The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-24

THE MEETING LAST MIGHT.

The call for the meeting at Reception Hall
last evening, to consult in regard to the effect
upon the interests of Portland of the proposed
railroad consolidation brought out large num-
Der of the citizens of Portland.
After the meeting was called to order Mr..
John Mussey rose and after referring to the
meeting at the Mayors Office, stated that the
committee then appointed had called, through
stakeholder, upon the Clerk of the Maine
Central for the records of the corporation, and
after some delay they had been furnished, but
the pages of the record Numbered 1877 and 1893
covering period from Feb 18th to May 11th
were gone, and the action of the directors dur.
ing this time, if there was any, could not be
ascertained by the committee. The action of
the directors at tho meeting at the Falmouth
with regard to the change of gauge was also
unknown, as the vote on that matter was sent
out Of the city just after the record was applied
for. Upon this state of the case the committee
thought the citizens should publicly be inform
ed Of the movement, and, therefore, had called
this meeting. This movement to consolidate
he thought, was at variance with the septi-
ments Of the people of this city and State. The
Legislature had been repeatedly applied to for
an act to effect this object, and every time it
had refused to do SO. He then narrated some
of the quarrels of the past with regard to the
gauges of railroads in this State and Canada,
and said that the present movement was one
which would make Portland way station and
throw trade and commerce into Boston. After
the conclusion of Mr.. Mussey's remarks, the
meeting was organized by the election of Geo.
w. Woodman as Chairman.
On taking the chair Mr.. Woodman referred
to the progress of Portland since the construc
ton of the Grand Trunk, and thought it due
greatly to that enterprise. The question of
consolidation he was familiar with. He had
been in the Legislature when it had been pro-
posed and had fought against it and seen it de.
feated every time. He thought it was not the
people who asked for this measure, but few
interested parties. The accomplishment of
this object would prove fatal to the interests OF
Portland and Bangor and all the other cities
of Maine.
George o. Gosse and George S. Hunt were
elected Secretaries, and Mr. Gosse read the
call.
Mr. Mussey again addressed the meeting, and
referred to the effect the consolidation move
ment would have in depriving us OF our lines
of ocean steamers. The Canadas would find
another outlet, and the steamers which are now
Portlands pride, would seek some other port.
Mr.. Poor was the next speaker. He referred
at great length to the strides the Grand Trunk
was now making, and showed how they would
rebound to the benefit of Portland. He gave
lengthy History of the manner in which the
Keunebec Railroad came into the hands of its
present owners, and dwelt much upon the es-
Enlistment of the broad gauge in the Canadas
and this State. He thought it the duty of this
city to maintain its plighted faith with the
Grand Trunk. This road was built on the
broad gauge, and if we now change the gauge
of the roads in this State we shall he guilty o
meanness and treachery. He understood ont
of the terms of the contract made by the direc
tors of the Maine Central aid X ennebec roads
to provide for change of gauge between Dan
vile Junction and Bangor, and called upol
Judge Shepley to know if this was not the case
Judge Shepley responded that he was no
willing to be examined as witness by MI
Poor. but that he was willing to tell all h
knew about the contract. At this point MI
Poor yielded the floor and Judge Shepley e2
planned the nature of the contract, the primo
pie of which are the same as already publish
ed. He ridiculed the idea that this movemer
was in favor of Boston. The men who had Ell
tered into it were all citizens Of this State, an
many OF them of Portland. He thought tha
Mr.. John B. Brown and H. N. Jose had to
much personal interest in this city to sell on
to Boston, or to do anything which would hav
atendency to injure the interests of Portland
He deprecated all by-gone discussions abou
grades and showed how the Kennebec roa
had built up the interests of Portland IT
thought uniformity of gauge on the railroad