The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-17
Terms
Terms $500 per annun., d, adrance.
line to St. Jobnsbury, and when they found /

mlllte " IDer suDStaullaI Uell u ueiudiiu
the reopenIng Of the books that they might
subscribe TO the stock and built the road to
Montpelier, as was first contemplated"
1t seems proper IN this connection, to ex-
plain how the present stale OF things, or these
strange compcatlor c'me about. LelGing
men in Montpelier as we are tod, agreed 10
unite with the Fairbanks and build line
irCm Montpelier TO ST. JohIsbury IN order to
give the Fairbanks relief from the eXlcllons
o' the rassompsic railroad. The Vermont Cen-
Ifai favored the line, and offered TO guarantee
per c5lt ON It's cost, in case Il branch was
run 10 "els river, and a line opened through
from Meredith TO Port and. Moutpelier de-
clined to help the line 10 ST. Johnsburv and
the Fairbanks then started for an ndepend
ent line, to Portland through the Notch, came
to Portland, procured charter; which, bsinr
obtained, they projected a line west, through
he Lamoille valley, for which Charter was
procured in Vermont in 1867.
This action arrayed against them, the Yer
mont Central interest which uniting with the
Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad favored
the Montpelier & Wells river railroad about
to be built
Montpelier has voted $4,000 in stock to
this line. Individuals in Montpelier have
taken $4,000 more, and Sl50,009 more is as
surred on the route, or mole than enOuoh to
grade the road, ready for the superstructure
-nsuring the speedy construction of the
line.
The Fairbanks who control the Lamoille
Valley railroad Company, seeing the move
ment to build irem Montpelier to Wells river,
changed their plans, and now run their line
to West Danvllle, to point within miles
of the Montpelier and Wells river line, aban-
doning the northern route on which Danville
voted her money, so that, line from st.
JOhnsbury to Montpelier will be secured at
the expense OF the Lamoille Valley railroad,
which ii built, will approach so near Wells
river, as to epsure the passage OF freight from
Marshfleld to the Conreetiett at Wells river,
making it far cheaper to bring freight from
Rouse's Point to the Connecticut at point OF
connection with the Boston, Concord and
Montreal railroad at Wells river, than by any
other route.
All that Portland now has to do, to secure a
connected line OF railway to St. JOhnsbury,
Rouse's Point, Montreal and Oodensburg is,
10 build from Buxton to Meredith, less than
60 miles over line so level and favorable,
that it will cost less money, than to build
from Portland to the State inc at FIyeburg,
by the line that has lately been commenced,
under the name OF the Portland and Ogdens-
burg railroad. These facts are known and
read of all men.
No Cne will question their correctness, and
If questioned, au impartial survey will con-
clusively settle the question in favor of the
Meredith route.
Your correspondent wishes "that some one
acquainted with the facts in regard 10 the Og-
densGurg an Lake Champlain road W l.
give us some light on matters that "P."
writes about, we think his statements are
baseIy false"
should be glad to have some one come to
the rescue OF the Ogdensburg road in this
matter. If there is any error in any OF my
statements. the fault is not mine, hat that OF
the railroad company whose annual reports
have had occasion to examine. In all this
controversy, including the discussions with
the OsdensbUrg Journal, no one has pointed
out to me, single error. Mr.. Pratt attemp-
ted to do this, but Immediately corrected his
own statement, under his own hand, in the
columns OF the Portland Daily Argus as soon
as pointed out bis errors.
Every one admits that the Ogdensburg and
Lake Champ'ain Railroad Company has run
itself deeper and deeper in debt every year
Every railroad man in the country knows
that that line has not paid and cannot pay
its running expenses, GIN never hope to sur.
yive the struggle now going on, except 10y get
ting annexed TO the consolidated tthe 10 Bos
ton, which formed so prOmident topic o
discussion in the Legislature of Massachu
sets last year. Your readers who take in
terest in financial questions cannot have fail
ed to notice the i3lOwing paragraph in Mar
tins report OF semi annual dividends ia th,
Boston papers on the first of January 1870
"rhe first issue of 100000, Ogdensburg apt
Lake Champlain railroad equipment bond
was m lde payable 10 per cent. annually, an'
| the first ips alment would have been due Jan
| uary /. By consent of parties in interest tn
| terms are 10 he changed, and the prlrcip
| wi be made payable oni" at the maturity {
| h4a r.
| Makeshifts like these have vexed the pub
lie, who had curiosity 10 observe the hstor
of this railroad, during the last Il yrars
its existence.
There was one poirt in controversy wit
the Osdensbnrg J0u' nal which rested O
proof, that paper denying my statement, thu
| steamboats, commenced to run the rapid
later than 1S45, when Boston started to bull
the OgdSnsburg IaiIroad. This sta'emer
| or denial was made in so defiant manner
that thought it safe 10 appeal to testimony
and l wrote several letters of inquiry to pal
ties having knowledge. Without taking u
more time in details, give yon the statemen
OF the Secretary OF the Board of Trade o
Montreal, as follows:
OFFICE BOARD OF TRADE,
MONTREAL, 9Th December, 1869.
JOHN A. Poor, Esq Dear Sir regret be-
ing unable sooner 10 reply to your inquiries
under date Sth inst.
Answer to question 1st-Steamers COM
menced to run the rapids, all the way from
| Oydensburg or Prescott 10 Montreal in 1SI7.
Question 2d.-The depth OF the water over
| the rapids is eight feet during the period o
high water in the spring, and six and hal
| feet in midsummer.
Question 3J.-che charges for carrying
| freight by wafer from Prescott to Montreal il
| about Is cents per barrel for -four, and abou
W 90 per ton for merchandise, rates gold.
have failed, thus far, 10 procure iniorma.
| tion about rates by railway; and think it bes
to commun cate the foregoing without further
delay. am, dear sir,
your obedient servrnt
W. !. PATTERSON Secretary
respectfully ask the Ogdensburg Joorna
| to republsh the foregoing statements of Mr.
| Patterson. JOHN A. Pooh.
Portland, Jannary II, 1870.