The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-14
MONDAY MORNING, JAN. IA.

favor of Portland. and that is the fact that
Portland has always in winter an open harbor
easy Of access and no ice ever to deter vessels
from coming to the Grand Trunk whsryes.
Philadelphia and Baltimore in cold winter
may be enlarged for mouths by ice and what
IS worse, IN these ports and New York, running
OF noatlng fresh water ice the ship-master's
constant tear and dread, and from which no
vessel can escape damage when in collision.
Inc great objection which captains have at
tnIs season OF the year against taking cargoes
1or Baltimore and Philadelphia is the ice
Many Of them positively decline any freights
offered for these ports for this reason; but who
ever heard this objection made by ship masters
to Portland?
Portland has now two important connec-
tons with the West to sustain the export trade
of the city, the Grand Trunk railroad and the
Portland 81 Ogdensburg The value of the last
has been conceded by friends and opponents.
Yet another, which will soon be developed, is
the Portland & Rochester via the Hoosac
Tunnel
That the commerce and business Of Portland
Is increasing every days observation confirms.
commercial, Exchange, Middle and Congress
streets snow great activity, increasing every
day and far exceeding past years. The amount
OF tonnage at our wharves, receiving and
dischargin cargoes, in December was very
large: Some of the wharves were so much
crowded with vessels that it was with
difficulty that berth could be had for incom-
ing vessels 10 take cargoes. The export trade
has not only largely increased to Europe but
also to the West India Islands. The export of
sugar shocks indicates one-third more than last
year, and for what reason? Because we manu-
tactuIe better sugar shocks than can be made
elsewhere IN the country. This is conceded by
merchants engaged in the West India trade, in
Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. Port
land is drawing the trade which has heretofore
gone to those cities. Cuban parties give pref.
ersnce to Portland shocks for the above reason.
No n%ynA rkd
Islands, Guadalupe and Martinique, and other
west India Islands, aside from Cuba, will be
more than double of any late year, all to be at
tributed to better quality of shocks which we
make Tor these Islands), and the enterprise of
some of QUE merchants. This trade is rapidly
Increasing, and will soon be an important
branch of Portland commerce. 1t may be safe
ly estimated that there will be shipped from
this port during the year beginning with Sep
TENDER, 1877, and ending August 1873, 100000
sugar and molasses shocks to all the West India
Islands, 125,000 to 10000 sugar box shocks,
and large quantity of hoops, potatoes, lumber,
and other merchandise.
One reason why buyers come from the West
Indies for cooperage IN addition to the one al
ready noted, and quite as important is the low
rate of freights by which we can most success
fully compete for the West India carrying trade
against the whole country.
Inns Will also apply to European freights and
business. Our port charges are SO much less
than In Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
Baltimore that vessels can take lower rates of
freight and then do better than at either of the
above ports.
Let us sum up some of the advantages to ves-
sells loading in Portland for Europe or West
Indies, over many other ports.
First, No compulsory pilotage.
Second, Port charges very trifing.
Third, No ice to obstruct navigation.
Fourth, No exactions or unnecessary taxa
tiOns.
Fifth. Stevedores' charges very light.
Sixth, One hour from the wharves with fair
wind out on the broad Atlantic.
Seventh, Steam towage very low.
Eighth, One of the safest harbors on the
coast.
Ninth, Portland is six days nearer Liverpool
for sailing vessels than Baltimore and Phia.
delphia and four days nearer than New York.
Tenth, The best class of merchants and ship
brokers in the country, honorable high minded
men.
Eleventh, Custom House officers affable and
polite who can and will discharge their whole
duty without the intervention of a bribe
Freight continues to arrive freely, 81,
Portland, Jan. 1878