Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-07

railway. and is to be in every respect first class
roa L. with steel rails and iron bridges Inns great
highway of nations wb' comr leted-and COM
pieted it surely will be-'rom Quebec to the Pa
cifc ocean, with outlet from ITS eastern terml-
nus at Quebec, up the beautiful Chandler valley,
and across the State of Maine through the unsur-
passed Kennebec valley TO Wiscasset, constitut-
ing much the shortest line of land transit that
ists from the river St. Lawrence or from the
great inland seas that it drains, t. the Atlantic
seaboard, will attract to t>elf commercial, ma
tiunal and international importance that no other
road in this continent possesses.
The line from Quebec to Ottawa, 2SS miles,
passes through country that is fertile and thlck-
ly settled adjacent to its hne portions oi IT nav
ing been settled by An industrious and fru2al pop
uia,ion for two hundred years. The Chaidlcr,
Ottawa St. Lawrence and all the tributaries OF
the st Lawrence touching this great line ot road,
are extensive lumber regions that conan pine
and spruce timber of unsurpassed quantities, much
of VIII CHI will seek an outlet over tins me III tne
winter time to European, South American and
West Indian markets-and large quantities OF
clear lumber will pass over this short and direct
line at all seasons Of the year to our New En-
gland markets. The speaker then proceeded to
give some statistics showing the commercial I'M
portance of Canada. A return of the statistics OF
Canadian trade to the House of Commons, showing
the amount OF imports and exports OF Canada
from the lst day of January, 1869, distinguishing
the imports from, and the exports to the United
other countries, is as follows
Great Britain S3oOo3z, I93
United States o93,9o5, 100
British Colonies 81, 1890
Other Countries 3o,l0o,0oo
France 5,65l 907
Germany Z,l4Z,2'o
It will thus be seen from this-the latest docu-
ment publlshed-that in the l6 years ending Jan.
l. 1869, the trade of the United States with Cana
da (Ontal 10 and Quebec in import and exports
was $40, 32l ,567 more than with Great Britain,
and $500, 000, 900 more than the trade of Canada
with the rest of the world. The most remaik able
feature, however, in this return is the figures
showing the gradual increase of the exports from
Canada into the United States, amounting to
Sl36 572 964 being about half Of the total amount
of exports in the previous 10 years. and the in
crease is still going on, showing the vast impor-
lance to the United States of having free access
to Canadian markets, as wen as 1or tne Eanaaas 10
come to our market for their commodities.
MIR. Atkinson gave an interesting account OF his
connection with the enterprise and MS converse
tons and correspondence with prominent railroad
men in Canada and in Maine concerning the en-
terprse. lie claimed that every railroad in Maine
had direct interest in the speedy completion of
this great work. Its construction would vastly in
crease the business of the Maine Central, and send
a large pa senger and freight business over this
road to Portland and Boston. He also spoke of
the large amount of pleasure travel that in the
summer season would seek the new resorts along
the line Of this road in the romantic regions
through which it passes.
The cheap rate of construction at the present
time was also an important consideration. The "
miles of road from North Arson TO the Canada
line. to complete this great great work in Maine,
can now be built and equipped for $40 900 per mile
-S3 $50 900 say in round numbers, S3,30O,OO0
and a bona tide cash subscription of 81 ,650, 900
will ensure its completion and equipment in two
wears, to meet our Canadian neghoor at the line.
Railroad iron was never cheaper than at present
Abiding to q recent proposition OF Capt. X. ii.
Tucker, looking to the immediate purchase OF iron
for the Wiscasset end of the road, ne read an ex-
tract from New York paper showing that Com
nodore Vanderbilt entertaining the same ideas,
had within a few days purchased very large lot
of steel rails at about half their regular price
cheaper by far than the iron rails which the Som
erset road has paid for in cash during the past
year.
He urged it upon the people of Wiscasset to
use every effort to push forward the enterprise
with as little delay as possible. The plain line
from Quebec to the Atlantic indicated by the geo.
graphy and topography of the country IS up the
valley of the Chandler, which flows through q
fairly fertile country, and thence by the route of
what is known in Maine as the Canada road in the
valley of the upper kennebec, to Wi.casset, one
of the best harbors in the world
In response to questions by several gentlemen
present, MIR. Atkinson gave many interesting par
ticulars concerning the country along the line of
the road-having been familiar with that region
for many years. He also spoke of the compare
lively large amounts subscribed by the towns
along the line of the Somerset road, and gave their
experience in negotiating their bonds and raising
money.
Many points in the address were received with
applause. and the large audience was much pleased
with the spirit and determination manifested
by the speaker. He often raised laugh by
touches Of quaint humor as he described his
interviews with prominent public men, and he is
certainly the most 'live" and energetic speaker
we have yet heard on our railroad project. He is
q practical man, and his heart is IN the work we
swish there were more of EN-"
Alfred Lennox, Esq, of Wiscasset, followed
Mr.. Atkinson, and in few well chosen words re-
piled for the people of this vicinity, that they
were unanimously for the road, and he believed
were ready to do all in their power to aid it. Re-
marks were also made by Capt. r. Ii. Tucker,
Henry ingalls,, Esq, Capt. Joseph Tucker, Hon.
E. w. Farley of Newcastle, and several others,
and the meeting adjourned.
The projected road is exciting more interest
just now than at any time for several years, and
we trust our leading citizens will give it their close
attention.