St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-05-03
The Portland and ogdensburg Rail
road

tn the effect that Portland was consult
ering the subject of abandoning the
Portland and OgdenSburg railroad 10y
way of the Notch and ST. Johnsbury.
and seeking communication with the
West bv way of the Ossipee valley.
Plymouth. and the Montpelier and
Wells River railroad. This brief dis
patch. which was evidently instigated
by the Portland and Rochester railroad.
"A rival of the Portland and Ogdens
burg, was the signal for IL series of
articles. published simultaneously i'll all
the Montpelier papers. in which the
object was to turn the attention of
Portland from the original plan of the
Notch route to the new line spoken of
in the dispatch. This concert Of action
10y all the interests antagonistic to the
Portland and Ogdensburg railroad. Is
significant just at this time when the
city of Portland is asked to give addi-
tional credit to the bonds of this road
These newspaper articles were at once
copied into the Portland papers, (they
were prepared with especial reference
to effect there) and brought out several
reionders, some of which we give he
low. merely promising that the people
of Portland may he supposed to know
what route they want and which road
they intend to build.
We will say just here that the Port
land and OgdenshurG railroad has no
quarrel with any other interest. Its
projectors and officers do not believe
in dcpreciating amy other road or inter
est in attempting to conSummate then
plans. They have projected great
enterprise, aud worked diligently and
untiringly to complete it. They have
met great obstacles and have overcome
| them and they do not now propose t.
he turned from their course. hut keep
in. the end steadily i'll view. press for
ward with the work till the great en-
tcrpriSc is completed. At the same
time they wish every other enterprise
which develops the country OF accom-
modateS the public. the success which i
merits.
The following letter is from the reg
ulal correspondent of the H0Ston jo"'
nal. and is dated Portland. April II
Some weeks since the Portland an,
Ogdenshurg railroad directors address
ed Il communication to the City Conn
ell. setting forth the condition an,
prospects of the enterprise, and a>kin!
for thorough investigation and rcp"r
upon its affairs. Importance and needs
. The City Council l> Vet have not actc'
upon the communications. hut vii
probably do 80 shortly.
At special meeting of the Board u
Aldermen Monday evening the follow
ing petition. signed 10y IL large numhcl
of influential citizens. mostly business
men. was presented and referred t"
Joint Special Committee. Aldermen
King and McCarty being appointed
The Com'rom Council will undoubtedly
concur ut their next meeting. and tn,
matter thus obtain some Roadway an,
progress
''WhercaS. IL proposition l. before tn,
people of Portland to give credit To the
bonds of the Portland and OgdenSbur!
railroad to the amount of S2,5uW.oOO
and whereas. the city has an interest t,
the amount of S714.Om in said road
and whereas. doubts are entertained Il
to the feasibility of the road through
the mountains. and especially aS Il
whether the amount named will com
plete the road: loul petitioners he
lieve that definite information >huul,
be obtained before acting i'll Il matte
of so much Importance i'll its relation
to the liability of the city on the on'
side and the benefits to accrue on TIT
other: and they therefore ask Nou t.
appoint Il commission who shall Obtain
reliable information aS To the feaSlhillt,
and cost of the road. its railroad con
nectiOns and its general advantages 70
business with authority To employ
competent engineer and such other III,
as may he required to accomplish tn
purposes of this investigation. and re-
port the same as early as practicable"
The course which will he adopte,
will br the appointment of the commits
sion already alluded to. who will caus
, IL survey to he made of the route from
North Conway through the Notch T.
} Dalton on the Connecticut river. an,
: report upon its cost, connections AM
4 general advantages as requested. Thi
will he just To all parties, and is regard
ed us the proper thing to do. The cas-
then will have been presented in all it
: fullneSS and di>intereStednesS. and tn
, public will more CONSIDERABLY act i
the matter of the - .5OO. 900 loan. Tn
city being the controlling owner in tn
road. the City Council should all tn
more accede to the above requests fo
the investigation and survey. TIL
Portland and Ogdensburg managers ar
confident that results will prove tn
correctness of their statements, an
that the road can he completed With
+ the estimates. There is no doubt In
what the road once built will he of in
estimable value to this city lis west
erm and way line. but the opponents a
. the enterprise claim it is an cxpensiv
scheme. which the city should not bac
up. The investigation and report ask
ed for. however. will settle the Who'll
question. The earnings on the Port
land and OgdemSburg road cortland t
North Conway are increasing. am
even larger business and profits ar
promised the coming year. The fac
that Swanton Che Vermont tcIminu
of the Portland and OgdenShurg road
will he over 100 miles north and north
west of Rutland. White River Junctio
and Wells River (the proposed point
of intersection for the Rutland an,
other contemplated routes) gives tn
Portland and Og,len>hurg certainly a
upper line and invaluable advantages.