The Portland daily press., 1870-12-10

In passing up from Steep Falls to Hiram
bridge ON the Ogdensburg line, grades almost
as heavy occur upon the line, before ap
preaching point opposite the mouth. Of the
great Ossipe river, while it has been found
that a line very direct, without encountering
severe grades, can be run to the mouth Of the
Ossipeee from Portland, many miles shorter
than the Ogdensburg lihe, looking to the
character of the road in locating it, rather
than the accommodation of particular locali-
ties.
Railroads should always be located with a
view to the accommodation OF business rath
er than the accommodation of individuals or
the advancement of mere private interests.
The true secret of success in railroading has
been found in steady adherence to consider
atoms of public advantage.
BY running line due west from Portland,
through Scarboro, Buxton Centre is reached,
by level route of easy construction, without
bridges, inside of II miles, as against Is miles
and more over the Portland and Rochester
line, so that freight could be moved from
Buxton Centre to Portland, or from Modera
tion village to Portland, cheaper over it, than
the cost OF motive power alone, over the Port
land and Rochester line. From Moderation
village to the mouth of the Ossipee, favora-
BILE line is found. though involving some ex-
pense of bridging across the Saco and the lit
tie Ossipee. From Cornish village up the
Great Ossipee to its source, the line Is very
direct through broad valley, affording the
cheapest line for 60 miles from Portland, that
has as yet been discovered in New England.
The soil is most favorable for a railroad, with
scarcely any clay upon the route, without any
considerable rock cuttings or expensive bridg-
ing. From Bear Camp river in Tamworth,
by way OF Moultonboroush to Meredith, the
line is so easy of construction, that Mr.. Leon
ard, who surveyed the line many years ago,
estimated the cost of a first-class road, be-
tween Conway and Meredith over the route
in question, inside of $4,000 per mile.
At the present high cost of iron and labor,
a higher figure is called for, to state the cost
of such line, but of one thing we may be
assured; between Meredith and Portland, the
most favorable route for railroad exists any
where to be found in New England. From
Meredith north, the Boston, Concord and
Montreal railroad extends 76 miles to Little
ton, and has recently opened a further section
.Of 20 miles or more, to Lancaster, to be ex-
tended through to point OF connection with
the Grand Trunk line at Northumberland.
From Meredith to Boston is 113 miles, while
the line to Portland will be 40 miles or more,
shorter. The Boston, Concord and Montreal
railroad, favors the line through from Port
land to White River junction, offering impair
tial connections with the proposed line to
Portland, and liberal contributions in the
way of monied aid.
From Meredith TO Bristol, liberal local SUBJ
scription are relied upon, with municipal aid
to secure the grading OF the road, and from
Bristol to White river junction, track is to
be supplied by the Northern railroad of New
Hampshire.
The completion of the line to White River
| junction, will afford two outlets to Rouse's
Point and the st. Lawrence. From Mere
dith to Wells river to point of connection
with the Montpelier and Wells river line is Sc
miles. From Wells river to Montpelier will
| be 50 miles over the new line now in prog
ress, giving us a connection with Montpelier,
| the capital of Vermont in a distance of 1877
miles.
From Montpelier to Rouse's Point is so
miles over the Vermont Central and Canada
railroads, from which point to Ogdensburg
the sdistance 11S miles, and to Montreal "A
miles making the distance from Portland to
Ogdensburg S65 miles, and to Montreal 29l
miles or less than the present route by the
| Grand Trunk. From White River junction
due west to Oswego is 269 miles, the compile
| tion of which forms the most valuable link 10
the Transcontinental chain.
The line from Oswego to Portland, in dis
tance of 400 miles, is the one to which the at
tention of the Westi now directed as the
natural outlet for Western trade.
The Lake Ontario shore railroad will con
meet Lake Erie with Oswego by the most di-
rect route from Buffalo to Portland The line
| from Portland to Oswego is the one to which
the commercial mind of the country will now
be directed, forsince the failure of the North
ern Transportation Company, and the loss Of
business upon the Ogdensburg line TO Boston,
| there is no Northern route within the limits
of the United States, that has claims to com
mercial support compared with it.
The advantages Iof the st. Lawrence route
| are fully understood, and the rapid growth Of
the exporting grain ttradej from Montreal Is
among the significant facts of the times.
| The completion of the Inter-colonial rail
| way may lead to a change of commercial pol
icy between the United States and British
North America. Sagacious men on both
| sides of the line, have for some time perceiv-
ed the growth of influences unfriendly to the
| intimacy now existing between the United
States and British North America, and DO
| place in the United States has so much inter
| est in these questions as the city OF Portland,
from the near proximity of her harbor to
the center of Canadian trade, and the advau-
tages which follow the use of our harbor for
the winter business of Canada. -.