USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: with a notice of previous settlements, colonial grants, and changes of government in Maine > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
In looking down from Munjoy's hill upon the central parts of the city, a stranger is surprised by the embowered aspect which is presented to his view-a city in the woods. The tall and numerous trees overshadow the buildings, which seem to be nestling in the midst of a forest, through which the lofty spires, the dome of the new City Hall, and some other lofty edifices penetrate and give bold relief to the scene. A gentle-
729
SHADE TREES-PORTLAND COMPANY.
man curious in such matters, Capt. George H. Preble, in 1854, undertook to count the trees in the streets, and I give the re- sult in his own language. "Our city contains about one hundred and thirty-four streets and lanes, and in our perambulations we have visited them all. Of this number seventy-two are adorned by shade trees, while sixty-two are without them. These latter however are mostly lanes and courts. All of our principal streets have more or less trees upon them. Some of them, as State, Danforth, and Cumberland, are beautifully em- bowered by them. The whole number in our streets is thirty- three hundred, distributed thus : Congress, three hundred and one ; State, two hundred and forty-four; Danforth, two hund- red and forty-four ; Spring, two hundred and eight ; Cumber- land, one hundred and seventy-seven ; Free, one hundred; Fed- eral, ninety-four; High, ninety-two, and others in less number. In the ten years since that day, they have largely increased, for the fashion is so fixed, that no person builds a house on a re- spectable street but his first object is to plant trees about it. The principal varieties are elm, horse-chestnut, and maple. The grove of oaks on the Deering estate, between Portland street and Wier Creek, is a special beauty. Through the whole period of our history, Portland properly has been called the ' Forest City,' as New Haven is the ' City of Elms.'"
Portland Company. I now pass in my descriptions from the beautiful to the useful, and shall speak briefly of the principal industrial institutions in our city. ' Among the earliest of the large corporations established in town, was the "Portland Com- pany" for the manufacture of steam engines, and all the equip- ments of a railroad, and of other works in wood and iron. The company was organized in 1846, under an act of incorporation authorizing a capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The site now occupied by the company's works was immediately purchased, and one hundred thousand dollars, considered a sufficient capital to commence operations, was immediately
47
1
730
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
subscribed by over three hundred and fifty share-holders. Great success attended the movements of the corporation in its early stage ; within the first three years, it turned out ten loco- motives, nine passenger cars, thirty platform, and forty box freight cars, and other work amounting to near three hundred thousand dollars, the first being in October, 1847 ; the qual- ity of their manufactures was so good, that they acquired a wide and honorable reputation which brought orders from for- eign countries and distant parts of our own. Their capital was increased, and their works and machinery greatly enlarged. On the breaking out of the rebellion, they received orders from government for casting large cannon and other heavy work, for steam machinery, and all the appliances for railroads and steamboats. This caused a great extension in their expenses, and by the rapid advance in the price of materials and labor, the heavy contracts which they had entered into at low rates, caused serious loss and embarrassment to the company. In 1864 they were consequently induced to propose to their stockholders to sell out their whole property at fifty per cent of the par value of the stock, the present holders to have the privilege of selling at that rate or preserving the number of their shares by paying an additional fifty per cent ; and a fur- ther sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be raised by subscription to the stock at the rate of fifty per cent. The proposal met with favor, and capitalists immediately came for- ward and took up the additional stock ; J. B. Brown subscribing forty thousand dollars, Messrs. Spring, Libby, Cram, and oth- ers, large sums, much exceeding the amount necessary for the purpose ; so that the company is now in strong credit, in flourishing circumstances, and with every prospect of a success- ful course of business. At the time the new arrangement was made, the capital paid in was two hundred and thirty-five thousand seven hundred dollars. Valuation of their taxable property two hundred and twenty-two thousand eight hundred
731
PORTLAND SUGAR-HOUSE.
dollars ; debts payable three hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars.
