The Portland daily press., 1880-03-12
Portland and the Lake Traffic.

The rivalry among the Atlantic seaports
for the grain carrying trade has given birth
to many new projects for increasing the
transportation facilities between the West
and the seaboard. At present it is the cities
that are the termini of the long independent
railroad lines of the greatest carrying ca
pacity that have the promise of reaping the
most advantage. The lines east of Niagara
Falls, which have depended largely upon
the lakes for business, have been unable to
compete successfully, on account of the
small capacity of the vessels plying upon
the lakes. The proposed enlargement of
the Welland Canal, connecting Lake Onta-
rio and Lake Erie, by the Dominion Gov
ernment, therefore, is an enterprise that
bids fair to create new era in the grain
carrying trade for the railroads of Canada.
Northern New York and New England,
which have termini on the st. Lawrence
and the lakes. The present dimensions of
the Welland Canal permit only the passage
Of vessels of capacity of not over 10000
bushels, while vessels of three times that
capacity navigate the lakes. The difference
in the cost of running vessels of the two
classes is so small that the limited capacity
of the Welland Canal as an avenue of trade
has latterly been serious obstacle to the
flow of business through the lakes to the
New England seaports. 1t is the purpose of
the Dominion Government to enlarge the
canal so as to allow the passage of vessels of
the larger class mentioned; or in other
words, to furnish depth sufficient for YES
sells drawing fourteen feet of water 1t is
understood that this grand work has already
been practically begun, and will be pushed
rapidlyto completion. Portlandis especially
Interested in the success of this enterprise,
for it contains the possibility of increased
prosperity for her by employing more profit
ably some of the railroad capital which she
possesses.
No railroad occupies position more ia
vorable to receive a large share of the anti
cipated new business than the Ogdensburg
& Lake Champlain, now operated by the
Central Vermont Railroad Company. At
ter experiencing the vicisitudes which seem
to be the fortune of nearly all our railroads,
is is now fairly prosperous and its managers
are seeking methods by which they may re-
ceive share of the future lake commerce.
They have asked from the New York Legis-
lature authority to raise million dollars,
more or less, on the bonds of the road, to be
expended in enlarging the facilities of the
road. This action of the Directors has pro-
voked some discussion as to the best means
OF meeting the future requirements of the
line, and well-informed parties express the
belief that little is needed to be done at Og-
densburg, and that sufficient track and roll
ing stock facilities can be provided at small
comparative outlay; but that the great need
is adequate shipping facilities at the seaboard
at low ccst
An avenue thus seems to be open to Port
land to extend her business connections.
The shortest line from Ogdensburg to the
sea is by way of the Ogdensburg & Lake
Champlain and Portland & Ogdensburg
railroads to Portland. This is our present
route to the West over the latter road. The
Portland Ogdensburg has overcome many
of the difficulties and trials which attend the
early days of all our railroad enterprises and
appears to be settling down upon a substan-
tial basis of trade with yearly increasing
revenues and Frightening prospects. The
recent consolidation of all conflicting inter-
ests between st. Johnsbury and Lake Cham
plain into one corporation gives it another
element of strength. By the time the course
of Western business begins to flow through
the new channel the Portland & Ogdensburg
road may be made ready to demand and
receive share of the harvest if we but give
the matter proper attention.