The Portland daily press., 1864-06-06
MON
STATE
Portland and Forest Avenue Railroad.
COMMITTEE.

Portland and Forest Avenue Railroad.
This railroad has now become permanent
and paying institution in our city. About
i've years ago, q few gentlemen took the
the initiatory steps to obtain acharter for
Horse Railroad. A petition was drawn up
by NJ. NJ Butler, Esq, asking the Legislature
10 grant an Act OF Incorporation for the
Portland and Forest Avenue Railroad Com
pany, with capital stock TO the amount of
100000. This petition was signed by Elph-
alet Clark, John b. Coyle, John w. Adams,
Newell A. Foster and Warren Sparrow, and
presented to the Legislature in 1850. Itmet
with considerable opposition from the city
authorities, and its specifications and details
were thoroughly discussed, but with some
slight changes, the act was finally passed.
The work was now entered upon, and the
first and most important business was TO get
the stock taken up. Several capitalists who
were generally ready to invest their money
In anything that promised to be remunera-
tive, we're asked to take stock, but with
peculiar twinkle Of the eye, said they couldn't
see it." at wouldn't pay" But the men who
had entered upon the enterprise, were de-
termined the experiment should be tried, let
the cost, to them, be what it might.
A few capitalists were disposed to look ia
Kara1lJx. lasppQn tbe pEQisst. and were ready to
Clark, M. G. Palmer, J. B. Coyle, Allen
Haines, William L. Southland, Moses Dodge,
J. B. Brown and St. John Smith.
DIR. Clark was elected President for the
year ending January, 1851, and was re-elect-
ed the next two years. Levi Morrell, Joseph
Hale, J. b. Coyle and FL. N. Jose were elected
Directors, and II. N. Jose Secretary and
Treasurer. Mr.. M. G. Palmer who was elect
ed Secretary and Treasurer In December 1861,
visited Boston, New York and Philadelphia
to inquire into the success OF Horse Railroads,
the expense OF building, running, and all 9TH
er matters relating thereto, which duties were
faithfully and satisfactorily attended TO and a
full report made.
After the necessary amount Of capital had
been raised, and facts In relation to the project
obtained, the materials were purchased la
borers engaged, and the work was entered
upon. The track was first laid from the
Grand Trunk Depot through Middle Street to
Congress, up Congress to High, down High
to Spring and up Spring to Clark Street, over
which route the cars commenced running on
the 18th Of October, 1893 From this time
all opposition to this enterprise was at an end
and the stock did not 60 begging in the
market.
In January, 1858, the following named gen.
tlemsn were elected officers OF the company:
Allen Haines, President; Eliphalet Clark,
John B. Coyle, II. J. Libby and William L.
Southard, Directors; and M. G. Palmer. Sec
Rotary and Treasurer, to whose persevering
efforts and untlring energy the citizens of
Portland aud Westbrook are indebted for the
numerous advantages OF a Horse Railroad,
which advantages are beginning to be more
fully appreciated as the track is laid through
different streets, uniting the extremes OF the
city.
During the first eighteen days, to the LIST of
November, 20,o24 passengers awaited them
selves OF the facilities offered by the road.
and the amount received was s9l3I4, more
than paying its running expenses. The cars
now run from the Grand Trunk Depot to
Clark ST., on Spring St., and to the Evergreen
Cemetery in Westbrook. About the first of
July, cars will commence running from the
head Of Atlantic street, on Munjoy Hill. to
connect with trains running in other direc-
tious at the Post Office. There are now en-
ployed by the corporation In various depart
ments, about forty men and fifty horses
There are six care In use, and ten more in
process Of completion at their mandatory.
Near the terminus OF the road on Spring
street, the company have recently erected
Depot aud Car Mandatory, 102 feet long
and 80 feet wide, and a stable 90 feet long and
go feet wide, TO which an addition of 40 or so
feet is soon 70 be made. Another stable il
soon to be built at the terminus Of the road
in Westbrook, OF about the same size of
that on Spring street.
Mr.. j. J. Gerrish, Superintendent of ,be
road, man Of energy and large experience In
railroad affairs, gives bis personal attention
to the management Of the running OF the cars.
employing the men, &C., and attending 70
inc kcucI& al uCboiis VI buo DoeAuccsg Wuilt tuc
the financial department Is very promptly and
accurately conducted by Mr.. M. G. Palmer,
the present Secretary and Treasurer. The
Board OF Officers now consists of Eliphalet
Clark, President; Allen Haines, John B.
Coyle, James N. Winslow, VIM. L. Southland,
Directors; Moses G. Palmer, Secretary and
Treasurer.
There is no man TO whom the success of
the enterprise Is SO much indebted as to DIR.
Clark, who put out his money In sllopathic
doses when the project was looked upon as
one that would never pay. After he once be-
came enlisted in the undertaking he was de-
termined the people Of Portland should have
one weeks experience, at least, in the ad-
vantages OF Horse Railroad.
The capital stock was divided into shares
Of 800 each, the entire amount Of which has