The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-02
e'''''s $500 per AMMAN, Ia. adrance.

| 1t appears obvious to what an enorr,o,,a =
tent Pacific freights will be increased. When
these can have much shorter and safer mas
sage across the continent, and our treaties
and commercial relations with the empire of
the east shall have become finally establish
ed.
The location of the Northern Pacific ter
minus upon Lake Superior, gives rise to many
coDjectures, and has excited considerable
speculation in real estate. Information just
received, the reliability of which we do not
doubt, is to the effect that arrangements have
been made between the Northern Pacific
and the Lake Superior and Mississippi Cos
whereby the former is to use the branch OF
the latter road TO the lake, from the junction
OF the two lines; thus Duluth will become the
lake terminus for the present. This location
will realize the hopes of capitalists who have
invested largely in the lands of that vicinity,
and are expecting from $1,000 to $4,000 apiece
for business lots which two years ago could
have been had almost for the asking. An ell
evator capable of storing 100000 bushels of
grain is in process of erection there, which
will be ready for the shipments of the Lake
Superior and Mississippi, when completed to
that point next July. by means of this road
and its connections, the cereals of Central.
Southern, and Western Minnesota, and
Northern Iowa, will be emptied at Duluth
for transhipment to eastern points,-thus
finding new ontlet to market, through
which the cost of transportation will not ex-
ceed the price paid for productions result
which all our grasping railroad corporations
devoutly wish. The Hon. Ignatius Donnelly,
who has recently professed change of heart
upon the question of free trade, has been en-
deavoring, in some carefully prepared speech
es, to incite his former constituents against n
protective policy, by attributing to its work.
ings, among other results, the present low
prices OF wheat, and the consequent financial
endorsements in agricultural districts. But
his statements have met with cool recep-
tion from the people, and his arguments have
utterly failed to convince them that protection
to home industries can justly be charged with
those consequences, that are directly caused
by surplus production, and the exorbitant
tariff of the railroad that furnishes means of
transportation to the nearest market. The
prices of wheat in this State range from 40 to
80 per bush., according to locality, and the
difference between these and the Chicago
prices, represents the rate for carrying grain
per bush. from points in this State to that
city, where, on arrival, if it seeks expectation
to foreign countries, it has hardly commenced
its journey. BY the opening of the Northern
Pacific II M 1c 20
sirce that point is practically as near to the
Atlantic as Chicago is, the "wheat fields of
the world" can send their harvests 10 Atlantic
ports, via Duluth and the lakes, with greater
facility and at less expense than now and,
with railroad in operation between Ogdens-
burg or Oswego and Portland, it must follow
that Portland, excelling in excelency of its
harbor and its natural position, will become
very large shipping point for the North
west, and the through trade of the Northern
Pacific.
The Importance of the Northern Pacific as
a grand trunk line will not suffer its business
to pass east, when the lakes are closed to nav
igation, by this roundabout way of St. Paul;
and so, ultimately, we may look for its extern
sion, east from Lake Superior, independently
of any line now existing, and its connection
with some eastern road to the Atlantic. Will
it strike Chicago, or seek a passage across the
straits of Mackinaw, and thence east in this d.
direction or that,-are questions already re-
ceiving good share of attention from inter-
ested cities. Portland has acted sagaciously
in having commenced the construction of
such roads as viii enable the impatient North
west, large portion oftne year, to take ad.
vantage of its geographical position as mar
ket and port of shipment. A policy of similar
wisdom and foresight will find its citizens
awake, and ready, when the proper time
comes, to establish an independent line to
the west, which shall form direct connection
with the Northern Pacific road, and make the
city, in summer and winter, what nature in
tended it to be, an international commercial
receiving depot, and important metropolis
for foreign trade C