The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-05
THE PRESS
Thursday Morning, May s, 1870.
New HniIrond Project.

n
Col John II. George at meeting in Con-
cord, N. H., on the 10th of February last. said
&c there is no place throughout the length and
breadth of this country, which can maintain
its position as business point, without a rail-
road" and he proceeded to uIge the multipli-
cation of lines converging to certain central
points. and the building of connecting links
between sections of the country having COM
mercial afinities not fully deyeloped BY ex-
listing railroads.
Inc evident purpose of his speech was to
reconcile the people of Concord to the plan for
consolidating the lines between Osdensburg
and Boston, but he threw in some kind sug-
gestlons, in the way of encouragement to the
friends of the Concord and Rochester Rail
roads,
In this connection we were looking the other
day, at some plans and papers OF announcer rail-
road proposed in New Hampshire, or mainly
in New Hampshire, of some interest to the
people of Name" the Netobwyport and Er-
etey Railroad" for which charters have been
granted in New Hampshire and Massachu
sets, and measures adopted for its construc-
ton.
From Boston to Exeter over the Boston and
Maine railroad, the distance is 50 miles: from
Boston to Newburyport by the Eastern rail
road, the distance is SO miles. 1t is now pr,
posed TO run line from Salisbury, Southamp-
ton and Kensington, distance of II miles, to
Exeter, giving new and independent route
into Boston by the Eastern railroad, in dis
lance OF 53 miles. 1t is also proposed to ex-
tend this line northwest to Epping Station, on
the line of the Portsmouth and Concord rail
road some miles, giving direct connection
between tide water at Newburyport and the
Merrimac road at Manchester and Concord by
the most direct and practicable route.
From Amoskeag Falls or Manchester, to the
mouth of the Merrimac a. Newburyport, the
river has very circuitous course, running
south as far as LOWELL thence northeast to
Haverhill and Salisbury. making semicircu-
lar sweep to avoid the mountains of Chester,
Landdown, Hampstead and Derry.
In olden time or in 1908, Boston tapped the
Merrimac river with the Mddlesex Canal at
Chelmsford, in distance OF q miles, and
completely destroyed the lumber trade of New
buryport. This town grew up into impor-
lance at an early date, as the market town OF
the Merrimac valley, and was distinguished
for ship building and foreign trade, before her
ambitious rival, Boston intercepted, and Dire W
to herself The lumber, and trade of the Upper
Merrimac valley.
The fro N 1911 OILS
blow to Newburyport, which with the loss of
her lumber trade prevented her from becom-
irg the important city which the Bartetts
and Browns anticipated for her in the days
of their commercial successes.
Newburyport has been rendered famous as
the birth place of very many eminent men.
Theophilus Parsons, the greatest legal mind
OF Massachusetts,, was born and raised in
Newburyport, as was also Judge jackson,
eminent in his day in the department of law,
as was his brother James at the head of the
medical profession in Massachusetts, and of
Patrick I. Jackson the real founder OF Lowell
and protector of the Lowell railroad. The
renowned Jacob Perkins, and that equally re-
markable man Caleb Gushing is native Of
Newburyport, to say nothing of Lord Tim.
Othy Dexter, and the home and grave oil
Whiteield are there, which the sons of New
buryport look upon with reverence and affec-
ton.
In 1870 Newburyport had population of
1887, while that of Boston was only 1908,
and but for the introduction of canals and
railroads, as we have reason to believe, New
buryport would have maintained at this time
the same relative Importance toward Boston.
A new start has recently been given to
Newburyport from the movements of the peo-
pie Of Exeter to get line of railroad to the
sea-board and to Boston independent OF the
Boston and Maine railroad.
1t is much to expect that direct line of
railroad from Newburyport to Manchester
and Concord will restore to Newburyport her
former Importance, but there is every reason
to believe that direct line into the interior
connecting the rich towns of Salisbury, Ames
bury in Massachusetts,, and Southampton,
Kensngton, Exeter and the interior towns in
New Hampshire by a shorter line than any
other, will make Newburyport the chiefest
shipping port for hay, lumber and other bulky
products upon the route. At any rate the
enterprise in question is a most importan. one
to Newburyport as well as to large number
of towns in New Hampshire, and would
greatly relieve the manufacturing industry OF
Exeter with its fine water-power and numer-
Gus manufacturing establishments from bur-
dens which result from the lack of compefi
tion.-all being dependant upon single line
of railroad in the hands of strangers.
The distance from Exeter to Boston via
Newburyport is said to be about two miles
farther than by the Boston and Maine. The
town of Exeter has subscribed $4,000 and the
city of Newburyport has subscribed $4,000
to the new line OF road between Newburyport
and Epping. 1t is proposed to use the road
already built as far as Amesbury. The dis
tance from Amesbnry to Epp;ng is 16 miles,
The Portland, Rochester and Nashua Railroad
Company is interested in this new enterprise,
as passengers along on this route will have inn
proved facilities at Epping to reach localities
on the line of the Eastern railroad, also,
nearer route to Boston is secured via Exeter,
over the Boston and Maine.