The Portland daily press., 1872-10-07
IT.. Marginal Way.

The Marginal way.
The article in the last issue of the Sunday
Star, in favor of the Maginal Way, but oppos-
ed to its use being allowed to the Portland and
Rochester railroad, discloses more clearly than
the previous articles of "H." q. H. II. y ia the
Argus the animus of the opposition which
those writers represent, viz: hostility to the
Portland and Rochester railroad.
The Star says when this scheme was start
ed no railroad corporation was mixed up with
It, The first idea was to have a team eody for
'odgons, sort Of Commercial street, all the way
round the city, etc" This is very brilliant. A
sort of Commercial street all around the city
for wagons "and no railroads mixed up with
il" The Star appears to be entirely oblivious
to the fact that Commercial street was laid out
and built for the purpose of furnishing facil-
ties to the railroads entering the city, and the
Marginal Way is but an extensio ion of Com
mercial street for the same purpose. The object
sought to be accomplished by the proprietors of
this Marginal Way was to provide further con-
venient and cheap transportation of merchan-
disc by encircling the city with rails, and thus
bringing all the roads into connection with each
other and giving all access to the deep water of
the harbor. The road was, like Commercial
street. intended as rail and carriage way, and
was laid out to be built when business by either
or both of these modes of transportation re-
quired it. Such being the object for which the
road was laid out, the only question now is,
will the business seeking this new avenue war
rant its immediate construction. That ques-
ton was settled by the City Government when
4 H.
its use has been daily increasing since that
time. But, says the writer, if the Portland
and Rochester railroad wants to get to the water
front, let them get there in their own way,
either by way of the Grand Trunk or over the
Portland and Ogdensburg, or the.Alaine Cen
trail road. Well, that is just what they desire
to do,ge there by the way of the Grand Trunk,
very purpose. But why don't they build the
Marginal Way some other way, for them
selves? This opens up the whole question of
granting municipal aid to railroads. Why was
the aid of the city asked and granted to build
the Grand Trunk, the Portland and Ogdens-
burg and the Portland and Rochester, and why
have privileges been granted to these roads in
the city from time to time as needed? Has it
not been on the ground that these roads are to
increase the prosperity of the city and build up
its trade, aud because private enterprise was
inadequate to provide the means? Will any
one contend that it is wise policy to spend mil
lions in extending railroads into the country
and then refuse to eXpend anything in the city
to enable them to obtain business necessary to
their support? is it only legitimate to make
appropriations and grant aid where the money
is to be expended out of the city and out of the
State? Are we to adopt the swinish policy of
refusing to build a street which has been laid
out because the building of it will benefit a
railroad which cannot be benefited except by
an increase of its business, which can only be
made by increase of the business of our city?
The Portland and Rochester Railroad Company
is in the condition of most roads which have
been started rather for the benefit of the public
than as profitable investment for the stock
holders-poor. 1t has already been of great adj
vantage to the city, and will, when completed,
add largely to our business and wealth. 1t has
thus far brought only loss to its stockholders,
and it cannot be made profitable to them with
out such an increase of business as will repay
the city ten fold for any aid it has, or may con-
tribute toward its success. But there is anoth-
er reason why the Portland and r chester rail
road company should not build it's own road
round to the Grand Trunk. 1t could not do so
on the location of the Marginal Way, because
that is entirely under the control and jurisdc-
ton of the city, and will remain so. 1t has no
rights there, and the city would not and ought
not to grant such, as the road would be entitled
to if it built its own road-bed. -.......r -
1t would not be for the interest of the city to
have the road built inside of the Marginal Way
and thus crossing every street leading to it, and
IL cannon De Dul1C OUTSIDE But, says Une StQf,
let the p. &. R. enter the city over the Maine
Central or the P. & o. The Maine Central has
built an Independent track from MOrrilPs to
Woodford's because it was found to be unsafe
to do the business of both roads over a single
track for one mile, and the P. &. o. built an
independent track instead of using Is miles of
the P. & R., because ethey supposed their bust
ness required it Besides the front side cannot
be reached by the Maine Central except by
passing over two roads (the Maine Central and
the P. S. & P.), while by the P. & o. three lines
would have to be passed over. The Portland &
Ogdensburg is now dependent upon the NJ. c.
for depot accommodations. 1t has not accom-
modations for itself and is in no condition to
furnish them to others. The question which is
now troubling the railroad companies which
are now choking up the entrances to the city
at the West End is, how they shall relieve them
selves of the difficulties in which they are in
volved. If the Portland & Ogdensburg road
has the amount of business which its friends
anticipate, and which it should have to make it
successful, it will require all the room that can
be obtained at the West End of the city. The
roads now loci there cannot all be accom-
modated if there is any increase of business
1t would be folly to think of adding the bust
ness of another road.
The only solution of the railroad block which
is even now seriously affecting the business of
the city, is the building of the Marginal Way.
No time should be lost in pushing it to its COM
pleton.