The Portland daily press., 1872-05-14
A Chapter of Railroad History,
HYDE PARK, W., May 10, 1872

HYDE PARK, VI, May TO- 1872.
To the Editor of the Press:
The elaborate series of articles that have re-
Gently appeared in newspaper published on
the line of the Vermont Central Railroad, dis
cussing at length the question of railroad ex-
tension west from Portland, has, at length,
come to a close. In those articles, arguments,
solicitation, warning and threatening have been
freely employed to induce the people of Port
and to abandon their route to the West, via the
Notch, for a line south of the mountains. They
have been drawn by the hand of a master.
Iteration and reiteration; suggestion and innu-
endo, audacious perversons of fact and fair
show of temperate and candid statement have
been made to play their respective parts with
the highest art Admitting, as we do without
difficulty, the point assumed by the Portland
paper that has republished these articles, and
commented favorably upon them, namely, that
the Vermont Central Railway speaks in them
and through them, we freely confess this great
corporation has displayed even more than usual
sagacity in the choice of its advocate.
In particular, however, it is only fair to con
cede the papers referred to have shown true
appreciation of the real wants of Portland,
such as some of her own citizens have failed to
exhibit. They, first and last, and in all their
assumptions, take it for granted that Portland's
great want is additional connection with the
West; that without such connection, her geo.
graphical position, her noble harbor, and unex-
ampled facilities for handling merchandise will
prove of no effect 80 far as regards her develop
ment and growth. The point is well taken.
Portland does need additional railroad facilities
to and from the interior, and her natural ad-
vantages will justify their construction. She
can become, to quote the language of the arti-
Giles referred to, mot only the depot of her own
commerce, but also the entrepot and exchange
for liberal portion of the merchandise which
IN a few years will be moved from beyond the
Pacific across this continent to Europe"
But the assumption made at every point in
these articles that Portland can secure these
and other great advantages only by an ADAM
donment of the Notch route, and by forming
coalition with Boston-controlled railroads, is
the one total and fatal error that vitiates them
throughout, and makes them false and evil
guides. To induce Portland to abandon her
own independent line for one subordinate and
dependent, two courses have been taken. First,
the vast power, resources, and sphere of opera
tions of the principal member of the proposed
coalition are dwelt upon, and the ability of that
corporation to do great things for Portland is
presented in vivid colors. Nay, it is guardedly
and cautiously intimated. IN such way as to
commit nobody, but so as to sound we'll and
look plausible that this great organization will
really make Portland one of its main tide
water stations, and an entrepot for trans-conti
mental traffic. How likely this Boston corpora
ton will be to do all this, is perhaps sufficiently
apparent at first sight; but, if not, will be at
later stage of this article. What we have now
to say is, that the corporation in question will
not have it in its power to exercise such para
mount control over the trans-continental bust
mess as a current superstition takes for granted
1t is the friends and allies of the Portland and
Ogdensburgh Railroad, who hold the charters
for the new lines from Swanton to Montreal
and from Montreal to the eastern terminus of
the Northern Pacific Railroad, nearly thou
sand miles of unbroken line. 1t is they who
hold the key to the traffic from ocean to ocean
by the far shortest route, and who look to the
Portland Railroad for their access to the Attain
tic sea. .
The second course taken in the articles re-
ferred to has been, by every sort of representa-
ton, to endeavor to discredit and injure the
Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad. In how
many different forms have the Portland public
been instructed as to the desperate and we'll
nigh hopeless struggle to surmount the noun
tain of granite which separates Conway from
the Connecticut river? How many times have
they been reminded of the prodigious grades
that will forever stand in the way of heavy
business? of the sharp "curves" likewise that
will be hardly less detrimental than the grades?
What "snow distractions likewise, unexam-
pied in the history of railroads, are to be en-
countered, even stem feet deep in the Notch
this winter! The unparalleled elevations,
likewise, to which the road ascends will result
in 'ice upon the rails" that will obstruct the
movement of trains! ''Slides from the noun
tains' will bury up the whole Notch section of
the road. The line, moreover, lends nowhere"
At its western extremity it is at the mercy of
mighty corporation, which holds control almost
from ocean to ocean, whose hostility is now
provoked, and can be appeased only by an
abandonment of the Notch route &C.. &c.
Every circumstance, every incident, CLEANED by
the most microscopical examination of the whole
field, that could either by downright misrepre-
sentation or sinister insinuation be made ND for
capital against the road, has been turned to ac-
count with what bears every appearance of
most hostile malignancy. What is almost
amusing is that in the closing paragraph of the
articles assurance is given that the parties have
been content with "simply setting forth the adj
vantages of the new project" and have not
entertained the purpose of assailing the in
terests of the Portland and Ogdensburg Rail-
road! Is this the work of the friends or the
enemies of this road? Do they bring peace or
war in their hand? Are we to believe that all
this is uttered out of "mercy" and pity for Port
land, and in the plentitude of loving good
will? Nay, verify, we are distinctly informed
in the closing number of the semi-oficial ar
ticles, that "a feeling of friendliness'' once ex-
listing between the Portland aud Ogdensburg
and the Vermont Central r. r., upon some al
legged occasion vanished, and interests which
before We're mutual, now became rival" and
we are further informed, that the experience
of 1870 and Whereabouts will prove bar for
ever to any mutual understanding between the
original Portland and Ogdensburg route and the
Vermont Contra" But if only Portland will give
up her cherished purposes of a line to the
West, and will place herself as clay in the
hands of the Vermont Central Railroad, the
past will be forgotten-if only in Suitable
spirit overtures are made" to that great Boston
monopoly, 1--WE doubt not that they will be
o.