The Portland daily press., 1871-09-18
To the Editor OF the Press:

10 the Editor OF the Press:
A committee of the City Council has under
consideration petition of the Portland & Og-
densburg r. r. Co., which, if granted, would
virtually give it the control for railroad purposes
of SO much of Commercial street as has not al
ready been surrendered to the Grand Trunk
and L. S. & p. r. R., and making it the trus-
tee for comforting privileges under the grant to
such other road or roads as its interests may
dictate.
Oct 10, 1870, the City Council passed the fol-
lowing order;
Ordered, That the prayer of the petitioners
De granted, provided that the rails and tracks
De laid down agreeable to the directions of the
Mayor and upon such conditions as may be
| prescribed by him.
Sept. 11th the same Company presented at a
| special meeting of the Council called to con-
slider this matter another petition accompanied
by the following order: 10
ordered, That in consideration of the dis
continuance of the location of tie p & o. H.
h. over the Port'and Gas Compapy's land the
prayer of the petitioners be granted and the
order of Oct 10, 1870, be hereby confirmed to
said L. q o. r. r. Co. and to such other COM
panies as shall agree Nth said COMPANY for the
use and Improvement Of said raght Of aoay."
The President of the P. & o. r. r., at the
hearing before the committee on Friday eve
ming last, stated that the language of the order
was the same as used in granting the right of
way over Commercial street TO the Grand
Trunk Company. As that Company claim,
land think the claim undsputed, } the exclu-
sive right of all that portion of Commercial
street below their track, and that all control of
that part OF the street has passed out of the
hands of nit tha
Z. q O. Company will, if made, absolutely
cover the balance, and two railroad corpora
lions will in such case hold absolute possession
OF the most important street in the city, and
may use 1t exclusively, OF divide with other
roads for consideration as best suits its inter-
ests. The Grand Trunk obtained its right to
Commercalstreet by paying what was at the
time considered an equivalent but it is now
seen that the mistake was made by the CITY in
parting with CONTROL over a street that COM
mand5 the whole water front of the CITY for
any consideration whatever
When this exclusive control to one half Of
Commercial street was given to the Grand
Trunk that road was Portland institution,
and commanded whatever it required of the
city. 1t is now seen that private corporation
Is very liable to change hands, and that it is
neither safe nor right to confer on such cor
poration privileges which should be controlled
by the city for the public interests in all time.
policy has been adopted by the City Govern
ment looking to the encircling of the CITY by a
marginal way, for the common use and benefit
OF all our lines of railroad-present and pros.
pective,-and a commencement of the work
has been made by putting portion of it under
contract. Let the City Government see to it
that no more exclusive privileges are granted.
but that all the roads which are to contribute
to the prosperity of Portland shall be provided
for and protected If the city thinks it better
to surrender its streets 10 railroad companies
and to delegate to such companies the right to
confer privileges upon Others, let it be done
upon such conditions as will not leave the
roads which are to receive the privileges second
hand at the mercy OF the road upon which this
most extraordinary power has been conferred.
Let them at least stipulate that other roads
may use the track laid down by the P. & o.
r. r. on Commercial street upon such terms
and conditions as may be prescribed by the |
Railroad Commissioners or by the Committee |
on Streets,
AHN io"u w Oapo 11nIauctn, Wuore SOME OF L
the finest watering places in the country are /
located, is now so blocked by railroad trains
that 1t cannot be passed without danger to life |
ana limb, and thousands of our own citizens
ana strangers who desire to visit them are de-
tered from doing so in consequence Ought
ROT me city to compel the removal of the P. S.
" L: depot above the bridge rather than to |
provide for establishing others below that
point.