Portland Sugar-House. This very extensive establishment was commenced in 1845 by Greeley and Guild of Boston, and John B. Brown of Portland. Mr. Greeley was son of the late Philip Greeley of this city and was a very intelligent and en- terprising merchant; the firm were doing a large West India business, and importing large quantities of molasses; they con- ceived the idea of bringing sugar out of them, and set up the sugar-house in Portland as an experiment in that direction. For a long time the efforts of the proprietors were unsuccessful, by not being able, by any known process, to produce the requi- site granulation from the raw material. In the mean time Greeley and Guild failed in business, and the whole burden and responsibility of the expensive works fell upon Mr. Brown. By perseverance and constant experimenting, he at length suc- ceeded by a fortunate discovery through his agent, Mr. Furbush, in finding a process by which sugar of a fair quality could be obtained by steam power from the molasses; and from that time the work has been most successfully going on, enriching all who are engaged in it. In 1855 a charter was granted to John B. Brown, Dependence H. Furbush, and Philip H. Brown, and their associates and assigns, by the name of the "Portland Sugar Company," with a capital not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars, to carry on the work. The capital is owned principally by the Messrs Brown, there being but three or four other stockholders to a small amount. It now has a capital of four hundred thousand dollars, invested in very extensive works, warehouses, wharf, etc., and costly machinery, and for several years past has been conducted with extraordinary profit, employing about two hundred persons, turning out about two hundred and fifty barrels of sugar a day and consuming about thirty thousand hogsheads of molasses a year. The sale of the sugars and syrups are commensurate with the utmost capacity of the works to produce, and are sent to all parts of the western
732
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
and middle States. The works are moved by two steam en- gines, one of forty-five, the other of thirty horse-power, requir- ing a consumption of ten tons of anthracite coal a day.
Portland Steam Packet Company. About the same time the Steam Packet Company was formed by a few gentlemen, who thought it desirable to establish a more prompt and regular water communication with Boston by steam. The old method, ever since the first settlement of the town, was by coasters, sloops, and schooners, which transported wood, lumber, agricultural pro- * ductions, and merchandise. Their passages dependent upon the wind were uncertain, often long and hazardous. To rem- edy these inconveniences, a company was formed- in 1843 for the purpose of putting propeller steamboats on the route. In 1844 they procured an act of incorporation with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and in May of that year they put the "Commodore Preble," their first boat, on the route ; she was of two hundred and eighty-six tons and propelled by an engine of fifty horse-power, and cost twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars. This was soon followed by the "General War- ren" of the same power, and three hundred and nine tons. Their progress at first was slow : they had the opposition of the railroad and of the sailing packets, but by skillful manage- ment and great perseverance, by their regularity and prompt- ness, and moderate rates of transportation, they made rapid progress in business and public favor. This induced them to give increased facilities of communication by adding side- wheel and larger steamers to their line. In 1848 their boats transported twenty-five thousand passengers, and received for freight independent of passage money, forty thousand five hundred and ninety-six dollars. Their business has been con- stantly increasing, their boats running each way every night in summer, and three nights a week in winter; their profits have been large. In a report made in November, 1863, it is stated, that in the twenty years of the company's operations, their boats have made eleven thousand two hundred trips, carried
INTERNATIONAL AND NEW ENGLAND STEAMSHIP COMPANIES. 733
one million four hundred thousand passengers, and two million five hundred thousand tons freight without the loss of a single life. Such is the product of skill, care, and faithful and lionora- ble management. We need not add that the company has not only paid regular and large dividends, but more than refunded the original capital paid in.
The International Steamship Company. was incorporated in 1860, with a range of capital from one hundred thousand to a million dollars, and the privilege of steam navigation to Europe and any ports in America. The special object how- ever, was to extend the existing accommodations of traffic between Boston, Portland, and the Provinces of New Bruns- wick and Nova Scotia, which had before been opened. They purchased the two boats, Admiral and Eastern City, which had been on the line, and afterward built the two superior vessels "New Brunswick" in 1860, and "New England" in 1861, side wheel steamers, which had excellent accommodation for pas- sengers, ample room for freight, and the qualities of strength and speed. The company is under the management of some of the principal owners of the Steam packet or Boston line. T. C. Hersey is president, H. J. Libby, treasurer, and John B. Coyle, general agent. S. E. Spring, William Kimball, Capt. Coyle of Portland, and A. McSeeley of St. John, are directors.
