The Portland daily press., 1881-06-16
THE PORTLAND AND oGDENsBURa,
The Report of Through Contract Au-
thenticated.

The Boston papers of yesterday publish the
annual report of the Ogdensburg and Lake
Champlain Railroad in which President
Averil admits the signing Of a contract for a
through route to Portland from the West. He
says his road has purchased 1000 tons steel
rails to be laid this season and have ordered
materials for building 300 new cars in their
shops. The company has also purchased two
frst-class passenger coaches, to be delivered
July 1. Contracts for business west of sOg-
densburg to Chicago have been renewed with
Northern and Northwestern Railways of Can
ada and lake and river steamers (known as the
Collingwood line), also for business east of
Ogdensburg with the Central Vermont Rail-
road, and particularly for a through line to
Northern Vermont, New Hampshire and
Maine to Portland. All their connections are
kindly disposed, and so far as known the best
OF feeling exists towards the company, but to
fairly realize the advantages of the position,
the road feels it is of the first Importance to
secure additional water alliances, both on the
Upper and Lower Lakes and river st. Law
renee. A committee of Directors has recently
visited the West to secure these, and are now
negotiating therefor, with good prospect of
success. To perfect their system, another ele-
vator at Ogdensburg with large storage capaci-
ty is deemed necessary
In regard to business here the question
naturally arises if, after Aug. 1st 1000 freight
cars are to be put on the through route where
will they be accommodated and what will be
done here about steamers to take their freight.
The gentlemen who have the scheme in
charge probably are we'll aware what will be
done and the public will learn in good time.
The Schools and Barnum.
The school children have petitioned the
Committee and the Superintendent for holt
day on Friday so that they may see Barnum.
and the PRESS hopes that the petition will be
granted. The advent of such an exhibition as
Barnum's belongs in the category of public
festivals and is really matter of more press
ing interest to the children than any of our
holidays. To deprive the little people of a
sight of the grand street parade in the fore
noon and of the infinite variety of people and
equipage pervading the town all day-to say
nothing of the privilege of attending the show
itself in the afternoon-would be a very seri-
Gus hardship. If the grave directors of our
public instruction will but carry their minds
back to the tumultuous joy with which, their
boyish bosoms swelled on "circus day. they
cannot have the heart to refuse this petition of
the eager children. There can be no loss in
suspension, for with Barnum outside the
youthful mind will certainly not be inside the
school room. So as there is very much to gain
and very little to lose, give the children the
chance, say we. and $50 says everybody who
has real childhood to remember. OF course
to people who were born old it may seem an
unnecessary and frivolous thing to do because
they can never understand how much such
show is to real wholesome child But we
venture the guess that the arbiters of fate in
this case are not that kind of people and that
the small ones will rejoice in a full holiday on
Fridav