qualification, particularly to those who
who have fought the battle so bravely. The
active and influential business men of Nashua
have commended for this loan from the city with
manly spirit and have confronted the oppo-
sition in manner and with results that do
them great credit. The friends of the enter
prise have felt confidence in the investment,
and have supported their position by argu-
ments and facts which could not be answered.
As the question is one that must now neess-
sarilv excite tho attention of the city of Port
land. in reference to the extension of the Port
land s. Rochester Railroad from Alfred to
Rochester, in order to meet practically the en-
terprise of the citizens Of Nashua, and to share
with them and other towns along the route the
great advantages which they claim, but which
our position cminently holds, it becomes us to
say that the subject commends itself as one of
public importance to the city of Portland, and
now is the opportune time for the friends of
this neglected enterprise to rally and carry
forward the work which they have too long
neglected. We claim that this railroad has
advantages and superorities which cannot be
excelled. A continuous line of road from
Portland to Nashua constitutes the key of
communication with all the finished and I'M
finished railroads which center at Portland
on the ono hand, looking for direct route with
New York city and the western country. II
will form part of the air line route from Hal
flax to New York, and this important link
should not be wanting, in view of the early
completion of the European and North Amer
lean Railway. We are pleased to know that
the friends Of this enterprise acknowledge the
Importance of this position, and admit all the
advantages attached to the Portland and Nash
ua railroad which are claimed The travel
from Europe via Halifax from the Provinces
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the
State of Maine for New York city, the South
and West can find no route that can compete
with this in respect to the drectness of its
course, and tho conveniences which it will
offer. The grand fruits of this enterprise must
legitimately be carried to the benefit of the
Portland 81 Rochester railroad as far as the
direct New York, Western and Southern tray
el is concerned if the "iron horse is ready"
which our Nashua friends have already COM
menced to harness. Let him DO ready! The
Nashua s. Worcester railroad, one of the fin
ished links of the great route to New York, is
one of the best railroad investments in New
England. Its shares sold fifteen years ago for
$40. They command S125 in the market to-
day. What is true of one link will be true of
the remaining links, when the work is COM
pleted For the continuation of the Nashua
& Worcester railroad to Portland is the con-
tinuation Of the main channel, connecting large
towns, cities and important sections of the
country, and continually fed by other impor-
tant connecting RAILROADS..
No road in New England is SO well favored
with fortunate connections as the Portland,
Rochester q Nashua Railroad will DO when
completed. We will mention a few:
It connects at Raymond or Epping with the
Concord 81 Portsmouth road and thus opens
diIect railroad communication from Portland
to the cities of Manchester Concord and all
Northern New Hampshire, and indeed all of
Central and Northern Vermont.
By its connection at Rochester with the
Dover g Winnipssiogee road, it opens another
avenue for pleasure travel from New York to
the lake, and thence to the White Mountains,
bringing the foot of tho lake at Alton Bay,
nearer to New York by about twenty miles
than any other route.
The Wilton, the Concord the Manchester s.
Lawrence, the Concord g. Portsmouth, the
Dover & Winnipissiogee, and the Great Falls
&c Conway roads all running from the interior
of New Hampshire, at the north, towards the
sea coast at Boston and Portsmouth, enter up
on this line at different points as the first route
they meet running east and west. Travel and
freight upon these roads destined to points east
or west, therefore, falls into this as the most
direct channel to their points of Destination
AT the same time, to all the towns east of the
Manchester a. Lawrence road, this line fur
nishes the shortest avenue to Boston by way of
that road from its junction at Derry or Wind
ham, the distance from Rochester to Boston by
the Boston 81 Maine being seventy-eight miles,
and by this route il the junction is at Derry,
but seventy-six, and if at Windham but sew
enty-four miles, .~4
The Nashua Telegraph reflects upon the
Boston & Maine Railroad being the power
which has directed the charge against her in
tercsts. The combination has been powerful
one. Portland has again had the opportunity
to notice the efforts of Boston to hold the posi-
ton which through Eastern travel gives her,
and also the opportunity to witness the great
triumph which the energy of the public spirit |
of small inland city has obtained. Let the |
energy of Portland be exercised with equal
spirit in favor Of the several great enterprises,
which seem to demand more vigorous and |
active endorsement, and great results will be |
earlier obtained