The Portland daily press., 1886-05-03

To the Editor of the Press:
The approaching centennial celebration
which calls for the aid and sympathy of our
citizens to make it the fitting close of a CEN
tury's existence, will without doubt call
forth many recollections and comparisons Of
the different periods and their influence
upon the history and welfare Of Portland.
Among the notable events marking the
century perhaps no single one has been
more fruitful of results in shaping the des-
tiny of our city and adding to its progress
as such than the ceremony Of breaking
ground for the Atlantic and st. Lawrence
Railroad, now the Grand Trunk, which was
the initial step in the great undertaking Of
opening direct line to Montreal and of the
system Of railroads east of Portland now in
successful operation.
The interest in the celebration of July 4,
1916, the sixtieth birthday Of Portland, GEN.
tered at Fish Point, the eastern brow Of Mum
Joy Hill, as the gathered masses of people at
tested, who were present to witness the
ceremony of turning the first sod, which was
done by Judge Preble, the first president of
the road, who used silver spade, and by
this action put into praeticalform the dreams
long and faithfully for this object Six days
later the contractors began active work near
this spot followed Immediately by others at
different points along the line, and work was
continued without break until Island
Pond, VT, was reached, which was the
point agreed upon for connection with the
st. Lawrence and Atlantic road from Mon
treal. The road was opened July 4, 1S4S,
and excursion trains run during the day to
the crossing near the present Yarmouth
depot, distance OF eleven miles, and on the
22d of that month for regular business to
Yarmouth village On November 10Th of
the same year Danville Junction was
reached, and during the winter the trains
run over the Androseoggin and Kennebec
Railroad to Auburn.
The work was steadily pushed on and the
road was successiveiy opened and operated
to the different points as follows: Mechanic
Falls, February 10, 1Sa9; North Oxford in
July of same year; to South Paris, January
l, 1850; Bethel, March 20; Gorham, n II, July
20, 1851; Northumberland, July 13, 1852; Isl
and Pond, VT, February 8, 1853 and through
to Montreal July Is of that year. Thus was
completed in seven years a work which at
that time seemed an immense undertaking
and proving to the doubters that energy and
pluck could open way through the noun
tains and maintain it against the snow ana
storms OF the region of barren country through
which the road must pass. The 40 years
since that period have made great changes
Oll Jul CubllC WdICl 1lOht anu SoPNSAeAJ
Fish Point to India street as the present line
of Fore street from Hancock to the Portland
Co.'s Office then marked the shore line, with
unobstructed ebb and flow OF tide to these
points, At the opening of the road from
Portland to Yarmouth, a pile bridge with
| two tracks upon it was built from Fish Point
| to the old depot to India street, about 200
| feet southeast of present passenger station,
and this with single branch to the old en-
| gine house. near the eastern corner of the
| present depot, constituted the entire track
room of that time, in strange contrast with
the many acres of solid land covered by 2S,
miles of track that occupy this area. In ad-
dition there are now about Is acres of wharf
room outside the line of the first bridge used
in accommodating the present steamer traf-
fc. As a part of this system came the build
ing of Commercial street by the united eff
forts of the Atlantic and st. Lawrence and
Portland, Saco and Portsmouth railroads,
opening up this business avenue in front of
all the wharyes and furnishing shipping ia
cilities easy of approach and such as are sell
dom found.
While this change has been going on near
ly all the active projectors of this great un-
dertaking for that time have passed away,
not being permitted to witness the fulfil
ment OF their hopes, but leaving behind
them noble monument of the earnest effort
ana foresight of men largely in advance of
the public opinion of the day, in building
well the foundation of a railroad system now
developed into the spanning of continent
with its iron bands. j. j. G..