The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-09
'rH e PRESS s,
Wednesday, Morning, November 9, 1871


are inst now attracting the attention OF the
Capitalists and business men OF New York,
and receiving the attention OF the leading fl
nancial Journals of that city. They are just
waking up to the fact that within a year
there will be opened up for business contin-
uous line of railway from New York City to
Halifax, reducing the time from New York
to Liverpool two or three days and lessening
materially the dangers and dscomforts Of
the passage between these two ports.
The "Wall st. Journal" and the "Stock-
holder" had recently long articles noticing the
Directors Report of the Portland and Roch-
ester r. r., and the "Amerean Railroad
journal" of this week has leader on the
same subject, from which we make the follow
ing extract.
The Importance of a railroad, and its utili-
ty as transportation route, are not always
determined by its length in geographical
miles or the cost of its construction. On the
contrary, some short roads, from the peculiar
tiles of their situation and the importance of
their connections, render service to the
country that is of more importance to its in
dustrial and commercial development than
that often rendered by great Through routes
extending over half the continent. An in
stance of this is found i'll the Portland and
Rochester Railroad, a short line of about fif-
ty-two miles, extending from Rochester, New
Hampshire, to Portland, Maine, but forming
the connecting link in the chain of direct
communication between New York and Hall
fax, by a shorter and more direct route than
that now followed by way of Boston; besides
establishing new and more direct connec-
ton between the railroad system of the State
Main ohrao in x,icfi,,
ed lines some eight hundred miles of road
and that of the entire country. The only
present connection between these two sys-
TENS is that established by the Portland, Sa-
co and Portsmouth road, which is not only
inadequate to the business expected of it, but
which, having monopoly of the Maine traf-
fic, might take advantage of its position to
charge monopoly rates upon both passengers
and freights. The prevention of this monop-
oily and the establishment of healthy and le-
ultimate competition for the Maine traffic by
the opening of more direct route to New
York and the West, is one feature of the en-
terprise which is sufficient to secure for it a
recognition as one Of the most important rail-
road enterprises now in progress in New Eng
land.
But while the value of the Portland and
Rochester road Jas a new outlet for the traffic
of the network of railroads centering at
part of the new through route from New
York to Portland and Halifax is far greater,
as will be seen from glance at its many con-
nections, both lateral and terminal. Besides
the local railroads of Maine, its eastern con-
nections open for its traffic direct communica-
ton with Halifax via the Kennebec and Port
land, and the Maine Central and the European
and North American railroads, together form
ing chain of direct communication between
Portland nd Hnii inv A
nus its connections, branching in a southerly
and southwesterlyl direction, are many and
important. What these connections are, and
their relative value as tributaries to the bust
ness OF theI Portland and Rochester road.
can only be briefly indicated within the ne
cessariy restricted limits Of this al tcle. The
. Nashua and Rochester load. now building, es-
fablishes direct communication with Nashua,
N. H., from which point the Worcester and
Nashua and the Norwich and Worcester and
Providence roads establish direct communica-
ton with New London and Providence, thus
opening new route to Portland and Halifax
for the eastern traffic of the New London
and Providence steamers. From Rochester
the Cocheco railroad, the Boston, Concord
and Montreal, the Vermont and Canada, and
the Ogdensburg railroads, open direct con-
nection with the Montreal and Ogdensburg,
N. T., while the Concord and Rochester road,
SoOii " W PoSOu uuuCI COutIdCt, Will give
short and direct line to Rutland, Vermont.
and the entire West The COMPLETION of
the Worcester and Nashua, and the Portland
and Rochester roads, will also open a new
and direct route to the most desirable
section of the White Mountain region.
which Will secure for it large and profitable
summer travel. From Groton Junction, a
connection Oid Fitchburg, by the Vermont
and Massachusetts railroad will De established
HnnSoa HI1nn al
preaching completion and the West. From
Rochester, again, the Boston and Maine and
Eastern roads offer competing routes to Bos-
ton, while third connection is made with
the same city, via the Nashua and Boston and
the Lowell roads, at Nashua. Another con-
nection with the West is also obtained at
Worcester, Mass, UiG the Boston and ALBANY
road. With this city the connections are the
most direct possible shortening the distance
to Portland by about forty miles, and avoiding
the delays and difficulties incurred by both
passengers and ireights following the existinsz
route vi0 Boston. The completion of the road
to Rochester, and the building of the Nashua
and Rochester road, for which the capital is
now nearly provided through subscriptions to
the capital stock, will complete the connection
between Portland and New York via the
Sound steamers, as we have shown, the
Springfield line, the new Connecticut Air
Line route, and the Boston, Hartford and
Erie road, when the latter shall be com pleted
TO Palmer. Thus, while the distance between
New Y orlS and Portland is materially reduced,
the delay and expense of transhipping freight
at Boston, and transferring passengers
through the city from station to station.
will be entirely obyiated. The same
favorable conditions will attract for the new
route large amount of business through to
Halifax. Continuous rail communication TO
Halifax shOrteGS the time consumed in a vow
age to Europe by three or four days, and it is
quite certain that large portion of the Euro
pean travel will follow the new route. being !
shorter quicker and more convenient than
passage to and from this port direct. These |
favorable conditions, and the net work of i'm |
port9nt connections. insure for the Portland |
and Rochester road and its continuation. the |
Nashua and Rochester road, an extensive and |
largely profitable business in both through |
and local traffic, and give them prominent !
rank among the most important railroads now |
building in the New England States. A
glance at good railroad map, giving the new
road and the connections we have indicated. |
will show more perfectly than we have been
able to do the Importance of this link in the |
chain of direct through communication he
tween New York and Portland,
The financial condition and prosnects of |
the Portland and Rochester Railroad Comma |
ny, ana OF the Nashua and Rochester Railroad |
Company, whose interests are closely linked |
with it, are unusually favorable and promis- |
ing. The former OF these roads is making
satisfactory progress towards completion. and
It is the intention of the managers of the en-
terprlse to open the entire line to business be-
lore the close OF the current year.
The management of the enternries is in
good hands, and the road, as far as completed.
mas heen built in the most thorough and sub
stantlal manner-the section now in operatiOn |
enjoying a large and profitable local trade
Wnich IS IN iiseli sufficient to insure the finan-
clai success OF the line. Though less advanc-
ed, the prospects OF the Nashua and Roches-
ter road may be considered equally favorable.
Most of the large companies owning and on.
Grating the roads which form its PRINCIPAL
are largely represented in its pro-
gress; and its completion will be effected with
out unnecessary delay, if money and business
enterprise together can accomplish this desir-
able result
From the facts above briefly outlined, and
many others of which we are compelled 10
omit the mention, tt is evident that the Port
land and Rschester road will prove one of the
most useful, as well as profitable, railway
INES IN the Eastern States. Lightly encum-
Dereu, ana possessing extraordinary facilities
ior Tue command of large and profitable
irallic IN through and local freights and pas
sehger traVel, its prospects are certainly as
good as could be desired by the most prudent
investor.
observation-disclosures WISHING to find the
Argus office should look for the sion of tha
shears.
The editor of the Argus confesses that b;s
scissors are mightier than his pen. This az.