The Portland daily press., 1898-03-14
PoRTLAND's COMMERCE.
4 Steamship Line TO Brazil Seriously
Talked OF.

A Fortniehtly All the Year Line 30 Europe
!, the Near Future-The Great Work
DonaRv General Manager Hays-The
Grand Trunk, Boston & Maine and
M.ine Central May Combine.
representative of the PRESS had the
good fortune Saturday to meet gentle.
man prominent in official and railway
circles who was in the city on his way
to the West. In a conversation that en-
sued the gentleman was asked what he
thought of Portland's prospects as com
merciai port in the future and replied in
substances:
II think few people in Maine, and even
in the Dominion, realize what trade
with Europe is growing up here, Railroad
men now see what a man of brains and
energy the new manager of the Grand
Trunk road is. For years the Grand
Trunk had gone on in the old English
style, plodding after the fashion that
existed and was successful many years
ago but has had to give place, Ill order TO
continue successful, to the more modern
think that the Grand Trunk stockholders,
or directors, or, may say their former
presidents and general managers, ever
appreciated what a remarkable terminus
they possessed here at Portland ,sunt1l MIR.
Hays came here and observed for him
self. Every one familiar witha railroad
enterprises knows what Mr.. Hays has ac-
complished since he took charge of the
road, and none better than tbs directors
and stockholders after his last financial
report was read that made a showing to
which they were unaccustomed. But this
is but the beginning. to my mind, OF the
development of business fol-. the road or for
Portland as its terminus
'tYou ask me if I think there is pos
sibility of an all the year round line OF
steamers between Portland and Europe.
I think that it will not be long before you
will see announced that fortnightly line
of steamers will run all the year round
between Portland, Liverpool and Bremen
haven or Havre. Such a line will become
an absolute necessity. 1t is not unlikely
that other lines will follow, for Portland
already has shown its advantages to Ger
many and France as well as England.
But as to these other lines I cannot speak
with so much assurance. Tt is highly
possible that another large elevator will
be required to accommodate thu foreign
carrying trade. 1t Is highly probable
that combine will be entered into by
the Boston & Maine, Maine Central anf
Grand Trunk. -
SIN this connection there is one thing
that have not seen in any paper and ye1
it is possible you may have heard al
about it. I understand that there is every
probability that fine line of steamships
will be put on between Portland and thu
Brazilian and Argentine ports. Portland
used to maintain large trade with thu
Argentine especially in lumber. But it i.
lot lumber alone that these South
American countries require. They i'm
port vast variety of things and Europe
has had the supplying OF much that
we can provide at even better terms when
we come into competition. This has al
ready been proven. 1 cannot speak in
more explicit terms in regard to this
South American line but I think that il
you keep your eyes open-and newspaper
men are pretty watchful set-you will
soon find this proposed line will take
form and substance. When We meet
again hope you will be able to say thai
I am a true prophet"