Year: 1867

III "hich some of the principal men of tb,s


pleasant village took part. The railroad wa.


the subject OF conversation and mnob intor-


est in it was manifested by the citizens of


Fryeburg. They are ready to favor this enter-
| prise to the extent Of their ability, and SO are
| all the towns upon the route. There is vet


much wood and timber in this old town wait
| ing for a market. A railroad would greatly
| enhance its value, to say nothing OF other aG-
| yantages that would be derived from it. And
this leads me to mention the lumber which is
found ON other sections of the route.


After passing through the Notch we were
surrounded by a magnificent forest OF the first
growth. More excellent woodland have new
or seen than that we passed through; and IL IS
very extensive, too, filling all the valley and
covering the mountain sides. The tree, are
large and stand thick upon hundreds and thou
sanes Of acres. 1t is now comparatively of lit
tie value, but a railroad would at once raise its
value t. a sum dare not even conjecture
The increased value of this woodland would
more than pay for building railroad through
it. And so all the way through the Saco val
ley. Farms and woodlands would greatly in
crease in value, and the people would wonder
how they managed to get along without a rail.
road, just as the citizens Of Boston and New
York wondered how they lived before water
was introduced into their cities, and just as
the citizens of Portland would wonder if the
present generation could live after the pure
waters OF Sebago were introduced into their
city. nl


But the Saco valley does not contain all the
wood and timber through which this eontem-
plated railway would pass. The valley of the
Amonoosuc is full of spruce and other timb,r
The increased value which a railroad
would add to it would build the road
through the State. The spruce timber
alone in this valley is immense, and it
is of the largest size and of the best quality,
Only give it railroad facilities for finding a
market and its value would astonish the ma
tives. Its value cannot now be estimated.
But have not time to enlarge on this topic.
In every possible view which can be taken of
this enterprise, there is abundant encourage
ment to so through with it The city Of Port
land has deeper interest in 1t than some peo-
pie dream of in their philosophy.


The "Notch," the salient point on all this
contemplated route, has been surveyed by Mr..
Lindsey, an engineer of undoubted skill, and
gentleman Of general intelligence and probity.
He accompanied the party and pointed out to
them the course the track would take. He
has no doubts upon the subject, and believe
he satisfied the Portland delegation and others
that track for the locomotive and cars can be
laid through this sublime and mighty gorge
with grade of not more than sixty-two feet to
the mile. He pointed to the stakes he had set
up in his previous survey and showed the
course the iron horse would pursue in making
his way through this great pass.


This letter win close my correspondence, and


in closing, let me say that the excursionists
have my sincere thanks for the kindness and
generosity they manifested on the route. And
TO the gentlemen of northern New Yerk. Yer
mont and New Hampshire with whom we be-
came acquainted during the excursion we all
feel under great obligations for their kind and
liberal treatment. And I am quite sure the


Portland delegation will be glad OF the oppor-


tunity to reciprocate the many favors reeeiv-
| cd. ...... ..-.-..s b.