The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-04
IN, r,,eaal Railroad Tracks.

Ma EprroR:-I am glad TO see that the mat
| ter of the illegal tracks laid by the p. S. & p
Railroad is attracting the attention of the pub.
lie. Your correspondent ''T'' in this morning s
PRESS says the public may remove these lille
gal rails peaceably, as they constitute public
nuisance" desire to ask through the PRESS
why have not the County Commissioners, as the
custodans and protectors of this important av-
enue, long since removed these rails and re-
placed the wooden fence on each side OF the
bridge, which has been taken away, and why
do they not now without further delay do IL?
Why allow this most important avenue to this
city to be nsed, not only every hour, but every
few minutes, as a yard for the railroad to make
up trains. to the great detention of the public
travel to the risk of life and to the great injury
of the property of Cape Elizabeth? The two
tracks as originally located ii used in passing
and repassing this avenue IN accordance with
the laws of the State would be of comparative.
ly little injury. But these three tracks laid
within few years-llegally -with0ut right in
any respect seems to me to demand from the
County Commissioners immediate action and
their removal. The managers of the p S. & P.
Railroad say we can't do our business without
using these tracks. Has it come to this, that
a railroad, paying large dividends, and in addi-
ton laying aside annually, large profits, should
be permitted to give this as a sufficient excuse
to use this important avenue by laying rails,
Wituout authority VI law III auQltl0n to those
legally laid for their through travel. Let this
railroad purchase sufficient territory to make NJ
its merchandise trains, to place its cars and do
its business without trespassing on the rights of
the public Cape Elizabeth is a suburb of this
city; it has large and growing population
they do their business with us; our citizens
seek its cool and refreshing breezes, its beauti
ful sea scenery and its pleasant rides for recrea
ton in the summer months.
Thousands annually from abroad also come
| to enjoy it and its unsurpassed facilities for
sea bathing fishing, Sc 1t would be dIfncult
| to find any spot on earth afordng to the peas
| ure seeker, the invalid, and those who are
| seeking to restore health from ovefwork, any
place more desirable on which to spend the
summer months. During the summer, every
house willing to take boarders is filed with
these travellers, and many of them have COM
planned to me of the detention, risk of life, &c ,
created by this railroad crossing. A large por-
ton of these visitors come daily to the city for
letters and to visit reading rooms, &c. They wish
quick and easy access to the city, and our city
government should see to it that the avenues to
the city are rendered accessible and passabe.
Cape Elizabeth purchased this bridge to give
them short and easy access to this city and
paid for it Has not their property been de-
preciated long enough in consequence of these
illegal tracks? Has the 10000 or 1900 popu-
lation who use this bridge and who do their
business in Portland, helping build us up as a
city, no call upon us to aid them in protecting
their avenue to the city? B.