Year: 1868

Railroad Communication with the West


The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg
railroad forms an important link in the
line OF railroad which is to connect Port
land with the great West. The report of this
company for the year 1867 has Just come to
hand, and shows steady annual increase in
the traffic over the route and corresponding
increase of profits to the stockholders. But
thous b the prosperity of the road is remark
able, the report gives at considerable length
the reasons which make it for the advantage
of both East and West that its direct con-
nections towards both oceans should be ex-
tended. 1t is demonstrated to the satisfac-
tion OF any reasonable mind that when the
direct route from Portland to Ogdensburg,
Oswego and the West is opened, the line
having its Eastern terminus in this city will
possess undoubted advantages over any other.
The adva ntages for cheap transportation af-
foIdedb by the great lakes will become imme-
dlately available, and from the Eastern limit
OF water transportation the proposed road
will form the shortest route to the Atlantic
Without further preface we quote from the
report the following extract, which win be
found worthy of the most careful considera-
ton:


1t is thought proper to alude to the gener-
al interest and entire unanmity now felt on
the one hand by the people OF Northern New
York and of all New England, and also by
the inhabitants of the already great and
growing States of the West, both demanding
what is so essential to each, viz: better
and cheaper means of transport by water
from the one to the other, thereby securing
to the one section better prices, and to the
other better food and also, that a more di-
rect route be opened by Railroad, whereby to
facilitate intercourse between these two sec
tions.


The cheapest route that can ever be OPEN
ed for transportation must be by making use
OF the great Chain of Lakes, reaching from
the head OF Lake Superior and Michigan to
the loot OF Lake Ontario-in the whole course
OF which there is but one impediment. To
establish the full perfection of this line a
larger, and, we may add, an american Canal
mast be built around the falls of n iagara, by
which the great avalanche of Western prod.
uce bound Eastward can be let down upon
Lake Ontario in the same bottoms in which
it is transported on all the other Lakes.
That the time has fully arrived when this
immensely important work, both in a nation
al and commercial point of view, should be
undertaken and completed, is the earnest be-
lief and mutual desire of East and West
alike.


in regard to the desired and more direct
route by rail. it is proposed to build railroad
from the city of Portland, Maine, directly
across that State, New Hampshire and Yer,
mont, by the notch of the White Mountoins
to connect with the Northern Ordensbur1
Railroad, at Rouses Point, proceeding on
that road to Potsdam junction, and from
thence by the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdens-
burg Railroad to Rome and Osweqo. From
this latter city it is also proposed to build
road proceeding directly westward along the
ridge line OF Lake Ontario to the Niagara
| river, connecting at this point with the
Great Western Railroad, OF with the Ameri-
can roads reaching Toledo and Detroit. from
thence by the Michigan roads to CHICAGO. or
westward still by the many roads from that
point. The necessary organizations of tbe
| most erlclent character for the prosecution
| OF both these enterprises have been formed,


Me requisite legislation obtained, and suffi-
| Gent progress made in securing the means
| anu rl9nt OF way to warrant the belief-if
no hhanclal revulsion, or other formidable


reasons shall occur to prevent-that they
VIII both be immediately undertaken, and
pushed vigorously forward to completion.
A glance on the map will show an interest
ing fact in connection with this route. Al
most direct line from Chicago to Portland
| will strike Detroit and the Niagara river De