The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-24

To the Editor Of the Press:
The advocates of the proposed plan Of cut
thug through the Eastern Promenade to the
depth of seventeen feet, argue the case as if
the question was whether there should or
should not be means OF access TO East Com
mercial street by way of Congress street.
This is not fair way of stating the case, and
misrepresents the views of those who are OPP
posed to the present grade as adopted. The
dispute is, as to which Of two plans is the bet
ter one. The one adopted, giving us a hill
from East Commercial street to Munjoy street,
some eighteen hundred feet in length, with a
rise of seven feet in the hundred, which would
be a long and hard hill; or the one adopted by
the last City government by consent of all
parties land supposed by a majority Of the
present government to be the one under pro-
cess of construction. until the press called at
tentiOn to the matter) of coming up from the
ramp on East Commercial street with grade
of seven feet in the hundred, cutting the re-
quired depth in the lower terrace of the Prom
enade, and then ascending to the present level
of the Promenade by another ramp like the
one below. This ramp at the Promenade may
be made at an easy grade, and it is believed
will be less expensive than the other plan, re-
quiring much less excavation, and retaining the
westerly one hundred feet of tho Promenade
as it is now. ..l.
To be sure the parties interested in the con-
tract for cutting down Congress street, would
not get so much earth to fill with at other peo-
pies expense, but whether they should be per-
mitted, under the plea of great public i'm
prOvement, to make pleasant spot an un-
slightly one, to put the city to great and unne-
cessary expense, and to force the propritors of
lands on the "Hill' to give them all the mate
rial they need for filling their fats, is matter
for the city to determine.
The conclusion of the City Government on
Friday after visiting the ground, seemed to be
that q commission should be appointed to pre-
pare plan for the improvement of the whole
eastern side OF the GILL;" establishing the
grade of the Promenade, and the streets run
ming through it to East Commercial street.
This will meet with no objection from any quar-
ter; will enable the subject to be discussed in
all its bearings, and invoke the Judgment of
matter Meanwhile let the work be stopped be-
fore the Promenade is reached and the mischief
DONE Some timid men may object that the
City will be liable to a suit for damages by the
contractor. Very WE'LL He could only recov-
er what he could prove that he had lost by the
non-fulfilment of the contract, and in any
event the amount would be trifling in compare
son with the expense in which the completion
of the contract would involve the city.
And here, if we may be permitted to advise
the City Government, we would suggest the
improprety of giving to committees of few
individuals the power of making contracts in
volving large expenditures, without the subse-
quent approval of the body by which the ccm-
mittee is appointed. Such power is danger
GUS and liable to abuse. Members of commit
tees may be personally interested in contracts,
and human nature is such that tn public in
terest suffers when weighed against private
ADVANTAGE! %
We hope there will be change in this par
ticular in the method of doing business in both
Boards of the City Government, otherwise the
treasury may be at the mercy Of interested
men whom the mistaken confidence of their
fellow citizens has placed in office for its pro-
lection. ia
To the Editor Of the Press:
As an evidence of the feeling of many of
our Oldest and best citizens, in regard to
the proposed mutlation and destruction OF our
Eastern Promenade, relate the following in
cident: A friend of the writer said the other
day to property holder on Munjoy, who has
been actively engaged in this scheme of ex-
tending Congress street to the shore line by
cut of II feet through the Eastern Promenade,
that he hoped he and all those engaged in it
might be successful and when the gap was
made they might all be put into it and the sew
enteen feet of dirt shoveiled ON to them again.
AS has been before stated the cutting has been
ON the northern terminus of Con-
gress street, and is progressing every day to-
wards the promenade, and hope the city au-
thorities will suspend this cutting before it is
too late. There are many who cherish a just
pride in this beautiful promenade as one of the
finest ornaments of our city-and who value
It more than the Almighty dollar.
20. q PORTLAND.