The Portland daily press., 1870-11-16
1859 inclusi'

The foregoing nSureS are taken IRON the
United States revenue returns as made
up for the fiscal year ending June 10Th in
each year. From the returns Of ne Bu-
reau of Statistics we find the following fig
ures for the year ending December ast.
,.ssis! srsaa and ,,,;aa psGysios: sssa,ge 10'a'
isss 1899 ss,si ss,slsses siss:9 lssSsss ss5 s
7-ia 1870 SO,7s6.i9i 15667S a0aoa6'S
Breadstuffs and provisions re bulky and
perishable articles requiring ere in handling
and the utmost expedition j. transit. Hence
the cost of transportation breadstuffs fuc-
tuates with che change 0 seasons, affecting
water nssigation and theaprices of railroad
managers.
The great desideratul of national char
acter at this time calld for by public necessi-
ty is a fixed prce Nrthe transportation of an
imal and segetaie food from the West
Throughout the yea. If the western farmer
could calculate wit certainty the cost of NOV
ing his produce to Ne water each year, the
whole system of tanning would be affected
thereby if not revol,ionized, and the increase
of production 60 forard with gradual en-
largement Of lands swn and of actual pro-
duction, subject of curse to the alternating
influences of the seans.
Public men and commercial institutions at
the West, have considred this matter. with a
view IL possible to hitpOn some measure of
reheI Ior the agricultural producers of the
West, whose profits ar, almost as uncertain
and contingent as thoa of the operators in
tne monled STOCK marE with its consequent
Generalization.
Mr.. Harlan, the dlstisuished Senator from
Iowa, submitted billto the Senate some
time ago, for the relief O the West, proposing
certain great lines of raiyay transit aided by
government subsidies fro, the great market
points of the West to IL leading Atlantic
seaports with fixed rate of transportation.
He invited our distinguished Senator Mr..
Fessenden, to move in .nendment of his
bill, direct line from Ch,ago to Portland.
But neither the public men the commercial
men of Maine had at that ime the courage
to see, or to believe in such sine, and it was
not till the call of Gerritt SmN and others
for the Transcontinental Railway ayConvention
at Oswego in October 1869, that ,uch a pro.
ject found intelligent commercil support.
The New England and Oswego Railroad Com
pany projected and entered upon that con.
vention, has since been prosecutd by the
public spirited merchants ard citize,s of Os.
wego and Northern New York. Adirect
and level route is being already occupied >x a
new line from Oswego to Chicago, distane
of 600 miles, and dfrec. route east fror
Lake Ontario to Portland harbor followin
very nearly line of latitude, is now ascel
tanned, with single summit of 60 feet grade
across the Green Mountains from Rutland I
Woodstock, distance of 20 miles on an Al
line. But to reach this distance of 20 mile.
the line is compelled 10 swing round by ii
head waters of the North branch OF th
Quechee in distance of 45 miles or more I
gain 20 miles and avoid tunnels or heavy roc
cuttings.
1t is alike matter of surprise and gratula
ton to our Oswego friends to find themselve
upon q favorable rnnte ON the shortest possib
line of transit from the East to the Nest.-
Having organized the New England and o.
wego Railroad Company from Lake Ontari
to the Hudson, and secured the cordial co-oT
Grafton of the several companies between til
Hudson and Portland harbor, deputation
her citizens connected with tue New Englan
and Oswego railroad will visit Portland du
ing the present autumn for the purpose
consulting other friends interested in this liz
of projected railroad, and as to the method
raising the means necessary to build it.
Senator Harlan is ready to pledge intel
gent support from the West to this enterpri.
if Northern New York and New Englal
will cooperate in securing public aid.
PORTLAND, Nov. II, 1870. JAP.
Ito be contiLued)