New England Screw Steamship Company, was incorporated the same year of the above, with the same limit of capital and identical powers and privilege to ports in Europe or America. The corporators were chiefly the persons who had been success- fully conducting the steamship line between Portland and New York, and which had been found extremely beneficial to the proprietors and the city ; they were St. John Smith, John B. Brown, Philip H. Brown, James O. Brown, Mark P. Emery, Henry Fox, Henry B. Cromwell, and John Baird. John B. Coyle, who is identified as the successful manager of our steam- boat enterprises, is president of the company, and Henry Fox,
734
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
treasurer. They now propose to add to the two staunch and profitable propellers which ply regularly twice a week each way between Portland and New York, a large side-wheel steamer, which will contain accommodations for one hundred pas- sengers. This will furnish to numerous travelers, a more cheap and convenient mode of transportation to the south than our people have yet enjoyed, and will no doubt increase the profit of the proprietors.
In connection with the subject of steam navigation and other marine wants, our merchants procured an act of incorporation in 1864 for a Dry Dock, for the purpose of repairing vessels of a larger burden than existing means have been able to furnish here. The capital allowed is two hundred thousand dollars, and an able company consisting of the principal merchants and others in and out of the city, has been organized, and pur- chased a site for a marine railway on the Cape Elizabeth shore, just east of the Portland bridge, and are making preparations for the constructions of their work. The corporate name is the "Portland Dry Dock Company."
Board of Trade. An active and useful agent in bringing forward many of the improvements we have noticed and others, has been the Board of Trade. This was formed in 1853 ; they procured an act of incorporation in 1854, for the purpose among other things, as stated in the able report of Mr. Rich, their secretary, in 1864, "to give tone and energy to the vari- ous branches of trade and industry, and in securing the advan- tages which the position of the city offers to commerce and manufactures, * * to encourage and promote in every possible way its commercial and industrial progress, and to provide for speedy and ample transportation of merchandise, by steam and otherwise." To the accomplishment of these honorable and useful objects the association turned its attention, with rather flagging interest, for several years. They however in that period suggested several improvements, and aided them by
735
BOARD OF TRADE-OCEAN STEAMERS.
their united action, such as the harbor light on the Breakwater, the survey of the harbor by the]coast survey of the United States, the fortifications of the harbor and other improvements within it, and the various projects of ocean steam communica- tion. But a new impulse was given to the association in the beginning of 1863 ; a new organization took place; and at the annual meeting in February of 1863, measures were taken to establish a Merchants' Exchange; this suggestion was received with favor and was promptly carried into effect. They say in their report, "On the 31st day of March, the Exchange was opened under the most gratifying and satisfactory circum- stances, a sufficient number of names being entered upon the subscription list the first day to guarantee the most perfect success of the enterprise." The rooms are spacious and con- venient, and are furnished with newspapers from the principal cities, constant telegraphic communications, and all the appli- ances for commercial operations and intelligence. On the first of January, 1864, the number of subscribers was three hundred and fifty-five, and the treasurer's account showed the amount received into the treasury for the year to be, two thou- sand four hundred and sixty-nine dollars, and the expenditures one thousand five hundred and fifty dollars. The institution is a decided success and affords great benefit and satisfaction to its members, our citizens, and strangers. The president for the first nine years was J. B. Brown. In 1863, T. C. Hersey was chosen president, and again in 1864, and is assisted in the man- agement by able boards of directors and committees ; and espe- cially by M. N. Rich, the indefatigable and intelligent secretary? ?
