The Portland daily press., 1873-02-01
BOSTON q MAINE RAIL RIO AID
The Discou,inuauce of High Street.


Laying out new streets, met in the Common
Council Room for the purpose of hearing the
petition of the Boston & Maine Railroad for
disseminating that part of High street between
Commercial and York streets, and also to hear
from the remonstrants against the discontinue
ance of said street at 81 P. ID, yesterday The
Council Room was crowded with interested
parties.
Hon. w. l.. Putnam, counsel for the Boston
Il Maine Railroad, said the Boston s. Maine
had no desire to get from the city government
any grants that were not fair. They might
have loaded the table down with petitions, but
felt that the city government was ready to meet
them always in friendly spirit. A remon-
STRANGE, however, had been offered, signed by
many respectable citizens who, while they are
opposed to the discontinuance of High street,
yet say if the proposed Improvements cannot
be made without discontinuance, why then
discontinue the street, and several have admit
ted if they had entirely understood the case be-
fore they signed the remonstrance they should
not have done SO. He hoped the question
would be met on its merits in q kind spirit.
The Boston and Maine considered their inter-
ests were the same as those Of the citizens and
they located their passenger stations at the
corner of Maple and Commercial streets. Of
course they worked for themselves, but it would
be seen that while working for themselves they
benefited Portland. He thought the citi-
zens approved the selec ton of the location
The fact has steadily grown upon the gentle
men in charge of the read that they must de-
E., Ga, h,,e nd liz
meet the demands the future growth of Port
land will make upon them. They have bought
from forty to fifty acres of land, besides ten
acres of flats and ten of upland adding SO much
to the taxable property of Portland. This lat
ter land, lying in the vicinity of Vaughan's
Bridge, will be occupied by their repair shops.
They have also bought other land showing they
appreciate the Importance Of the situation of
their terminus. Everything they have under
taken has been credit to them, except the
matter before the meeting. No person will say
the road has asked anything from the city
for which it has not given quid pro quo. 1t is
not claimed that the road is working for the city
alone. That would be nonsense.
The question of the embarrassment arising
from the purchase of the lot from Mr.. Smith
as far as continuing High street was concern
ed-was not fully seen at the time of the pur-
chase. But now the directors see fully.that
High street must be discontinued il the compa-
ny would build station such as would be a
credit to the company and the city. He thought
if the Boston and Maine road should build on
the lot proposed for the station, and High street
remains where it is, then the road will have to
cross High street at grade thus laying track
across the street. If the city grant the discon-
tinuance the company will widen Maple street
and donate the lot at the head Of the proposed
station to the city, thus relieving the street of
the presence of vehicles approaching the sta
ton. This can't be done if High street ties up
the other end. If the city grant the dscontin-
uance the road will pay to the city the same
price per foot for High street that land in that
vicinity, on Commercial street, is worth, to be
applied to widening any other avenue near at
hand.
Mr. White, President of the Boston and
Maine Road, said that he thought it mutual
affair. Two years ago we began our survey
from Salmon Falls to Portland; we open a new
route to Boston and open up to your trade
new tier of towns. We, of course, sought the
best entrance to Portland and to secure facil-
tiles equal to ours in Boston. We at first
thought we would go to Cape Elizabeth. then
to the Back Bay, but finally settled upon the
rear of Commercial street Our location will
costnot less than $4,000, and l fear it will be
more. We have got along very well, but not
as well as we expected. We have been very
cOurteously received by the city, and in our To-
cation we have not crossed street at grade
this side of Fore river. We think we hit upon
capital place for our depot. Many citizens of
Portland have said that they esteemed our pas
senger house very convenient. We have bought
agreat deal of land. We at first thought we
could cross High street below grade, but there
are difficulties we did not then see. If we go
under the grade the street will have to be
changed for the worse If the street is not
discontinued we, l fear, shall not be able to
build such a station house as the company
wished
My idea of a station house here is this: Our
passenger house would front ON Maple street;
our car house would extend back of that some
six hundred feet; we should lay four OF six
tracks. The Ogdensburg and Maine Central
directors have spoken to us of occupying the
same depot, and we have said there would be
plenty of room. 1t these arrangements are
made we should at least need six tracks, an
outgoing and incoming track for each.
If this streets not discontinued we shall
probably have to ask the city to allow us to
cross High street at grade by swinging round
near Commercial street. We shall be willing
to pay the city fair price for the land, and
in return will donate such portion of our lot
on Maple street as shall be necessary for public
convenience.
have no doubt but that some persons who
do business upon Commercial street opposite
High street, will find it less convenient to get
up town, but it is not them but the great public
you are to consider.
Nathan Webb, esq.,, in behalf Of the remon-
strants, said he thought the things asked for
should not be granted / very we'll understand
the view of the petitioners, and of the benefits
OF the measure to them. do not think this
any person, but of the public. 1t is evident
that the corporation have looked far into the
future in selecting their location. 1t seems to
me that the city should do the same. This
street is to be shut up for all coming time and
think that in view of what Portland may be
in the future, the proposition should not be en-
tertained for q moment. He stated the disad-
vantages arising from the typographical form of
the city. This corporation will have shut up
one side of Commercial street from Maple to L
don't know how far, and they have shut up
nearly all the avenues from Commercial street
to the upper part of the city, and as Portland
grows, and as her value increases us the bust
ness upon our wharyes increases, they will have
Il very valuable property-S0 that IL may be Tor
their interest to abandon it, but that they
know best. appear not as the counsel for any
one, and only express my personal remon-
STRANGE.
Mr.. Robert Williams said that he was con-
nected with one of the largest business of Port
land. Mr.. Webb has stated that all the ave-
nues left from Commercial street would be Park
and Maple streets. Nearly all our teams go up
High street. If that is discontinued we shall
have to 90 round Maple street, quarter of a
mile further, and would cost me not less than
$500 year. The business in that section of
the city is increasing, and l think this measure
will very seriously inconvenience ALL
Judge Fox said that when he saw this request
of the Boston & Maine railroad, he thought it
time for every citizen to demonstrate.
Portland has been to very heavy expense in
gaining these avenues from Commercial street
to the upper part of the city. What is Com
mercial street? 1t is filled with railroad tracks
and locomotives, and every man who has bust
ness on the street gets off of it as soon as posi-
BILE. Their lives are in danger, and he thought
as a measure of public safety it is required that
the avenue be preserved
Again, Park street is so steep that it is in
convenient for teams to go up, and Maple street
will be filled with hacks and not proper place
ttoget OF from the street, and the public would
maze ave 10 go clear to Centre street.
,,, anonaS . Reed ESQ.,, appeared for several
pt rn,,noS noloers who had signed the remon-
s strant against the dscontinuance of High
s ,.i hne people who have signed the remon-
STRANGE, are men who when fhev sion their
names mean all they sign TO T On, 800 " "a