The Portland daily press., 1873-10-25
Ra;lv.x s,rect Ob.tructiou.

Mr.. EDITOR: Your remarks in regard to the
obstruction of streets for railroad purposes will
receive the cordial endorsement of every citi-
zen. In reference to such obstruction, however,
it is proper to distinguish betwixt that which
has grown gradually up with the growth of the
town in one case, and that which is proposed
as bran new thing in another case. In the
one case long series of circumstances of
scarcely avoidable character, reaching back for
generation, can be pleaded in extenuation; in
the other all the difficulties and embarass-
ments have been, as it were, to day, voluntarily
and with open eyes assumed by the interested
corporation.
To obviate the main difficulties hitherto
complained of, one road stands ready to
construct an overhead way betwixt Bracket
street and the Portland bridge, and already
maintains an 'outsde street" for the accom-
mediation of travel The other road proposes
to have one of the most important avenues IN
the city closed entirely, and blocked for all
time for its purposes, and has Just thrust across
Commercial street track on which cars are to
pass and repass to obstruct the stream OF travel,
both that to and from the Cape aud the passen-
ger and freight depots above. The one road is
reducing the obstacles to travel to the mini
mum; the other is augmentlng these obstacles
by what it has already done end by what it
seeks further to do. The former did not and
could not foresee the growth of its own business
and of the travel and trade by which it is now
hard pressed for room. The other knew the whole
case (for it was the act of yesterday so to
speak, knew where it was placing ITSELF and
what additional obstacles it would put in the
way of traffic and travel. Further, the East
ern railroad was anxious to remove its passenger
station from Commercial street. 1t was desir-
Gus of constructing with the other roads a union
station at some point where business would be
less impeded In the hope that agreement to
this end might be effected it delayed repairing
its passenger house. Still holding to this hope
it decided TO repair and not rebuild on much
larger scale. The other road is proceeding to
plant great passenger station on Commercial
street where as regards the business germane to
that thoroughfare, it will always be an obstrnc-
ton and a nuisance-as all passenger stations
on the central and lower portions of this street
are and must remain-the portions bordered by
deep water.
These considerations it is believed the candid
public will not fail duly to estimate when,
weighing both what has been done and what is
proposed by the railroads referred to, and the
circumstances under which they have respect
lively acted, it comes to decide as to which
stands best on the record as regards street OBJ
structon. The Eastern railroad will make ev-
cry effort to cut down its occupation of Com
mercial street to the lowest limit possible. 1t
asks, however, to have it remembered that the
street in question was constructed, one half
thereof at its cost, and that in return for this
outlay it has, by agreement, the right to locate
and hold its cars upon the street for half OF the
time. 1t asks, further, as not irrelevant to this
statement, that no avenue connecting its sta
ton with the body of the town and serving con-
slant use, when open, to its business, be closed.
In so far as your remarks may have applica
ton to the Grand Trunk railway the writer
does not feel constrained to offer comment.