The Portland daily press., 1875-03-13


then came in and Mr.. Anderson put the ques-
to him. The Assistant is cautious man of
few words, but he has every curve and tan
gent, every cut and fill of that ten miles rolled
up in his brain, but after three minutes calcu-
lation he said: "Rising IS per cent" Mr..
Raymond, who has still closer superintend-
ence OF the Notch section, answered Mr.. An
derson's question: "Nearly 80 per cent" The
above are the estimates of the engineers who
have measured the work time and again and
have had it in their mind for two or three
years. In view of these opinions of profession
al men based upon figures which cannot mis-
lead, our testimony of what we saw in walking
over large portion of the ten miles and seeing
the greater part of that we did not walk over,
is OF no consequence. We can but add that the
work which has been done since the first of
last July has been so great as to be really sur
prising. Then the line seemed hopelessly
headed off in rock cut at Nancy stream, this
side of Bemis station. Only small part of
point, and two of the largest bridges were not
erected. Now the line is completed not only
to Bemis, but three miles beyond and the next
ten have been changed from cut-down to
nearly continuous road way.
When will the connecting link" be ready
for travel? The engineers are not eager TO
give positive opinions. "'If, says Mr.. Ander-
son, I've get that cut made at Frankensten
early in May, am confident that we can get
to the Crawford House by the first of july"
When that point is ready for the bridge it will
require month to put on the superstructure
from thence to the Notch. This, however, is
true; no Portland man can be so impatient of
and delay as Chief Engineer Anderson and his
corps of assistants. Of course the same may
be said of Gen. Anderson. Whatever energy,
skill, harmony and application can accomplish,
will be done. If the mountain is not crossed
by the railway by July 1st under the present
management, the impatient public should do
Gen. Anderson and his subordinates the SIM
pie justice to believe that no man with the
means at his hand can accomplish it.
GENERAL MATTERS.
Probably there has been less grumbling
about the building of the Portland & Ogdens-
burg Railroad than concerning any similar un-
dertaking. Delay there has been, but it is no t
the fault of the President, directors or engin-
GERS. There may have been suspicious of jobs,
but none but the most INSCRIPTIONS could give
currency to anything SO unjust. Any fair
minded man who will take the time to go over
the line with the Chief Engineer cannot fail to
notice his scrupulous care and the evidences of
rigid economy An engineer of experience
who has recently been over the line and from
the first has been conversant with the work-a
disinterested man-said to us that the Portland
& Ogdensburg construction was the most eco
nomical and intelligent he has ever known.
The enterprise is being managed with that de-
gree of prudence and care that experienced
and successful business men give to their pri-
vate affairs. r.-
We have spoken of Messrs. Anderson and
Poverty. Their assistants are entitled to no
small share of praise for their efficiency and
brought up in Mr. Anderson's Office, has been
employed on the road from the first. For a
year or more he has been in the Notch division
under Mr.. Poverty. A young man of energy
and application, he is already possessed of the
experience and skill of men of ripper years.
With Mr.. Raymond on this work, is Mr.. ID. r.
Hastings of Bethel, who proves to be very
intelligent and active young man. Mr. Charles
Harlow has the immediate supervision of the
section beyond the Crawford House. Nothing
takes place along that line of four miles that
he is not cognizant Of With all the rest OF the
corps, he has the confidence of the Chief,
which he has won by efficient service.
Well, what about the snow? On the sides
of the mountains there is very little above the
line of the railroad, while in the narrow valley
this side of the Crawford House there is less
than in Bartlett, Fryeburg and towns this side.
Blocking SHOWS will be the least difficulty to
contend with in the mountain section-much
less than on the ordinary railroad lines of
Maine.
At the Crawford House the road reaches its
highest point 1900 feet above the mean tide
water at Portland. At the point where the
line reaches the Connecticut river, it is $50 feet
above tide water.
When the line is completed to the Fabyan
House, 1919 miles remains to be completed to
the Connecticut river. Three miles of this
distance, the road will run over the same way
as the Concord road. From the Fabyan House
it is 80 miles to Portland and 135 to Concord.
1t was election day the first day we were in
New Hampshire. The region is Democratic
so Democratic that many a Rip Van Wrinkle
there voted for "Ginral Jackson" last Tuesday
or thought he did, Representatives TO the
Legislature are elected according to the num-
Der of "ratable polls" Towns with certain
number, say 300, send one representa- i've, aid
with "a greater number, say $50, send two.
Heretofore Harris Location, the Notch country,
and other locations and the town of Carroll
have sent one representative. They meet Sat-
urday to elect representatives, claiming two
this year on the ground that the four or five
hundred transient men at work on the railroad
may be considered as "ratable polish One To-
cal leader said that Hon. Frank Jones, mem
her of Congress elect, sent directions to have
this done.
Quite business center is grouping at
Upper Bartlett, inspired by the operations of
the Bartlett Land and Lumber Co. Messrs.
Rideout and Written, who are hauling lumber
for the company, have about six and half
millions at the mill now. Here is the we'll
known and justly popular hotel of Frank
George, Esq. Mr.. George is known and APP
preciated all over that country. He hasn't
learned the art of charging fancy prices and
probably never will. The railroad will pass his
stand in the pleasant valley, but scores who
remember the man and the hospitality of his
house will get off the train there just for day
or 50.
Religious Intelligence.
Rev. William Tilley commenced his labors as
pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson