Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-17
OPENING OF THE EUROPEAN AND
NORTH AMERICAN RAILROAD. M

OPENING OF THE EUROPEAN AMI
NORTH AMERICAN RAILROAD. e
This afternoon President Grant will be
received in this city on his way to the for
NAL opening of the European and North
American Railroad to travel and business.
He will be accompanied by distinguished
gentlemen and be received at the Capital
with the honors due from the State to the
Chief Magistrate of. the nation. Maine
will give him warm welcome to her bor-
ders, not only as the honored President
who has administered the affairs of the
government honestly, faithfully and sue
cessfully, but as the victorious chief who
led us through the rebellion, and Tor
whom the State was the first to raise
voice for his nomination in 1868, and to
whom she gave her electoral vote in the
campaign.
The new railway which is to be opened
extends from Bangor to st. John. The
American portion of it reaches to Vance
boro' on the St. Croix river. The dis
lance from Bangor to st. John is POP
miles. The road ends at the village of
Carlton on the western side of the st.
John, and the city has to be entered by
ferry boat at present. The river is
eventually to be spanned at that point by
a suspension bridge, which it is estimated
will cost about a million of dollars, but for
the building of which no means have yet
been provided. The road starts on the
Dominion side at Carlton, follows the
course of the St. John river up the Nerepis
and Douglas valleys to the headwaters of
the Oromorto streams, after which it
crosses somewhat barren but level
country, and forms junction with the
New Brunswick and Canada Railroad,
which it absorbs and makes part of the
grand route. Six miles beyond this is the
St. Croix river, where the American and
Dominion portions of the road meet. The
New Brunswick part Of the line has been
completed several months, waiting for
the completion of the work in this State,
in order to initiate through business from
St. John to New York and finally from
Halifax. The road from St. John to Hall
fax is not entirely finished, but will be in
a few weeks, when there will be an un-
broken line of railroad extending from
Halifax to San Francisco. The distance
from Halifax to st. John is 260 miles
making the distance of the former place
from NeF York ga miles.
The CO. hpletion of this road will make
Halifax II great passenger depot Of al
travel be tween England and America, AM
consequently the new road and the Main
Centrauwill become part Of the gran
thoroughfare between the two continents
1t will save two days. time in the pas
sage from Liverpool to New York, AM
shorten the sea voyage to brief trip o
five or six days. The saving of time is al
important item, and the increase OF com
fort is also important. We shall sool
have the stream OF European immigration
pouring down the valley of the Kennebec
while Americans who seek the other con
tinent for business or pleasure will pas
over this route to Halifax.
The opening of the road is therefore al
event in the history of Maine, New Bruins
wick and Nova Scotia, worthy to be celt
brated as it is intended to be. To-morro,
festivities begin at Bangor, and on the 70
lowing day the ceremonies and congratula
tons will be concluded at Vanceboro'. tn
dividing line between the countries. w
trust the link which thus unites the Unite
States and the Dominion may prove bu
one step toward the final union which sha
make the two governments one and insep
arabic. Surely if the people of the Cana
das are alive to their own commercial in
terest and prosperity, the promotion Q
their agriculture by the securing of abun
dant markets for produce, and the peace
happiness and freedom of their people
they will hail the opening of this roa
with profound satisfaction, as the forerur
ner OF the perfect annexation yet to b,
and not far distant we hope. 1t is well tn
President of the United States and the hie
dignitaries of the Canadas have given til
occasion their personal presence. 1t is 9
omen of good import as to the fratern
feeling between the two governments,
we'll as stamping the importance Of Il
new line of travel in an information
point of view.
An intelligent correspondent suggests as