The Portland daily press., 1875-11-16

The following is what President Potter, of
the Grand Trunk, thinks of Portland:
We have mad good many letters about Port.
lard: | had not an opportunity of addressing you
on this subject after my return from Canada in
December last, owing first to the death OF my
mother. and in the second instance, to the fact
that was suffering from severe illness, and was
good deal occupied with the agitation then
going on may now state, however, that un-
til about two years ago, we occupied large
wharf at Portland called the Gait wharf for
which we paid $4,000 a year. We had occu
pied 1t from the commencement OF our settle
ment in Portland, and it was very convenient
rot only for general ocean navigation to Eu
rope, but for the large coasting traffic there is
from Portland. But the rent was heavy, and a
fire taking place on it we gave up our occupa-
tion. 1 spent the best part of week in Port
land, and there at the house of one of our
great friends had the opportunity of meeting
the Mayor and leading members Of the corpor-
alton. made very strong appeal to them,
grounded on the exertions we had made, the
change Of gauge and the adequate supply of
rolling stock, while the city of Portland had
given large advances to railways which were
not of any service to our company. They prom
ised me that they would purchase that wharf
and make us present of it. They have not
quite accomplished this, but they have done SO
wharf for 5000, and bave spent -$45,O0O in
restoring and improving it, They have pre-
serted it to US for yearly payment of 1886
for thirty years, at the end of which time it
en- us position there which is unrivalled No
doubt there are circumstances in the position
of Portland contrasting unfavorably with New
York, but as far as the accommodation goes
there is no port in America equal to Portland.
At New York the cost of taking barrels of
flour, boxes of meat and the various products
of the agricultural industry of the West which
is the great trade of our railways from east to
west, is very high. The ships lie alongside the
railway wharves, and the labor required for
loading and unloading is very dear, while tie
accommodation is poor, whereas we at Portland
have got magnificent premises, partly our own
freehold-a freehold almost uDrivalled; but We
have longer distance to contend with in TAX
ing produce 10 Portland and difficulty in find
ing sufficient room for the purpose. Moreover
Portland is not place of import to the same
extent as New Yorx, an], consequently. we
have certain adverse circumstances to contend
With, but am not sure that they are not TO a
large extent, made up by the additional accom-
mediation we receive.
ARMY AND NAVY CoURsE-The third enter
tainment in the Army and Navy Course will be
given Thursday evening by the Boston Philhar-
monic Club The following is the programme
Mendelssohn
Philharmonic Club.
Introduction and variations from French Horn,
Belz
Mr. A. Belz
Hungarian Fantasie for Violin n............. Ernst
Mr.. b. listemann.
Cayatiua-"Lucia''. Donzetti
Miss Laura Schirmer.
aRapsodie No. List
Philharmonic Club.
Solo for Violoncello-"F Fantasia on Scotch Airs,'
Patti
Mr.. A. Hartdegen.
Solo for Flute-"Variations Brilliantes,'
Demerssemanp
Mr.. Z. Weiner.
Invitation IA Danse. ...........C. NJ Won Weber
Philharmonic Club.
Miss Laura Schirmer.
Dissolving Views (Nebelbilder) with Either OBJ
ligato by Mr.. E. Weiner :. ............... Lumbye
Philharmonic Club.
| arranged by B. Listemann.