PORTLAND is pleasantly situated on a narrow peninsula projecting from
the west shore of Casco Bay. This peninsula is about three miles in
length from east to west, with considerable elevations at each end,
giving the city a beautiful appearance as approached from the sea. Its
harbor is one of the best on the Atlantic coast, being deep and
capacious, and protected by land on all sides. The city is beautifully
laid out, its public buildings are fine, and many of its private
residences elegant.
The commercial and business interests of the city are extensive and
important, the value of the shipping owned in the district being very
great, and its manufactures employing a large amount of capital. The
railroads centering here are the Portland & Ogdensburg, Portland &
Rochester, Boston & Maine, Eastern, Maine Central, and Grand Trunk.
The leading hotels of Portland are the Falmouth, United States, Preble,
City, Kirkland, and Merchants.
The climate of Portland is remarkably salubrious, the city being
peculiarly exempt from epidemics, or climatic diseases of any kind. The
source of water supply (Sebago Lake), and the excellent facilities for
drainage, undoubtedly contribute much to the healthfulness of the
locality. These circumstances, together with the proximity of beaches
and other resorts, render Portland a desirable place for summer
sojourning, a fact of which no little advantage is taken in the season
of travel. The steamship lines running from Portland to eastern ports
along the coast of Maine and the maritime provinces, afford the tourist
opportunities to extend his trip “away down East,” as far as time and
inclination will permit. One resort of special interest deserves mention
while this subject is under consideration, on account of its remarkable
attractiveness, and its increasing popularity.