The Portland daily press., 1872-12-09


4 Nav ExaxssEhx.- attention has 80.
| Gently been called 10 an enterprise which will,
| If sGccessfully carried out make Portland one
of the greatest commercial cities of the globe
II is the opening of steam communication with
the Orient The project, which is the offspring
of Portland genius, and which is to be carried
out solely by Portland capital contemplates
the building OF a railway from some point on
Puget Sound to the city of Pekin. Our con-
nsctions with Puget Sound will be, of course,
by the rente of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Inc contemplated route, taking its start from
the Sound, will trend along the western coast,
crossing Simpson river in longitude 45o and
striking south-westerly of Mount St Elias
will touch Tchougachis at the head of Cooks
Inlet Thence, proceeding still in a north
westerly direction, it will strike Bshring
Strait at Cape Prince of Wales, crossing the
kvchpok in its course Then by ferry or by
submarine tunnel, as may be thought most ex-
padient, we can cross to the Asian side landing
at the East Cape.
Through Tehuktchi the road will run on the
east side of the Sivvoov Mountains in Okhoisk,
and crossing the Jabonnai at an easy grade
stride the large and fertile valley of the Amoor;
thus opening up to Portland commerce the i'm
mense Siberian trade in fossil ivory. A step
more and the tea-trade of china is in our hands,
for we are at the gates of Pekin. Nor is it the
tea-trade alone that falls to US. The spices of
Araby and the wealth of Ormuz and of Ind will
| pour into our laps. The marvellous industries
of the Celestial Empire will be under our con-
troll aud the course of the oriental traffic, tow
ed into right channels will find its way to the
natural seaport" and the FINEST harbor in the
| world, where the combined navies of the earth
may ride at ancher." Thus Portland, standing
at the point where the tides of oriental and oc-
| cidental commerce meet to blend their waves,
will become the cosn,opolis of the globe, the
golden clasp of the world encircling bracelet of
| commerce Thus we in time should become
great city and be able to have our streets de-
Gently paved. OF course branch lines would be
projected from the main trunk, as for example
one to the desert of Shomo which would uu-
doubleday become famous summer resort
The undertaking is not SO expensive as it at
first blush appears, for the road through Alas
ka would open up the great seal fisheries of
that region, and the immense water-power of
the Kvichpok The mere 'local traffic" of the
line will pay it's way, and the whole trade of
the sback country will flow in.
We understand that the aid of the city will
be asked as endorser of three hundred year
bonds, the interest of which will be paid an
nually by the company. 1t can be mathemati-
cally demonstrated that the city will become
fabulously rich in short time We commend
the matter to the careful consideration of the
wise city fathers, who, it cannot be doubted
will give to it that attention which its merits
deserve.
THE PORTLAND FRATERNrTY.-Theo opening
entertainment of the winter course of this ex-
cellent society occurred Saturday evening. Mr..
VIM. Allen, who presided over the exercises
expressed in behalf of the committee, the pleas
ure with which they greeted their friends that
evening and their grateful appreciation of past
patronage. He hoped that the public would
continue to express their appreciation by full
houses at the series of entertainments and lee
lures which the committee have arranged for
the present winter 1t is not the intention to
hold these entertainments every Saturday even
ing, but due notice will be given. The COM
mttee announce grand entertainment, con-
sisting of social levee and assembly, to take
18th.
The entertainment of the evening consisted
Of quartette by Mr.. and Mrs. Derinett Mrs.
Wetherbee and Mr.. Stockbrdge, which called
forth hearty applause, after which, Mr.. Allen,
in a few felictious remarks, introduced Mr.. H.
J. Murray, British Consul at this port, who was
greeted with hearty applause. Mr.. Murray
read the following: -"HuguenOt Lovers
''New Church Organ ''Lord Tom Noddle,"
BETSY and are Out" His rendition was
very finely executed, holding the audience
breathless meanwhile This was followed by
duett by Mrs. Wetherbee and Mrs. bennett
Miss Lizzie Dyer followed with piano solo.
Mr.. Murray gave extracts from ''Pet Margere'
the reading ofwhose singularly sparkling letters
called forth frequent bursts of applause. The
exercises closed with quartette.
The music was highly appreciated. There
was full house, and everybody seemed high
ly gratified with the evenings entertainment.
PORTRAIT OF Gov. wAsHBuRN-Mr. Sell
den j. Woodman of Chicago, is engaged on
life-size portrait of Gov. Washburn. Though
the picture is yet unfinished, progress enough
has been made to show that it is faithful
portrait and executed by a skilled hand. Mr..
Woodman, who is a native of Maine, will be
remembered as the founder and first President
of the Chicago Academy of Design, an insti-
tuition which is doing much for tina develop
ment of art in the West. For the last two
years he has been roaming in Colorado, and
some of his studies of mountain scenery which
we have seen show the marks of master
hand.
The order for the portrait was given sixteen
years ago when the young artist was just start
ing in his career. Probably Gov. Washburn
had then no idea that he was emitting himself
to sitting from one of the best portrait paint
ers in America.
Mr.. Woodman purposes passing some time
in Portland, and we trust our citizens will DO
favored with some products of his easel
| A PERIPATRTIC FRAUD.-A man, giving his
name as Fletcher has been victimizing our cit
liens by representing himself as agent for the
! monthly journal called the Household Some
of The receipts which he gave for the payment
of subscriptions were signed ''H. o. Carter"
The publishers of the Household disclaim all
knowledge of him. He is described as a large
man, about five feet and nine inches in height,
| Win dark gray -DesPrlnkled mar, signify Dald-
headed, and wearing heavy moustache. He
is apparently about forty-tive years of age
While here he wore black silk hat, black
sack coat somewhat rusty from wear, dark sin
gle-breasted vest, light striped pantaloons and
black necktie. His last swndling ex-
plot was neglect t. pay his board. The pub
lie are cautioned against him.
Two PICTURES. are st Schumacher's
art gallery two of the finest landscape paint
ings ever exhibited in Maine. They are from
Sommer's brush, and represent scenes in the
Connecticut valley. One is the picture of a
waterfall. The stream is falling down Jagged
broken rocks, over which the blasted trunk of
a gigantic pine is hanging. The ravine through
which the stream is flowing, formed of brown
rock with clinging shrubs, shows a fine hand
ling of color in mass, while the details are
faithfully worked up. The other is picture
broader in its scope, representing a great range
of hills whose shadows are projected into the
valley in the foreground. Overhead is low
cloud-mottled sky. The scenery is sketched
with freer hand, while mnuteness of detail