The Portland daily press., 1871-08-17

Harrison. ............s Yarmouth, ..........4
Per Order Rep. Co. Committee.
Northern Vermont.
GENERAL ASPECT.
SwANToN, ON LsxE CHAAPLAN,(
ti" Aug. II, 1871.
To the Editor Of the Press:
In my last letter it was observed that out OF /
the $4,000 square miles embraced in New
Hampshire and Vermont, 14,0O0 lie nearer |
Portland than Boston. That proportion ac
cordingly Of the two States would naturally, |
other circumstances being equal, as facilities of |
access, equally favorable markets, etc., buy and
sell in Portland rather than in Boston, Portland
has, however, at no time commanded from |
these States the share of trade due to her posi- /
ton, and within the memory of men still in /
business has lost an important amount of that /
formerly enjoyed. This has come about main
ly from the superior means furnished of ap- |
proach to Boston. To an important extent it |
is now practically out of the question to bring |
the trade of the region into its original and
natural channel Boston has her railroads
already built, and by their means has taken
of the States in question. Her grasp upon
these districts is,or would be, the more difficult
to be shaken because of their comparative
proximity to ner a ehouses. Trade once fixed
will moi, except for reasons of wei yht, change
its direction or its marts.
The question then of moment to the business
men of Portland, looking beyond their own
State limits for an enlarged field of operations,
is this:-Is there any porGon of the above
States, or Of either of them, of large extent,
which is at present unaccommodated with rail-
ways, or if partially furnished Herewith, is
sufficiently removed from Boston to give Port
land the better chance for the major portion of
the trade upon establishment of railway con-
nection? If in addition to this prime feature
of safe distance from Boston the region possess
ses considerable population and the capabili-
ty of further large increase of population; if it
be productive where cultivated, we'll tmbered
| were not; if its inhabitants have the habit of
comfortable and good living and therefore buy
| largely; if it contains valuable minerals.
| enough water power for manufactures of no
| inconsiderable consequence, and if in gaining
| access to this region Portland may find herself
making way to something beyond, richly worth
having, then surely the commercial annexation
| of such region to Maine is concern of first
rate Importance to the State and to Portland
most of ALL Such territory there is in North
| ern Vermont
| How empatlcally and fully true this is was
| certainly not understood by the writer previous
to his actual survey of the country in question
and inspection of its resources, and IS unques-
tionably not duly appreciated by the people of
Portland. What the writer has seen accord
ingly and what he knows, and what any one
| may see and know who comes here, it is pro-
posed to set forth, so fully as may be necessary
| for the purpose of illustration, and as may be
| justified by the presumed interest of the Port
land public.
| SURFACE FORMS AND Thu RAILROAD ROUTE
The northern third of Vermont, being the
portion specially had in view in this CORES
pondence, comprehends an area somewhat in
excess OF 5000 square miles, or two and one
fifth times that Of the State OF Rhode Island
| It's breadth in right line along the general
course of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad
is ninety miles. As regards its surface forms,
it is broken country, SO at least out of the i'm
mediate bordering valleys Of the streams.
Thus to specify more definitely, in the belt ly-
ing up the Portland & Ogdensburg Railway
the eastern part is quite rugged, the Irregular
ity Of surface prevailing in New Hampshire
| west of the White Hills, continuing into Yer
mont. Beyond St. Johnsbury to Dany.lle the
eminences become less abrupt, but larger, take
on the form of broad rounded bills, and SO con-
tnue across the central part of the belt. At
this Joint the main chain of elevations is en-
countered, about johnson, Cambridge, etc.
which constitute the Green Mountains, Mt.
Mansfield rising to the height of 1880 feet and
affording prospect of wonderful variety and
beauty Beyond the mountains the face OF the
country gradually aubsides, the valleys widen,
the hills fatten, and comparatively level sur
faces occur near Lake ChamplaiD.
But as is not unfrequent upon surfaces an
swering to this general description, the difficult
ties to be encountered in railway construction
| are by no means so serious as might be looked
for beforehand, owing to the fortunate dispos-
ton Of the river valleys, which for consdera-
BILE part Of the distance afford highly feasible
| route for the line. Thus from the Connecticut
| river, west, the road passes to st. JOhusbury, a
distance of twenty-five miles, in part along the
borders OF pond and in part BY the side of
Moose river. After crossing the heights OF
j Danville and Walden the road strikes the La
mobile river and for nearly forty miles closely
,, follows its course. natural pathway opened
through the surrounding hills. At Cam
bridge, in the midst of the Green Mountains
the line abruptly leaves the valley of the La
motlle and turns northw ward toward that of the
| Missisco river 1t is here that the most re
1 markabe and admirable feature of the route is
developed. Whereas, on leaving the water
| she.t of one stream, in tract of rough coun-
try. for that Of another, heavy grades and con-
| siderable detour might naturally be looked for,
/ az n matter of factt he grades are easy ana
l the course direct, for q great rent is opened
! amongst the highlands, dividing them asunder,
i in clearuess OF definition reminding one O
that still greater marvel, done in granite moi
1 in masses of green clad earth as the
| Crawford Notch In this ravine the "Blacl
4 Creek" is speedily developed, along whos'
4 borders the road runs to the Misssco, a river o
| considerable size, and thence by the course o
the stream to Lake Champlain.
Hence it is, in part, ts at though traversing
very hilly region, the Vermont division of tn
9 Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad bids fair t.
o be completed at $25,OOO per mile. As who'll
: it is an easy road to construct, for nature Owe
a large part Of the distance has made reaay ~
a IL. Should this remarkable result Do ao'ua"I
: realized it will be due largely however ~ 'n'
excellent economy with which the WORK o
= building is carried forward, of which l shall
snoak more fully at another ume'
SCENERY AND VEGETATION.
:, The road, then, runs amongst hills and by tn
aide of streams in the greater part of its length
Scenes accordingly of great beauty are cor
stantly unfolding to the eye Of the traveller, 8
"a few points attaining to the magnificent, q
/ O the Danville heights, where a vast expans
i of country opens to the vision, and at sever'
LOO sRlities nearer the larger masses of the Gree
| M0 untains A great multitude Of surprises,