The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-08

| sufficiently large for the use of single road.
| 1t is due from the citizens to state at what eX-
| pense adjoining land can be purchased, the cost
OF filling and the expense of making the
change. The proposition already made is very
| liberal and will be candidly considered by our
Board. We first must ascertain the real wants
| of the citizens of Portland there seems to be a
diversity of opinion; there conflicts of judg-
| ment apparent to me. l don't believe there is
| conflict of interests between the railroads
and the citizens; don't recognize any of these
| statements in regard to hostility on the part of
| any railroad entering Portland Since the last
| meeting of the committee the embarrassments
| of our road have been increased by the incon-
| sderate act of your city in allowing another
| track so near our present station as to almost
ruin it for passenger purposes L do not mean
to say that it was done for any purpose of coer-
| con; but whatever measures we shall take,
must be now under some sort of coercion. All
1 can say to-day is that the road which 1 repre-
sent will receive the proposition with careful
consideration, with the view of an advance
ment of the future interests of the roads and
the city. -
Mr.. Cleaves assured the meeting on the
authority of Mr.. Clapp, that the roads, if they
locate there, will be treated with in regard to
additional land, in the most liberal manner.
Mr.. j. t. Emery suggested that the railroad
men come to conclusion among themselves as
to what they desire, and then the people will
show them what they can and will do VIII
they, or will they not come on to the Back Bay,
and if they will, on what terms?
Hon pcon ID NforrilI If tho Maina Cantra1
liked the looks of the project, and was ready
to commit himself unreservedly to it. His as
sociates on the board would take time to
consider it and answer for themselves, and
would be governed in their decision by the inter
ests of Portland, which were identical with them.
He also spoke for large class of people who had
removed from other places and become business
men of the city. He was glad to find an iden-
tty of interest so fully recognized in this meet
ing; for there was an element in Portland that
had given the railroad directors much trouble.
He denied that ever since he had been in the
Board, had the interests of Portland been dis
regarded, but on the contrary they had been
carefully considered. He thought that ultimate
ly Ethe change to Back Pay would be made; it
would be for the interest of Portland, but it
fully to the belief that it ought to be done and
will be done. Coming back to the subject of
Portland hostility to the road, he said there
were men here who constantly assailed the
road. He knew they were few in number, but
they made a good deal of noise, and their
clamor was repeated by the press, who spent all
their spare time in denouncing and abusing the
Maine Central road. One of the newspapers
had recently spoken of the lease of the Port
land and Kennebec railroad as without the
authority of law or in violation of law. Now
if any newspaper makes such a statement, it is
guilty of falsehood; and 1 hold myself re-
sponsible for my words The people of Port
land have constantly placed distractions in
our way. A track has been authorized so near
our station as to seriously injure our business.
We entrusted the preservation of our interests
to our frends-and honorable gentlemen they
are, no doubt; but this measure appears to have
been carried out without the knowledge of any
body.
Proceeding to speak of amalgamation-he
used that word in preference to consolidation,
because that was obnoxious-he said we have
amalgamated, to serve you better. We have
put additional trains at great expense
in his judgment had done too much; it did
not pay. We have served the public better than
we could when we were independent corpora
tions. We have bill now before the Legisla-
ture-but hope your people will not hear of it,
for they will kill it-asking authority for all
the amalgamated roads to issue bonds to pay
our debts and take up old outstanding bonds 1
pledge you that the proposition you have made
to-day shall receive careful consideration, and
in due time you shall hear from it again. Our
interests are identical with yours, and we only
ask such friendly treatment as will strengthen
and not weaken us.
Judge Rice repeated his suggestions in regard
to the organization of a Union Passenger De-
pot Co., under the charter, &c, and the meet
ing adjourned subject to the call of the chair
men of the two committee.