The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-09-26

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Mr.. Eprrofs. : The question of improve
ments at the northeast end oil the Guy sun
mains an open one, believe, anu IN we" vi
the condition OF things then eN'stiis cahhoe
he REGARDED otherwise than AS pressing ques-
tion. The recent judicial decision touching n
certain proposed attempted work, whatever it
NAV have settled, settled nothing, and profess
ed to settle nothins, as % the expediency and
propriety of the work itself with reference to
the needs of the city, but only the issue of the
legality OF the course adopted by the prosecu.-
ors of the enterprise. A discussion Of the gen.
eral question of Improvements in the district
referred to, and of the particular enterprise
then inaugurated, as incidentally involved in
the general plan of improvements, may be
deemed timely and necessary.
1t is to be regretted that the consideration
of this important question, as thus far conduct-
ed in the public prints, has not been carried Oh
with more distinct reference to the actuai her-
its of the CASE with less of acrimony IN tone
aud temper, with fewer wholesale accusations
of bdrJdrisn and panddlism and so forth, and
fewer insinuations of jobbery and private spe-
culation Denunciations of this sort neither
instruct the public mind nor CRAFTY the pnblic
taste; they only breed i'll temper and bad
blood, and serve to make judicious and impair
tial action upon the matters involved, well
nigh impossible In whatever I shall say in
this and subsequent articles, trust to adhere
both to the civilities and the subject matter of
debate,
Let us begin then with the presentment of
certain important facts, which have not before
been duly considered in the public discussion
as 1t seems to us. Our entire waterfront from
Portland bridge to the G. L. r. bridge is about
two and three-eights miles long. This is, of
Course, by far the most valuable portion of our
frontage upon tide, because it is accessible
without the annoyance of passing bridges, as
well as for other reasons, as great depth of wa
ter, etc.
OF this sand 3-Sths miles, and 1-sths miles,or
Portland Bridge to the Grand Trunk Rail
way wharf, are already fully occupied, with
piers, wharves, docks, etc. The next 5-8-ths
of a mile, or little less, from the Grand Trunk
Railway Wharf to Fish Point is partly used
by the railroad for its purposes and so far is
not suitable for general improvement in
wharves and similar constructions The re-
m,inder of this 5-Sths has such depths of wa
ter in immediate proximity to the shore, that
only very short wharves can be built at all
and those at great expense Gas witness the Vic
toria Wharves) and by consequence only
very limited storage room can be secured.
We have therefore ON the southeast side of the
city, next to no further accommodations Tor
wharves, docks, and levees, except of most in
considerable size: and none at all for lumber
yards, ship-yards, and such other uses requir-
ing much room. From Fish Point to the
Grand Trunk Railway Bridge is a little over
5Sths of mile, or front not far from two
thirds equal to that already occupied
southeast side fiom Portland Bridge to the
Grand Trunk Railway wharf. What now is
the character of this long line Ct shore with ref
erence TO Improvements for storage room, lum-
Der yards, ship-yards, wbarvee, etc? equal in
every respect to the best portion of the south
east front. There are two million feet of flats
which may be, as required filled in solid for
piers or covered with wharves, affording most
ample accommodations for railway fl, light sta
tions and the various other uses specified
above. Indeed, wharves ofproportions similar
to Smiths OF Browns, if constructed, as they
readily can be, would require the probable
area OF the fats to be estimated at 100000
feet. The depth of water exterior to the flats
is, contrary to the general impression, greater
than in the channel off our southeast front and
the breadth of deep water in the average con-
siderably greater; as is shown beyond contro-
versy by the Coast Survey charts. All requir,
ed conditions as to anchorage, holding ground
ETC., are satisfied in the character ofthe bottom
and depth Of water. Add to this, that the part
OF our harbor in question is completely pro-
tected by bar dying between it and the Cape
Elizabeth entrance from the under-tow, which
in east and southeast storms renders it impos-
sibe for ships to lie easy in the lower portion,
OF the harbor on the southeast front. The bar
protects the photographic area referred to
but being incontinuous does not obstruct ac-
cess to it. ~ ize 144.a
Yet this noble shore-line thus bordering har-
Dor accommodations of unsurpassed excel
lence, and available at cost comparatively in
significant, is to all intents and purposes un-
improved. Attempts to put it to use have
been made but, in proportion to the capacities
OF the locality, have proved abortive. Other
| cities are spending millions to obtain what we
thus already have, and yet our possession
which everybody feels ought to add vastly to
the wealth and taxable property of the city is
of no value to us. nAl $50
What is the explanation of this fact? The
view which doubtless most widely obtains and
which has lately been quite repetitously set
forth in the public prints, is that we have no
present need of the accommodations afforded
us, and no present use for them; and that to
move for their occupation is now and doubt.
less will be for a long time to come premature
and economically disastrous In confederation
Of this view the fact is referred to, already no.
ticed, that attempts 10 bring the property into
use adequate to its capacities have proved fu-
tile. The advocates of this position appear to
have the idea that as we have got along thus
far in the old way we can continue so to get
along indefinitely; that the city is not increas-
ing OF going to increase, and that it is best to
let well enough alone.
By way of testing this doctrine of the pres
ent non-usabllity of the district, let us look at
certain facts. Before the construction of Com
mercial street, it will be remembered that
along our southeast shore there were various
points at which vessels were built and re-
paired, repairing in particular being an impor-
tant business, our facilities being such as to
draw vessels here from all quarters for refit-
ting. The making of Commercial street cut
this business al! off by destroying the proper
sites for its conduct. Now there are as many
ships built and made over as formerly; the de-
mand for sites for the occupations specified,
convenient to market, is as great as ever. But
such sites on our southeast front, with one in
ncidara hla A.
cordingly the business referred to has gone
elsewhere; to Cape Elizabeth, Westbrook and
other points more distant We have lost it,
and lost it because we had no point to which it
could go and be prosecuted to advantage.
But why did it not go to the northeast front?
This will consider tomorrow.
WARD SIX.
Letter frOGa Lewiston. ru
Peat IN 4,adroscoggin County Operations of