The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-31

bee to Wiscasset by the projected route is 24O
miles, and it is claimed that trains will run
that distance in from IA to 16 hours making 1t
the shortest possible line from the st. Law
renee to the seaboard. The managers OF the
Wiscasset and Kennebec road have not yet
made any beginning at their end of 1.-THE route.
The Maine Central road is like a maiden who
has two lovers and may make the best possible
terms with either. Tiring of its connection
with the Eastern Railroad, it has already per-
fected an alliance with the Boston & Maine
road, to the extent of admitting it to equal
privileges with the Eastern. The Maine Cen
trail has evidently enjoyed year of prosperity,
for it would have declared, it is said, divi-
dend at the end of the year but for embarrass-
ments growing out of its connection with the
Eastern. Its new bridge at Waterville is now
completed and the mysterious and fearful COM
plications at that station are now happily
cleared up. The Eastern road has also built
an iron bridge across the Saco in place of the
one that was burned.
The Boston s. Maine road has effected con-
nection with the Grand Trunk by way of Com
mercial street in this city, this event being the
The great event in the history of the Grand
Trunk for the year is the change from the
broad to the narrow gauge over that part of the
line between this city and Montreal. Thus
ends the great contest between broad and mar
row gauge which begun in 1874.
Perhaps the most important event of the
year in railroad matters, is the opening OF a
through route from this city to New York by
means of the completion of the Nashua &
Rochester road, connecting with the Portland
& Rochester at the latter place. This event
was celebrated with great rejoicing on the 1st
inst. The Rochester road has recently formed
connection with the Grand Trunk by means
of the marginal way.
The Piscata4uis railroad has been opened to
Guilford. A survey has been made from Gull
ford to Abbot.
The European and North American Railway
has made such arrangements with the Inter
colonial that there is no longer delay OF
freight at st. John, as heretofore.
The Portland & Ogdensburg is slowly creep
ing through the Notch. The first shipment of
goods through that pathway was made in Oc-
tober by firm in this city. Ii is now only
eleven miles from Bemis, the terminus of the
Ogdensburg, to the Fabyan House on the Bos-
ton, Concord, and Montreal road, and line of
stages carries passengers and freight between
these points. The Ogdensburg has not only
entered upon intimate relations with the East
ern road, but is contemplating a connection
with Montreal, by means of the Montreal,
Chambly and Sorel road, now in process OF
construction; and with Burlington. by means
of the Burlington and Lamoille road, the con-
struction of which is assured by aid to the ex-
tent of $4,000 recently granted by the city Of
Burlington.
A hundredm are at work on the Penob-
scot Bay snd River road, at Camden. Mr..
Hchborn, the late President of this road, made
a contracj before his death with reliable New
York CAPITALISTS who are to build the whole
road frsm Rockland to Bangor for So, 1000 per
mile aid finish it by July 4, 1876.
LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM.
Mt much literary work done by Maine peo-
pie this year. But Rev. DR.. Hills Geometry
aid Faith has condensed thought enough in
for eight or ten ordinary volumes. sport.
land Illustrated by John Neal might be called
Portland by Flash of Lightning" it is done
in such fierce hurry Mrs. Jane Thnrston has
published an exposition of her claim to a tri-
fling estate comprising the whole of the United
States and Great Britain and-the lady is un-
compromising-th Colonies! The late Joseph
Griffin of Brunswick published before his
death supplemental his valuable "Press of
A history of the towns of Bristol
and Bremen, by Prof. johnson of the Wesley
an University at Middletown, Connecticut is a
very valuable book. The History of Liv0Tlnore,
by Hon. /. Washburn jr., is book OF mucn 10
Search and of great interest, to many people.
The Young Peoples History OF Maine, by Geo.
T. Varney, is work which has long been
needed. apd which has met with
flattering reception. A fourth edition of
DIVERS Precedents, and two volumes OF the
Maine Reports have been issued during the
year. j. M. Marshall has published an ac-
count of the Buxton Centennial Miss Mary
McCobb of this city has written chaming
Dools for boys, called Lloyd Dalan. Miss
Clark, Sophie May" has published "Our
Helen," Clara barnes Martin has written an
entertaining guide book of Mt. Desert, Elijah
kellogg has written one or two of his charac-
teristic juveniles. An entertaining Drochure
on the Hen Show was issued in January. j.
w. Thompson has supplied a want long felt by
sporting men in his ''Maine Bred Horses"
The Maine State Year Book continues to be
issued. The Union Bible Teacher is work
which meets with general favor. Mrs. Abba
GooId Woolson has edited under the title OF
"Dress Reform" thoughtful and entertain
ing book on women's dress.
1t has been quiet year in journalism. The
Rockland Daily Globe suspended publication
in November, after brief but not unworthy
career. New weeklies have been started at
Patten, Houlton, Rockland and Hallowell.
The Oxford Democrat has changed hands, and
the North Star has been removed to Presque
Isle. Mr.. Charles A. Lord has retired from
the Christian Mirror, and Col. Fred e. Shaw
aud the Rev. B. P. Snow now edit that paper
Hoyt & Fogg issne for the benefit of Sabbath
Schools the Union Lesson Paper, which has
reached monthly edition of25,000.
Albro E. Chase on the 18th of January
assumed the editorship Of the Maine Journal
of Education On the 18th of May Mr.. NJ. n.
Rich started the Masonic Relief Oracle. The
Maine Real Estate Register came to an end with
the December number. 1t deserved a longer
life
CRIME AND CASUALTY.
We believe that there has not been one will
full, deliberate murder committed this year.
This has not happened before since the execu-
ton of Harris. But it must be confessed that
there has been an extraordinary number of
homicides The piratical attack of Charles Il.
Robbins on the crew of the schooner ''Annie
B." of St. John, on the night of May 23d, re-
sulting in the death of Solomon Camp, the
mate. would have taken rank with the most
deliberate butcheries in our annals of crime,
but it was shown at the trial that Robbins was
insane, and he was committed to the Hospital
for the Insane instead of the State Prison. In
Stetson, Penobscot County, an insane young
man named James Davis severed the head of
his father, Silas Davis, from his body with an
axe. Davis, too was committed to the Hos
ptal. The accidental killing of Maggie Pike
by her husband, in this city, during drunken
debauch, created considerable excitement at
the time. Patrick Gormley was arrested for
killing Thomas Doyle, but was discharged by
the municipal court. DIR. Peleg Trask of Lew
iston was convicted of manslaughter for al
lowing an infant to die through neglect. Geo.
Carson of Milford has just been beld for trial