The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-04
Opening OF the European and Norih
American Railway.

American Railway.
By the courtesy of 7. G. Hersey, ESQ.,, who
was present at the opening of the European
and North American railroad at st. John on
Wednesday, we are favored with copy of the
st. John Telegraph of Thursday, which gives
an exhaustive report of the festivities of the
occasion, filling six and half columns of that
paper. The telegraph has given us the leading
facts of the excursion over the read About
one hundred and seventy-fve guests left ST.
John at 9 o'cloekW ednesday morning, and were
joined at Fredericton Junction by distin-
guished party of thirty or forty, representa-
tives of the local government, the press and
the learned professions. At McAdam, a little
east OF the State line, company from st
Stephen and Aroostook joined; and after a
brief stop, the train started on its return leay-
ing at $50 and arrived at Fairville station.
shortly before 9p. m.
The dinner was spread in the large car-shed,
and at about 10 o'clock four hundred and fifty
persons sat down to enjoy this par: of the en-
tertainment. From the published account, it
is fair to presume that this was one of the
most elegant affairs of the kind ever projected
in tho eastern county. The general arrange
ments were under the charge of Mr.. Fred
King, while the culinary department and the
tables were presided over by Mr. Benz. Gre
gan, the steward of steamer New York, assist
ed by staff OF one hundred and twelve wait
ers. The bill of fare was splendid, and choice
game was one of its leading features. Hon.
e. r. Burpee, the principal contractor for
building the road, occupied the chair, and
among the gentlemen who had seats of honor
at the principal table were Lieut.. Governor
Wilmot, the Mayor of st. John, the Speaker
of the Assembly, the Sheriff of York, the
Hon. F. A. Pike of Maine, Mayor Putnam of
Portland. I. G. Hersey, Esq, of Portland, J.
M. Lunt. Superintendent of the Maine divis-
ion of the road, and others.
1t was close upon midnight when the post
prandial exercises began. A large number of
letters of regret were read; among them one
from Hon. j. b. Brown, of Portland and one
from Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts,. Hon.
F. A. Pike responded to the sentiment, "Our
neighbors and perpetual friendly relations"
He referred to the striking influence of rail-
roads in developing new regions, and congrat-
ulated the promoters of the railway upon their
success, and said that their enterprise was des
tined to open rich settlements in the Province
and the Aroostook regon--a section of coun-
try second only to the Western prairies in fer
tility. He hoped it would form another link
- .hn "hain of omtu which would not he
broken. w
Mayor Putnam responded to a mplimenta-
ry personal toast saying that portland ex-
pected to share in all the commercial advan-
tages of the railroads built here, and especially
when free trade should be established.
(cheers.) st. John and Portland could benefit
each other, even though they were rivals, but
they could not retard each others prosperity.
Portland, like ST. John, was deeply Interested
in railroads, as they had other points in COM
mon.''
The party broke up about 3 o'clock A. NJ,
with cheers for Mr.. Burpee, tor Mr. Parks, the
President of the road, and for the Queen
The running time on the road from st. John
10 st. Croix is about five and half hours, and
the fare is but $3.50. gold.