The Portland daily press., 1871-02-01

PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND PAssENGET STATIONS
1ofhe Editor Of the Press:
What the public convenience demands with
respect to depot accommodations for passen-
gers, is foreshadowed in the heading of these
articles. A passenger station shonld be Gen.
trail; central SO far as practicable in territorial
location, and central especially with reference
to the present and prospective distribution Of
the populations to be accommodated.
How do the present arrangements in this
city satisfy this leading test? They, for the
most part answer to it in no respect. This will
appear upon consideration of the rapdity with
which the vacant territory surrounding Back
Cove is going into occupation. Portland is
spreading into and over this district SO fast,
and is SO certain to continue this process of set
tlement, that hardly two opinions are held as
to the necessity of the annexation of the ter.
ritory to cur own municipality. If Portland is
to become great city, as she must become if
the promises, assurances and pledges of our
railroad men are realized, the population to be
accommodated by passenger station will be
located in part upon the peninsula and in part
upon the margin of country lying upon the
Cove and extending thence outward to the
west northwest and north
DUP PRESENT STATIONS.
Now our present stations are, with one ex-
ception, located upon the front shore line of
the city, as far as they can be from the terrific
ry referred to as already in part occupied,
and TO be speedily more widely occupied. With
respect to the body of people now inhabiting
the city they are sat the ends of the town."
and can be reached only at an undue expendi-
ture OF time, strength, and money. They are
IN the way. With the exception of the Grand
Trunk, they obstruct business. They block
up the routes of travel. They cannot be reach
ed except by circuitous detour, on account of
their location under hill of headlong descent
They have inadequate room already. More
room can be had only by further removal from
the centre of population or by further entreuch-
ment upon territory needed, or soon to be
needed, for business purposes.
A railway station requires much more space
than is popularity apprehended. Given build
ing five hundred feet long, thousand feet at
each end are necessary for the making up of
trains, total of $500 feet, or not greatly less
than half mile. To locate depot OF suff.
Gent size to accommodate several roads, be-
tween the present site of the 2. s. & p sta
ton and Union street, as has been proposed,
would be monstrous and intolerable infection
upon all business seeking accommodation up
on the wharfs within the limits proposed. IT
the station is located upon thai side of the city,
it should not be further up than the point spec
flied, for it would be inaccessible from the lay
OF the land and too remote for public conven-
fence. The P. s. g. P. station is now three
fourths of mile from the City Hall in an air
line, and a mile by the shortest route travers-
able. The other stations at that side of the
town are still more remote. The Grand Trunk
station is half mile distant, in right line,
from the same point, but is easily approached
so far as regards the shape of the land.
NUMBER OF PASSENGERS.
The immense consequence of site for a pas
senger station central in point of access, will
be realized only when the vast number of per-
sons is taken into the account, who in the
course of the year are embarked upon and dis.
charged from the cars. How far that number
exceeds or falls short of one million for,this To-
calty, it is not essential to our argument to
consider. The number great as it is, will in a
few years be vastly greater. To compel this
enormous multitude to travel mile from the
centres of busiress and concourse to take the
rail, when site close at hand can be found,
accessible, spacious, open for improvement,
and to be had at low cost, would be indeed
monstrous imposition upon public patience,
and thing not thought of, were public inter-
ests alone considered Where that site is and
what are its advantages will be considered in
our next.