The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-07-21
CITY AFFAIRs.


At the special meeting of the City Council
Thursday evening, an order was passed direct
ing inquiry into the expedienoy OF widening
Franklin street, from Congress to Fore streets.
An order was passed instructing the Commit
tee on Fire Department to purchased one or more
steam fire engines, and 1000 feet of hose if they
deem the same expedient.
an order passed directing the Committee on
Streets to consider the expediency of widening
Fore street from Pleasant street to Exchange
street, and to, straighten the same street from
Exchange street to where it now intersects India
street--making the whole of uniform width. -
The heirs of James Deering and the trustees u
the estate of Mary Prehle, presented o petition
asking for the re-running OF the streets laid out
in the ''Deering pasture" in accordance with q
plan accompanying the petition. The plan pro.
poses the running Of two avenues, to be called
''Grant" and SHERMAN" avenues, from Green
street to Mellen street, between Cumberland and
Portland streets The petition was referred to
the Committee on laying out new streets.
The reportof the Joint Special Committee on
the City Government Building was presented.
1t states that the Committee procured the SER
vices of Messrs. s. c.. Chase, Charles Frost and
Joshua I. Emery, builders of Portland, and
James HI. Rand of Boston, who was the origi-
nal architect of the building. These gentlemen
made thorough examination Of the premises
and pronounced the whole outer walls sound and
strong, except about so feet ON Myrtle street
They also found all the interior walls of the
basement. also 40 nsiderable portion of the LIST
and I'd stories in cgood condition to be rebuilt
upon. The examiners estimated the value Of
the building as it now stands at $3.50 900, The
report was accepedt. etdl sgsl 5ss1ls gsi1s5
I, An order was then passed for rebuilding the
premises in the same style as originally erected,
and appointing as a Joint Special Committee
for that purpose, the Mayor, Aldermen Gid
dings and Southland, and Councilman Fuller,
Fessenden, Gerrish of 8. Phillips and Fies.aa
An order was also passed authorizing the City
Treasurer to hire. ON term not exceeding 20
wears, sum not exceeding $1O0, 900, for the
purpose of rebuilding the City Government
building.
Petition of j. B. Brown & ais, for the straight
ening and widening of York street, was referred
to the Committee on Street. bsaeb
Petition of William billiard that the old con-
tinuance of Franklin street. from Middle to Fore
street, may be discontinued, was referred.
The City Civil Engineer presented his report
on the subject of alterations of streets in the
burnt district. Itrecommends extensive changes,
some Of the most important OF which are the
widening ande Strengthening of York street; to
continue Centre and Bank streets through to
Commercial street; to lay over Cross street and
widen it to so feet;s to widen Union street to 90
feet and continue it through to Congress street
una QtScOntlnuc I6mpic stfccts W btfuisntcn Elk
change street from Congress street to Fore st. ;
to lay over Lime street and widen the same; to
continue Pearl street straight across the city,
substituting it for Silver and Willow streets; to
continue Wilmot street across the city parallel
with Pearl street, and discontinue Church, Gar
den, Vine and Deer streets; to lay out q new
street across lots from the junction Of Free and
Middle streets, to- o connection with Sumner
street at India streets to contidue Federal street
to Mountfbrt street, to discontinue that portion
Middle street between Exchange aud Free streets;
to continue Spring street from South TO Middle
street; to continue Plumb street up, to meet the
continuation of Free street. These and other
radical changes are recommended by the Engin--
gineer. who suggests that the Legislature should
be convened, SO that the city may be authorized
to take lands. with power to sell after the inn
provements are made-the Engineer stating that
in this way the city of Boston makes all her inn
provements without cost. Gasa}a soa ~: 1afsi