The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-08


BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
Resolutions were passed thanking the city of
Worcester for Inequalities extended. lin con-
sequence of pressure of matter we are obliged
to omit the publication of these resolutions.
The monthly statement of expenditures was
made. The following are the balances of ap-
preparations: City building $5,265.11; public
grounds $145.15; contingent So, 65; drains
and sewers 1888. IS; fire department 81, 23O.0S;
gas lights $19,5O2.4 AZ; harbor $20000 health
S191.7S; Marginal Way $109.91; public build
ings, overdrawn; support Of poor $6,597.86;
streets, &c., $685. 20; schools S4.57465; water
and hydrants S3,000.SS
John Farris, sexton a. the New Jerusalem
church, was appointed undertaken and special
policeman without pay.
Orders were made out for the commitment of
two persons to the insane hospital.
An order relating to Bartholomew drawing
books came back from the Council non concur
red in. The upper board voted to adhere to its
action and committee of conference was ap-
pointed.
The Committee on Laying out New Streets,
reported the laying out of st. John street to
the Saccarappa road.
An order was introduced requiring owners or
occupants on Middle street to put on their new
street numbers. 1t was laid on the table,
The Committee on Streets reported, estab
fishing fence line on Pleasant street, from
Park to High.
Thomas Burgess, petitioner for damages by
injury on street, was given leave to Withdraw.
Ordered, That the City Treasurer hire on cred
it of the city $34, 500 on six year per cent.
bonds to pay interest due in January on city
bonds in aid of the Portland & Rochester Rail-
road; that Committee on Drains AID Sewers
adjust sewer assessments to which exceptions
have been made; that the Legislature be petit
toned to grant authority to the city to take and
hold personal property to the additional amount
of S200,00
Petitions presented, OF Westbrook Britannia
Company for permission to erect stationary
steam engine on Plum street; of Caldwell &
Hodsdon, for same on Cross street, of Dyer
81 Curtis, for permission to erect a wooden
building on Cross street.; of Isaac Smith, for
damage by defect in the street; of steam fire
company No. 2, that the name of its engine be
changed to John +. Chase.
The committee on wharf facilities made their
report. The report stated that the Grand
Trunk proposed to make Portland the distrib-
uting point for Maine and parts of New Hamp-
shire, Vermont and Massachusetts,. Arrange
ments have been made with the Allan line for
two steamers a week, aad freight rates to Port
land have been made five cents a hundred
pounds of grain and ten cents a barrel of flour
less than to Boston. The direct advantage to
Portland is estimated at 100000 year. The
Grand Trunk wish little assistance in the
way of wharf and elevator facilities. The large
expenditures made in this city 5000, O00) has
exhausted its resources. Calls wharf (now for
sale to Portland at $4,000 gold) is the only
suitable property for the road. 1t comprises
more than Il, 900 feet of land, less than one
third being on piles and it will cost about S4O.-
900 for repairs and dredging. This makes an
expenditure of $4,000 to put it into shape.
The cost of an elevator is estimated $4,000,
making a total cost of 100000. If the wharf
is purchased at an expense of $4,000, and
thirty year bonds issued by the city, the Grand
Trunk will purchase the property from the
city. paying for the same in thirty annual pay
ments. and will construct at their own expense
an elevator and all sheds required fer their use
The committee recommend the passage of the
following order:
Ordered-That the joint standing committee
on wharf accommodations be continued, and
they are hereby authorized to negotiate for the
purchase, for and in the name of the Portland
Grain and Warehouse Company for city
wharf, 1.-THE purchase to include the wharf, build
ings, foundations and dock room known as
Galfs wharf, situated on the southerly side of
Commercial street, and lying between Atlantic
wharf on the east, and franklin wharf ard
Thames street on the west side, and to repair
and to rebuild said wharf and to dredge around
it, to obtain suitable depth of water as may
be required in the Judgment of the committee,
an an estimated cost not to exceed one hundred
and thirty thousand dollars (S13O,0OO). The
City Treasurer. be and he is hereby nauthorized
to hire on the credit of the city from time to
time, as may required for this purpose, a sum
not to exceed one hundred and thirty thousand
dollars ($130,000) and to issue city Of Portland
six per cent. not exceeding thirty year coupon
bonds, interest payable semi-annualy, in pay
menr thereof. The committee may designate
and retain such portion of the city wharf and
dock hereby purchased, as may seem to them
to be proper and required for municipal pur-
poses, for tanning curbstone, paving blocks, &C.,
&c, and they are hereby authorized and EN-
powered to negotiate for the lease of that
portion of property unoccupied by tie city to
the Grand Trunk Railroad giving in said lease
the right for said company to purchase the
| property, by making thirty (S0) annual equal
payments into a sinking fund to be established
by the city, said payments to be not less than
one-thirtieth Q-30) the amount of the principal
of the bonds to be issued and is to be held, con-
er sinking funds belonging to the city, the pro-
ceeds of the same to be applied first to the pay.
ment of the principal of the bonds issued un-
der this order, second, toward the reimbursement
OF the city for interest paid on account of the
above bonds.
The report of the committee was accepted,
and the order refused a passage by four yeas
to three nays Ia two-thirds vote being re-
quired), Aldermen Smith, Sampson and Clark
voting nay.
The vote was subsequently rescinded, and
| the order laid on the table, the following de-
bate taking place:
Alderman Daveis thought the matter of i'm
| mediate consequence, and that the order
| should be passed.
Alderman Smith SAID that much of the
trouble that had come upon the city had come
| from measures similar to this, such as margi-
nal ways, etc. While conceding that the
Grand Trunk had done more for the city than
had any other road, still, in view of the past,
he did not feel at liberty to vote for the mea-
| sure.
Alderman Daveis did not see that the city
could by any possibility come to loss. He
thought there was an immediate necessity for
the wharfage facilities asked for
Alderman Smith thought the heavy pro-
perty owners, the men whose business will be
benefited by the movement, should furnish
the money to carry it out. The owners of
small houses, the. men of limited property,
should not be called upon to pay additional
taxes.
Alderman Clark thought the property worth
not half what is asked for it, and saw no sure
guaranty that the Grand Trunk will take it off
the city s shoulders.
Alderman Clement thought the city secure
As the payment by the Grand Trunk begins
the first year the burden will not be heavy.
The Mayor explained that the proposition
was virtually the proposition of the Manager
of the Grand Trunk, Mr.. Hickson. The pro.
perty is taxed for SOL 900 since the fire which
destroyed the elevator. The improvements
projected by the Grand Trunk are valued at
$4,000. There is suit pending between Sir
A. T. Gait and the Franklin Wharf Company
in relation to portion of the wharf.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Papers were passed in concurrence
The order from the upper branch relating to