The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-16

to our borders and we should aid them in tran
sit across the city. They fiud the p. &. o cor
necton the most desirable, as the latter road
nave a right of way over Commercial street
and route to the mountains. He regarded
Tue +. q " road as even now possessing the
right asked for. The Boston and Maine will
oring hundreds of thousands of dollars to
| Portland. The privilege asked for would hay e
been freely granted last October had it been
| thought it would have been required. There
is no facilities granted at any time by the CITY
| to any road which is regretted. He favored
encouraging all roads, The aid to the Atlantic
| & St Lawrence road was one of the wisest
,hings Portland ever did, and from that day she
| rapidly prospered. Portland depends upon her
railroads, ana every facility possible should be
given them one and ALL
Mr. James H. Hamblen was called upon and
referred to the lumber business. The lumber
| freight between here and Boston is ve!y large.
The roads have placed the freight at a low rate.
The dealers have avaied themselves of it. In
bis judgment three quarters of the lumber from
Portland goes to Boston by way Of the Boston
and Maine road, because of the nearness OF
its freight station to the business of Boston.
The Eastern freight depot being at East Bos-
ton incurs larger expenses in handling there.
Hon. Samuel E. Spring spoke as friend to
both and all roads. The question simply is
" shall the Boston & Maine reach Portland via
the track OF the p & o. road?" Is the city
willing it should come? If this question I'M
der discussion is decided in the negative,
the B. s, NJ. will consider it as denial to their
enGrance into this city. He referred to his buy
ing tickets for himself and family last week for
Boston. He did not then state by which route
he desired to go. Before reaching South Ber-
wick he ascertained he had Eastern Railroad
tickets. To his inquiry the conductor said, 1--WE
don't sell tickets over the Boston & Maine un
less asked for" Why did not the ticket agent
ask which route l was goipg?" The reply
was " that amt our business" Mr. Snrino
changed cars for the B. &. NJ route. Conduc-
tor Smith, after leaving South Berwick, refused
to take the money for the fares to Boston lint
took the tickets and said "his orders we're to
take as good over the B. g. M. road all such
tickets bought through mistake Mr.. Spring
strongly praised the B. & NJ. road, and called
upon the city to do everything possible to well
come it to Portland.
Mr.. Henry M. Payson sustained the remarks
OF Mr.. Spring. There had been great deal OF
talk about the marginal way, the p & O. road,
the T. &. r. road, but it was not the real cues
ton at ISSUE 1t is: Is it for the interest Ct |
the city the P. & o. and B. & NJ. roads to grant
the petition asked for? He could not see how |
it was possible for the city government to re-
fuse it. II the B. & M. want to come in by /
way of the back bay, grant it; if by CONNER
cial street, grant it. Let them come where /
they choose only that they come. He owned |
property and Others also on Commercial street,
AMI he did not think it would ibiure his inter-
ests in the least
Mr.. Lynch remarked ne was friendly to all |
roads, but desired the B. & M road to make |
their eTn application for privileges
Gen. Anderson replied that the B. g. M road /
had SO applied through the P. & o. road Il |
the T. q o. road can gain anything by it and /
The city lose nothing, what objection can there |
neY The b. & M. propopose coming over the |
Rolling Mill Bridge down over the P. s. O. |
rack through Commercial street. having at |
some central point depot. In conclusion he
appealed again to the city authorities to act the
part of enterprisng men.
Councilman E. Fl. Daveis of the committee,
moved that the hearing close, and the commit
lee meet in the Mayors room in private SEES
sion.
The motion prevailed.
The hearing therefore closed, and the com
mttee retired.
1t was one of the most interesting railroad
discussions for a long time.