The Portland daily press., 1879-09-16
THE GREAT EASTERN.
Why She Will Probably Come Here.

| The reasons why the Great Eastern and the
Allan steamers will probably come to Portland
this winter, in addition to the Dominion and
Beaver Lines, are these:
| The people in Minnesota, a part of Michi-
gan, and that part of Canadian country
towards Manitoba, have been provoked beyond
endurance almost, by the action of certain
railroads i'll their section, whose rates have
been too high for moving freights. Sir Hugh
Allan designed by the construction of the
Canada Pacific railroad to have line of his
own from Sault st. Marie to Portland but he
was compelled to abandon that scheme. Hence
the easterly outlet of those lines must be
through the Grand Trunk.
1t was shown in a speech made by Mr.
Washburn, at Minneapolis, some time ago.
that by existing lines the shortest route south
of the lakes from Minnesota to New York is
1881 miles; to Boston 1888, and to Portland
1916 miles; that by the Sault st. Marie lines
the distance to New York would be 1860 miles,
or a saving of q miles; to Boston 1920 miles,
or a saving of 11S miles; to Portland 1860, or
saving of 2S6 miles over any other line now in
operation. 1t was also seen that the distance
from Minneapolis and st. Paul to Montreal,
would not exceed 1000 miles This 1000 miles
stands in summer against the 1881 miles land
carriage to New York; and the ocean passage
from the st. Lawrence to Liverpool is shorter
than it is from New York. In the winter,
when the produce is shipped at Portland, there
will be 1860 miles of rail carriage against 1881
miles via New York. and an ocean passage
shorter by nearly twenty-four hours.
This speech made a decided impression at
the West and has been gaining converts ever
since among the merchants and great millers.
The Grand Trunk has now extended, and will
have its completed line running to Chicago, as
we said yesterday morning, by December LIST,
and will then be in condition to make such
rates by one road with the region to be reached
as the railroad ring" cannot. 1t is well
known the Grand Trunk never has been in
duced to agree with that combination at rates
they knew were disastrous, or that virtually
drove off traffic. They have always "paddled
theirfown canoe,' and could do it successfully
because they run most of the way through
foreign country with different laws. 1t now
looks as if the milers would get staple rates
and plenty of accommodation.
Sir Hugh Allan and the Grand Trunk, it
has been reported in the papers, would like to
come to terms. Sir Hugh has always believed
in Portland as the port for Western shippers,
and a gentleman of our acquaintance was told
last fall by Mr.. Hickson, of the Grand Trunk,
and Sir Hugh Allan of the Allan Line, they
nearly came to terms. That gentleman be-
lieves such terms will be made this year.
The trouble, as we understand it, was that
Sir Hugh wanted freight assured him in
preference to any other line, but Mr.. Hickson
had made contracts with other lines, and he
felt he must serve those first, although he be-
lieved he could also supply the Allan. This
year there seems little doubt that the Grand
Trunk will supply the Great Eastern, the
Allan, Dominion and Beaver lines.
The Advertiser quotes Mr.. John Main as
stating that he knows nothing of the Great
Eastern coming here. Well, officially, he does
not; neither, officially, does he know that it is
probable the Allan Line will come here this
winter. But he has heard the rumor that
arrangements would, probably, be made for
the Allan Line to come to Portland, and also
in reference to the Great Eastern. The Grand
Trunk officials are not generally supposed to
furnish any information upon mere rumor or
SllDDositiOn.