The Portland daily press., 1873-11-17
Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad,

lie
1t is now said that the Eastern Railroad Co
is contemplating an arrangement with the
Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad whereby
direct communication is to be had with Mon
treaL This will necessitate the building of an
independent road from Sheldon, VT, to Mon
treal, twelve miles of which are already COM
pleted. Boston AdUertiser.
For some time past negotiations have been
in progress for permanent connection be-
tween the Western Division of the Portland
and Ogdensburg Railroad in Vermont and a
line of road held under two charters from the
Dominion Government, extending from the
Province line to Montreal. 1t was under
stood that this arrangement could be effect
ed whenever a satisfactory connection could
be made which would assure an independent
through line, either by ownership Or contract,
to the seaboard at Portland and Boston.
The several lines in Vermont and New
Hampshire running through to Boston were
each DESTROYS of obtaining this connection so
far as it related to business bound to Boston,
and oyertures were made by the Central Yer
mont, the Passumpsic and the Boston, Con-
cord d Montreal Railroad Companies. A
contract with either of these lines would have
diverted the Boston business from passing
over any part of the Eastern Division of the
Portland & Ogdensburg road. Still as aid to-
ward the completion and stocking of the line
in Vermont and Canada was promised if such
acontract could be secured, the matter was
uuder serious consideration.
At this time the Importance of this line as
the best through route between Boston and
Montreal, was brought to the Directors of the
Eastern Railroad who, acting with their usu-
al promptness, went over the line to Montreal.
conferred with the managers of the Canadian
line, and upon their return made an offer of
aid in shape of a traffic guarantee, if the sew
eral sections Of the road would tie themselves
together irrev oeably and agree by contract
with the Eastern Company that the business
bound for Boston should not be switched off of
their line at its connection with the Boston,
Concord g. Montreal and other roads above
named, but should come through as far as
North Conway. The points where this bust
ness might pass off of the through line are
at Sganton and Essex Junction, lVt.) to the
Central Vermont; at st. Johnsbury, VT, to
the Passumpsic and at Whitefield, N. H., to
the Boston, Concord & Montreal roads,
If this arrangement is perfected. a large
business is assured being controlled-to pass
over the whole consolidated line from Mon
treal to North Conway, besides resulting in
connection with Montreal that will insure the
transportion of the freight destined to Eas-
tern Maine, to the lower Provinces and most
ofthe foreign steamers that take their freight
from Portland.
We are assured that this whole matter is
now under consideration, but no contract or
arrangement has vet been agreed upon. We
are further informed that the project con-
templates many advantages to the Portland
terminus of the Portland & Ogdensburg, and
has received the approval of several of our
citizens whose interests are as large as any in
the enterprise and whose judgment on the
matter will command respect.