The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-05

| secure Inc cOnHdeilce OF investors, PROVISION
was made that the charter should never be
changed or repealed save by the consent of
the corporation.
Measures we re at once taken to obtain
subscriptions to the capital stock to the
| amount of $40 0,00O-a prerequisite to the
organization of the company; these meas
ures were so successful that the company
was fully organized on September %, 1916.
But in the meantime, til ose having charge
of the enterprise had not been idle; an
other, and more caref I'll, survey had been
completed in the early summer. The first
survey had been mad by the way of Dix
field Notch; but on that route, II tunnel of
about one-thiYd of mile long would be
necessary and even then there would be
many very heavy grades. Another line was
surveyed, which though fifteen miles longer
than the other, was of much easier con-
struction and more favorable grades, and
moreover passed through much more pro-
ductive country; still the estimated cost was
about quarter of million of dollars greater
than the estimate m AIDE by the engineer in
his former report; the sequel proved that
the actual cost was much greater than
either.
1t is proper to note here some indirect re-
suits of the Inauguration of the great enter
prise. At the same session OF the legisla-
ture charters were granted for a railroad
from junction at Danville, via Lewiston
and Winthrop TO Waterille, and for another
from Wateryille to Bangor; the former was
built SO speedily that on December 8, 1919,
it was opened for business to Waterville; q
few years later the latter was completed. b
AT the same time, the construction of the
Kennebec and Portland railroad, chartered
i'll 1886, was commenced, from the junction
at Yarmouth to Bath and Augusta and
pushed to completion so that it was opened
to Augusta January l. 1862. While both these
lines have since been extended to Portland,
their construction was almost direct re-
suit of that of the one whose birth we are
today celebrating.
But the construction of a railroad to the
Canada line was by no means all of the
original plan. Our railroad was to be met
there by q line from Montreal. TO satisfy
our Canadian friends of the immense adj
vantage of such railroad would not alone
insure their undertaking the part which be-
longed to them; they must also be satisfied
that we could and would perform our part;
but the enthusiasm and determination
shown by our citizens soon convinced them
that they had nothing to fear, and they in
their turn procured the charter of the St.
Lawrence and Atlantic RAILROAD company
and organized under it.
On April IL, 1886, a "conyention' was
agreed upon by the representatives of the
two companies. This convention" recites
that Gas shown in their charters) the COM
panies were incorporated for the express
road from the navigable waters of the river
st. Lawrence at Montreal, to the navigable
waters of the Atlantic ocean at Portland, for
the common convenience, and benefit of the
citizens, subjects and residents, as well of
Great Britain and its several provinces and
dependencies, as of the State of Maine and
of the other states of the American union.''
1t provided for the method of determining
the point of connection between the two
railroads and that the termini should be on
wharyes, one at the navigable waters of the
Atlantic at Portland and the other at the
navigable- waters of the st. Lawrence oppo-
site the city of Montreal, the bridging of the
ST. Lawrence was not then contemplated.
Other provisions of their agreement are
now of great interest, but ii me allows me to
quote but one.
ono distinction shall be made in the
transportation of passengers ON account of
their citizenship or nationality, nor shall
any difference or discrimination be m ade in
the freight or other expenses of any article
or merchandise on account of its foreign
domestic origin or ownership The inhabi-
tants of the British provinces and the sub
jects of Great Britain on the one part, and
the citizens of Name and of the United
States on the other, shall at all times be en-
titled to. and receive from, the parties of
the first and second parts respectively, the
same accommodations and the same pr1vi-
1eges at the same rates and charges without
any distinction and discrimination what
ever
This convention was ratified Immediate
ly afterwards by the respective Boards of
Directors and active measures were immedi-
ately inaugurated for commencing the work
of construction.
AS the line finally located, passed through
the states of New Hampshire and Vermont,
it became necessary to obtF,n the legislative
sanction of those states. 1 Our people were
met in friendly and liberal spirit. Both
legislatures in effect gave to.the Maine cor
poration the right to build, maintain and
operate it's railroads in those states--a con-
cession not often granted.
The preliminary arrangements were made
so that on the fourth day of July, 1876, the
construct IN of othe railroad was formally
commenced.
That was a great day for Portland. 1t was
ushered in with the ringing of bells and
the booming of cannon. 1t seemed as if all
the people of the city and of the surround
in country were in the straets. monster
procession marched to this hill and under
an immense canXas SIX thousand people
gathered. Among them was the Governor
of the state; and Montreal sent four of her
distinguished sons to represent her. Accord
ing to the newspaper accounts, it was doubt
full whether the Governor of the state, or
the president of the company had the honor
of throwing the first shovelful of earth or
swhether the Yankees the British took
hold in more lively style;'' but it is certain
that Canadian wheeled out the first bar
row load of earth.
l would gladly hnger over this joyous
scene, and pay personal tributes to the
noble and brave men who participated in
it, May we not hope that some son of Port
land will ere long perform the duty too
long neglected, of giving us a full history
oil the inception and completion of this
grand enterprise and link with it the names