The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-02-22
Boston's Westward Movements.


ern-bound car which had just left Chicago,
when his attention was attracted by con-
versation going on between two gentlemen
directly behind him, one of whom was
Chlcagoan and the other probably an east
ern man. Said the Chicagoan: ''You of
the east know nothing about the possibilities
OF the great west. Why Chicago, one of
these days, is going to be the biggest city the
world ever saw, with railroads running to
the Atlantic and Pacific, bringing to her the
trade of the whole world. Why, the time
will come, l believe, when London, Paris,
Pekin, st. Petersburg and all the great cit
les of the world will come to Chicago to pur-
chase their goods"
This NAV he the dream oe an excited i,,,-
agination, but some of the predictions of
this dreamer are in a fair way of fulfilment
Her capitalists are already seriously discus
sing new routes to the sea which shall have
for ocean termini Port Royal, Charleston,
Savannah, and even Brunswick.
This scheme of reaching the sea by the
South has been endorsed by the boards
OF trade of several western cities, viz,
Cincinnati, st. Louis, Kansas City and
Chicago. The link which is wanting in
one of these proposed lines is between
Indianapolis and Lexington, KY, and
when this is completed there will
be continuous line by the Chicago and
Eastern Illinois, Louisville and Nashville,
Cincinnati Southern aud Kentucky Central,
to Augusta, Ga, via Knoxville, Tenn. west
and north Of Chicago lies an immense terri
tory which, through that city, must find out
lets to the sea. In Minnesota, the Northern
Minnesota Railway Co. will soon build a
road which will extend from point on the
Northern Pacific in that State to the Black
Hills. This road will be six hundred miles
in length. Subscriptions are also being
made to the stock of the Denver Railroad
Construction, Land and Coal Co., which is
to build and put in operating condition the
Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad That
the growth of the great Northwest must be
very rapid during the next decade, there can
be no doubt, and that our city is better stu
ated to furnish an outlet to the sea for its
products, is clear to anyone VINO examines
the map and is acquainted with our splendid
harbor. Boston has the ADVANTAGE in cap
ital, and in possessing large body of en-
terprising and wealthy railroad men,
and must always control large share of
this business, but Portland can develop
business of great magnitude if she will fur
nish proper terminal facilities to the rail-
roads centering here. The interests of the
Eastern and Boston & Maine railroads lie
principally in Portland, as we'll as the Grand
Trunk and Ogdensburg. 1t may not be
generally known that Western freight is to-
day being landed here by these roads-the
Eastern and Boston G. Maine-at the same
rates that similar freight is being landed in
Boston; but such is the fact. What might
not all OF our roads do with proper terminal
facilities for ocean traffic? That Boston
understands the Importance of terminal fa-
cilities for the roads centering there, may be
seen from the great efforts now being made
to create them. An agent was sent to Eu-
rope some months since, to study the docks
and shipping facilities of European ports
His report shows wonderful activity in
the principal European ports in developing
facilities for commerce with this country,
and it has undoubtedly stimulated the busi-
ness men OF Boston to greater efforts in
striving to secure its share in the great busi-
ness which is to flow from tue west to Eu-
rope through Atlantic ports.
Boston capitalists have recently secured
the Syracuse, Chenango & New York, and
the Syracuse, Phoenix & Oswego Railroads,
and have secured controlling interest in
the Boston, Hoosac Tunnel & Western
Railroad. This latter road will soon be
completed to Schenectady, and it is pro-
posed to extend it Immediately to Utica 1t
is proposed to consolidate these roads with
others to be constructed One of these,
the Troy & Saratoga Springs Railroad, will
soon be completed, and the Utica & Syra-
cuse Air Line, fifty miles long,
has been partly contracted for. By
the Syracuse, Phoenix & Oswego,
which has been graded along the valley to
Oswego, the elevators of Oswego will be
reached. The Welland Canal will make
Oswego most important point for business
1t is proposed to lay double track through
from Boston to Oswego and Buffalo, and it
is intended to have connection with the
South Boston fats, where docks and elevat-
ors will be constructed for the business
which this scheme will develop. 1t is said
that large portion of the funds necessary
to carry out this vast enterprise have been
secured already. Nothing can be said in
favor of Boston as shipping port for West,
ern products which cannot be better said in
favor of Portland; but if we do not dc
something to secure the business awaiting
us, it will be likely to be diverted into othel
channels, and once turned away from us, il
will be impossible to bring it back.
PHILADELPHIA Press: The President
has undone what he never ought to have
done at all-he has recalled the nomination
of Mr.. Forster for District Attorney of New