The Portland daily press., 1885-03-24
RAILWAY MATTERS.
The Short Line.

The Short Line.
A correspondent of the st. Croix Courier
writes
The Dominion Parliament grant OF $40, 900
a year for fifteen years is for the construction
of a line Of railway connecting Montreal with
the harbors OF St. John and Halifax by the
shortest and best practicable route. Therefore
that grant cannot be obtained for long line OF
railway to those places via Quebec. The true
Short line and the best practicable route is
across Maine, and that must necessarily pass
within q few miles of st. Andrews in its course
to st. John and Halifax. Now, if there is a
harbor at this place, which is free from ice at
all seasons OF the year, and of such capacity as
will admit the largest sized steamers at all
times of tide, why should a railway CON pany
seek terminus 80 or so miles more distant
from Montreal, in harbOr where there is but
16 feet OF water in the channel st lowest tides,
and which Is 30 miles farther from tho ocean
than st. Andrews harboK?
1t is presumed that the Canada Pacific Rall-
way Company will control the Short line, If
built. In view OF q through line from tho
Pacific to port on the Atlantic that would
in measure, compete with the Grand Trank
from Montreal to Portland it is not reasonable
to infer that sectional or local interests would
have any weight or influence in the mattsr of
an Atlantic terminus for a railway Of such
magnitude as the Canada Pacific.
II the Short line is built, Quebec would not
be more than 800 miles from ST. Andrews, III
miles less than from Portland by the Grand
Trunk) via the Quebec Central Railway, which
would connect with the international or Short
line, at or near the Canada and Maine bound
ary line. By this route and via the Grand
Southern railway, the distance from Q1ebec to
st. John would not exceed $50 miles; whilst
by the long route, via Edmundston and the
New Brunswick railway, it would be 430
miles, or 20 miles more than by the true Short
line.
Fhe Quebec Central is now built to Beauce
function, which is 80 miles from Quebec or
Point Levi. Thence to junction with the
prospective Short line the distance is about go
miles, for which the Dominion government
has granted $4,000 mile, and the Quebec
government $4,000 mile. With those grants
it is not doubted that the connection will be
made If the Short line is built.
The Canada Pacific have a line of railway
from Toronto to Portland of about the same
distance as that of the Grand Trunk 1888
miles). The former is now being shortened
about twenty miles via Smiths Falls. The
distance then, from Toronto to st. Andrews,
would be about 68 miles farther than from
Toronto to Portland by the Grand Trunk.
With through line of railway OF about 700
miles in length, and under one management,
the greater distance to st. Andrews harbor
would not be very material in view of on At
lantic port in Canada.
The Central Pacific.
The following statement was given out from
the Central Pacific railroad office in Now York
city yesterday:
The Central Pacific Company has issued
10000, COO convertible loan, for the purpose of
funding into long bond the greater part of
the accumulated floating debt, and to provide
for the completion of the Oregon division and
other additions to the property. A provision
Is made in the bonds allowing conversion of
the principle sum into capital stock within
eight years, but no exchange is to be made at
less than $50 per share.
Minor Notes.
The city of st. Louis, Mo-, fled suit yester-
day in the State court against the Missouri Pa
cifc Railroad Company, the old Pacific rail-
way and K. Wood Crittenden, treasurer of the
latter, to recover 100000 due on 200 bonds
issued by the county OF st. Louis in 1885, to
secure loan to the Pacific railroad.
James Collery and John W. Chalfaut OF
Pittsburg, Pa, were yesterday appointed re-
ceivers of the Pittsburg & Western and Pitts
burg, Bedford & Buffalo railroad.