Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-09
The Portland and Rutland Rail.
road,

The subject of direct line OF raiiwa
from Chicago to Portland by way OF Rat
land, is again being agitated with pros
pect of success. 1t would have been il
the full tide of construction at this tim
but for the action of Rutland on the quei
ton two years ago in refusing to lend il
aid,-aud our town would have this com
ing spring commenced to receive bench
therefrom, but it is unavsiling to mourn
over lost time new, but put our shoulde
to the wheel and no longer occupy tn
dog in the manger position,-and stan'
in the way of what is not merely loca
enterprise, but is now assuming nationa
proportions. 1t requires only persever
ance and will to accomplish the result 81
important to our town as central bust
ness point. 1t will be seen by the extrac
from the Chicago Post, published here
With, that the West and the East are de
termined as matter of good public policy
to construct this line to endeavor anc
overthrow the increasing aggravated
wrongs of monopolies that are becoming
grievous to be borne.
The plan proposed in the bill of Sena'
tor Hamlin of Maine, introduced into the
Senate seems feasible, and is said to be
every day growing in popularity, and the
West are constantly sending forward
petitions for it's enactment as release
from the chains which now bind them iii
their, enterprises and in their expectation
of leading cereals to European markets.
When this through line is completed the
day will have passed when the cry will
come from the West that they are COM
peled to use their corn crops for fuel, be-
cause il will not pay for transportation,
for then, ready transit to European mar
kets will be open by way of Rutland and
Portland. We commend the following
article, which recently appeared in the
Chicago Post entitled The proposed
Railroad Line to Portland" to the careful
consideration of the people OF Rutland.
"The Chicago Egeninq Post has advo,
Gated at different times Tor the past two
Venr. the construction If direct line of
railroad between this city and the city of
Portland. Malice. We have spoken of the
route-through New Hampshire, Yer.
amout, New York, along the south shore
OF Like Ontario. Canada. Michigan, as
one of much directness, and for nearly
ha III Of ~ ga phSfrTp-
tion- against the work of tho engineer.
TIE htrbor of Portlurd il also a strong
Argument in favor of this proposed enter
prise, being one OF the best along our
ocean lire. and con-iderahly nearer. the
great comm4rcial marts of Europe than
Others Good policy demands, moreover,
that thu commercial monopoly of New
York CITY he broken up. 1t il not only
injurious to the best interests of the
noputry in itself, hut it is the parent OF
other monopolies, the aggregated wrongs
Of which have become well nigh unendur-
able.
There and other arguments in favor OF
an enterprise of the kind described could
not fill TO have weight with capitalists,
mernhants, and intelligent men interested
in the welfare and progress OF the country
A company was accordingly formed many
months ago--as related in these columns
at the ume-snd considerable lntereS'
was manifested in the project both IN this
country and Europe. We now observe
thst Senator Ham)in, of Maine, Vice
President of the United States, has intro
ducrd bill III Congress upon the subject.
Mr.. Hamlin's bill proposes to secure the
cheap transportation OF breadstutts and
provi-ious from the West to the seaboard.
at uniform rates throughout the year. II
WAS accom- panied, as the telegraph informs
us, by 4 memorial from tho Chicago, Port
land, and European Airline Railroad
Company, proposing to constitute the
line of that company post road and ma
tionsl highway from Portland harbor, by
way of Rutland, to Oswego and Chicago.
Mr.. Hamlin's bill requires the govern
ment to loan its bonds, to a limited
amount, az soon as forty miles are com
pleted with steel rails, iron bridges, and
adequate equipments, and so on, at the
same rate, at each additional forty miles
are completed. till the line is finished to
Oswego, and thence at the same rate to
Chicago-COngress to regulate the price
of transportation, which ia to be uniform
throughout the year. The road to have
capacity for delivering at tide-water all
freights offered at Chicago, or other places
on tho route, within seven days OF its re-
6eipt. Ample dock accommodations are
TO he constructed at Portland for ships OF
the largest drAugh.. The Preparations at
Portland contemplate dock acCommoda-
tions for forty ocean steamers, four hun
dred feet in length, atloat at same time,
with needful appurtenances. The bill
contemplates the loan of government
bonds only, as ample security, without
taking any money from the United States
Treasury.
1t is expected by the friends of this
measure that wheat would be carried
from Chicago to Portland for 10 cents
bushel, and -four at 50 cents barrel the
year round.
We have SO often spoken favorably of
this enterprise that we need not now af-
firm hearty approval of the object of Mr.
Hamlin's bill. Nor is it improper to say
that he is one of these statesmen from the
eastern portion of our country who has in
telli2ent understanding and appreciation
of the Northwest He will undoubtedly
advocate the measure as establishing an
enterprise of national value and perma-
gent importance, and the weight of his
great and deserved influence will add
greatly to the popularity of the project
A GREAT SUCCEss.-Burlington. Iowa,
III L.