The commercial character of Portland was enlarged and her advantages as a first class seaport greatly extended by the adop- tion of it as a winter harbor by the Canadian line of British sea-going steamers. The company owning this line, residing principally in Montreal, run their first class iron vessels of large tonnage, regularly between Portland and Liverpool, weekly, for about five months from November to April. The line embraces
736
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
eight first class steamers with ample accommodations, which perform their trips with great regularity and speed. Beside this line there are two other auxiliary lines that visit our ports in winter, the Glasgow and Anchor lines. All these transport great quantities of merchandise both ways and have invited to our port an extensive transit trade, attracting the products of the rich regions of the west, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan, by the way of the Grand Trunk Railway, and returning to them the productions of the old world and of those of our own coast, enriching the producers, the proprietors of the steamers, and the intermediate agents, and at the same time diffusing by the interchange of commodities, the comforts and.luxuries of various climes.
Auxiliary to these commercial transactions are the Insurance companies and Insurance agencies established here. The Ocean Insurance Company was incorporated in 1832, and has been in successful operation ever since, now working with a well invested capital of two hundred thousand dollars. It has been very remunerative to the stockholders in the return of large dividends. Wm. W. Woodbury is president, and George A. Wright, secretary.
Other insurance companies are established in Portland, which are confined to fire risks, or combine fire and marine. Those which are exclusively engaged in insurance against fire, are the "Portland Mutual Fire Insurance Company," which was incorporated in 1828, and has since that period pursued a steady and successful course. So that it is now enabled to issue to the old members of the company free policies. By their report in 1864, they had insured property valued at more than twenty- seven millions of dollars, had paid losses to the amount of thirty-four thousand three hundred and four dollars, and ac- cumulated a fund of seventy-five thousand three hundred and seventy dollars, well invested. No company has been more prosperous or better managed. Charles Holden is president, and Edward Shaw, clerk and treasurer.
+
737
OBSERVATORY-MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
The Dirigo Insurance Company was incorporated in 1856, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, with liberty to in- crease to five hundred thousand. . The company was not or- ganized until 1864, when it commenced insuring against loss by fire only, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars well invested in mortgages and public securities. They are doing an extensive business. A. K. Shurtleft is president, and Jeremiah Dow, secretary.
There are numerous agencies in Portland of mutual and stock fire companies from various States, and the custom of insuring property having become very general, the business has been found profitable.
For the convenience of our merchants and to gratify the curiosity of visitors, the Observatory was erected in 1807 by a public subscription, on Munjoy's hill, near the summit. It is eighty feet high from the base, and the top is elevated two hundred and twenty-five feet above high water. In the lan- tern is placed a large telescope which sweeping the horizon on every side, commands extensive and beautiful views over the whole extent of Casco Bay, Seguin at the mouth of Ken- nebec river, the wide expanse of the Atlantic for forty miles, landward from the shore at York on the high lands on the bor- der of New Hampshire, far away to the north-east of the White Mountains. Few scenes can compare with what is here en- joyed.
One of the chief objects of the Board of Trade for a year or two past, as stated in their report, has been to promote the "extension of our manufacturing advantages," under which "several large manufactories" have sprung up in our city with- year, in the adding to the population eight hundred families.
Among the establishments referred to are the "Portland Shovel Manufacturing Company," incorporated in 1863, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, since increased to one hundred thou- sand; and the "Portland Glass Company," incorporated in 1864,
738
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
with the same capital and privilege of extension. These two corporations have erected large and commodious brick work- shops on Canal street and are in full and successful operation, employing many men and using a large quantity of materials. The capacity of the shovel company's works is sufficient to turn out daily, two hundred dozen of sliovels of the most improved patterns, for which there are constant and pressing orders for California and Australia, as well as nearer home.
The Casco Iron Company was incorporated in 1854, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, and established their workshop on the Presumpscot river in Falmouth for the ad- vantage of more room that they could have at a moderate expense in the city. They have manufactured a large amount of heavy work and are well equipped for large contracts.
The Kerosene Company was incorporated in 1859 and estab- lished themselves on the Cape Elizabeth shore adjoining Vaugh- an's bridge. They have very extensive buildings, with boarding houses for their workmen, and loaded vessels discharge their cargoes directly on to their premises. The oil is manufactured from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick coal, in large quantities, and of good quality, and finds a ready market. St. John Smith is president of the company.
