The Portland daily press., 1897-10-02
Mr.. ToRRANcEAT ST. JOHN.
HesSpeaks of Portland as a Terminal Point
Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific.

ST. John, N. B., Oct. /. The Sun
prints the following: There arrived on
special Car attached to the G. P. r.
express from Montreal Wednesday
David Richards, of Richards, Mills &
Co., of Liverpool, English managers Of
the Dominion Steamship line, and his
treal, the lines Canadian manager; Capt
Maddox Of the steamship Scotsman, and
Mr.. Scanlon, shore superintendent al
Montreal. The party was met by Presi
dent Fisher and John Sealy of the Board
of Trade, and with them spent most OF
the afternoon inspecting the terminal
facilities on the western side of the har.
Dor. On their return they were taken te
City hail. where they had lengthy con.
ference with his worship, Mayor Robert
son.
1t is understood that the visitors were
much impressed with the work done by
the city and with the depth of water al
the wharves. Things were evidently
much different from what they had been
led to expect, particularly SO with respect
to the strength and size of the piers and
the facilities for handling freight with
despatch.
Seen at the Royal hotel in the evening
by Sun reporter, Mr.. Torrance stated
that he and his associates were here on q
mission of investigation and discovery.
They had been taken across the harbor by
President Fisher of the Board of Trade
and had inspected the works at Sand
Point, after which they had pleasant
interview with Mayor Robertson in his
worship's office in City hall.
You have fine wharf and warehouse
equipment at the G. P. r. deep water
terminus - said Mr.. Torrance. ''and your
city has taken the right course to attract
business. But don't forget that you have
powerful competitors for the trade OF
Canada. The Grand Trunk has spent an
enormous amount of money in perfecting
it's terminal facilities at Portland, Maine,
Last year alone it's outlay there was over
$500, 900, and its policy is to keep as fal
ahead of all possible rivals on the sea board
as lies in its power: The Grand Trunk
runs through the richest portion of Upper
Canada and handles the trade Of that
region. While there is of course mIch
country that is common to both the Grand
Trunk and the c. P. R., the former road
holds monopoly of some of the best
parts of Ontario and will continue to
carry the freight therefrom over its OWL
| line to it's own terminal port. Then
again, you must not forget that Portland
has the shorter haul from Montreal as
against st. John, and that means great
deal in the carriage of freight to and from
the seaboard. Sentiment does not count
for much in business operations, and the
steamship lines are run on business
principles. If, however, the G. P. Il.
can afford to put goods at the salt water
line as cheaply as the Grand Trunk, St
lob to- l1 81. TO- 10 nr
the steamships will follow the freight
viii the Dominion line steamers come
to St. John this winter?"
"No," repl ed MIR. Torrance. "Our con
| tracts are made for Portland, in fact were
made some time ago.
us there any prospect of them coming
here year later?" asked the reporter
81 cannot speak asHto what may or maj
not be done in the future, - said Mr.. Tor
rance.
What do you think of the port of St
Johnp Is it safe and easy of access?'
GAS saidibefore. % repliedIMr. Torrance
1--WE are here on an investigating tour, ant
that is one Of the things I want to ascer
tain. have only seen a portion of the
harbor as yet. and will continue my in
| designations.
when do you return to Montreal?''
'We will probably go on to Halifax afte
| we have. done st. John. "
| Halifax Jealous of Portland.
Halifax, October 1.-The Chronicl,
prints the following:
| A Chronicle reporter, who has met an(
talked with large number of Halifax
business men during the past few days
| says he finds a surprising degree of unan
unity among them that if the Allan ant
| Dominion steamship lines insist on max
| ing Portland instead Of Halifax theil
terminal port, that the subsidy should b.
| dropped and they should be allowed to gt
their own way. There is a strong convic
ton that other lines will gladly take III
| the service. what have the Allan anee
Dominion lines ever done for Halifa1
anyway" was the enquiry suggested by
| the head of one firm.
| Another business man said that while
| it would be a pity to have no direct lin,
to Halifax this winter he hoped the gov
! eminent would not submit to what h,
regarded as the bull. dosing tactics of thu
steamship companies mentioned.
And still another business man, prefac
ing his remarks with the enquiry: t'Wha
| have we been fighting for during thu
last twenty years?" said that If the bull
of our mails had to pass through foreign
port it would be cheaper and better K
send them by the fast steamships sailing
from New York, to and from which pori
they would have much quicker despatch
than by way of Portland.
what are we extending the 1. C, r
into Montreal for, but to secure freight
for steamers coming to Halifax" queriet
another business man.
These and other incidentally expressed
opinions indicate that there is not a very
cordial feeling in Halifax just now to-
wards the Dominion and Allan compa
MES.