Mr. A. T. Galt of Canada in 1863, procured an act to incor- porate the "Portland Grain Warehouse Company" to furnish in- creased facilities for the storing and transit of grain, of which large quantities were brought from Canada; the spacious eleva- tor on his wharf in the rear of his beautiful block of granite stores fronting on Commercial street, was erected in pursuance of his plan. The charter authorizes a capital of three hundred thousand dollars. The wharf is permanently constructed, a large portion being filled solid between thick stone walls. The elevator is erected upon it, of large capacity, and furnished with a steam engine which performs the various operations of dis- charging and loading vessels in a very rapid manner. Vessels®
-
739
STATIONARY STEAM ENGINES.
of a large class can lie at the wharf without grounding, and re- ceive and discharge their cargoes with little delay. The ele- vator is a lofty building attracting attention from all quarters. The enterprise is worthy of the public spirit of the present Canadian Minister of Finance.
The number of stationary engines in town in 1849 was twen- ty-three, varying from one to forty horse-power. By the census of 1860 their number was thirty-one, since which others have been added in the shovel manufactory, Galt's elevator, etc., and they are also applied to pile drivers. This great power, capable of the highest and minutest work, from the moving of the largest man-of-war to the hoisting of her sails, has given facility to the operations of commerce, and innumerable processes of manufacture, which have immensely increased production, reduced prices, and enlarged the comforts and en- joyments of life. The power is regulated with unerring accu- racy and the nicest delicacy, while at the same time it is directed with a steadiness and force that make sure of their object. It saws lumber, manufactures cabinet furniture, han- dles iron and other metals like the softest wood, drives the printing press, grinds the tanner's bark, supplies the baker's oven, moves the largest ships and machinery, and saves human bone and muscle from over taxation to meet the demands of an insatiable commerce. It is this power which has produced the most wonderful developments in the material world and elevated the present age far above all that have preceded it, in mechanical achievement.
The Gas Company. Another improvement introduced to our city, which has been productive of a handsome profit to the pro- prietors, and administered greatly to the comfort of our citizens, was the establishment of the Gas Light Company. This was incorporated in 1849, and so humble were the expectations of the corporators that their capital was limited from thirty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. But so great
740
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
has been the success of the company that it was found neces- sary to increase the capital to three hundred thousand dol- lars. The works were erected at Clark's Point on the shore of the river, accessible to vessels, which discharge their cargoes upon the company's wharf. The amount invested in real es- tate, fixtures, and machinery, is one hundred and ninety-eight thousand nine hundred and ninety-six dollars, and their prop- erty is valued at three hundred and twenty thousand six hund- red dollars. The city owns eighty-five thousand dollars of the capital stock. The price of gas was at first fixed at three dol- lars and fifty cents a cubic foot; it was subsequently reduced to three dollars, but now, in consequence of the increased price of coal and labor it is raised to four dollars, with a discount of five per cent for prompt payment. The whole amount of re- ceipts for the sales of gas the year ending in March, 1864, was sixty-eight thousand six hundred and fifteen dollars and seventy cents ; consumption of gas twenty-one million one hundred and nine thousand three hundred and thirty-nine feet; and the number of consumers one thousand eight hundred and fifty- nine. The streets are lighted by two hundred and ninety-seven lamps, the city paying the same price with individuals.
Horse Railroads. Among the many conveniences and com- forts which modern times have introduced and which have followed the extension of cities, is the horse railroad. Port- land has adopted this fashion, and after having had a charter three years the work was seriously entered upon in 1863. The charter granted in 1860 under the corporate name of the "Portland and Forest Avenue Railroad Company," with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, authorized the construction of a road upon the streets in Portland and to some points in the town of Westbrook, first obtaining the assent of those towns. The first track laid was from the Grand Trunk Depot to the upper part of Spring street, through Middle, Congress, and High, and the cars commenced running on that route in Octo- ber, 1863, and had an unexpected success, having carried in
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.