The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-30

frn. EDrTUH. IL IS alleged that the High
street bridge must be, at its southeast end, of
the present height to accommodate some Of
the Grand Trunk engines, which are IA feet
inches high. Very well, the bridge is 10 feet
inches above the track. 1t can be, even on
this showing, lowered ten inches at least, and
this would somewhat relieve the grade.
The track under the lower end of the Park
street bridge is precisely the track which d.
yerses to the Grand Trunk. If this is not be-
ing smain" track to all practical intents and
purposes, it is difficult to see what main track
is. 1t has been used freely, and has but 13 feet
inches distance between the top Of the rails
and the bottom of the bridge timbers. The
High street bridge requires no more height
than this to accommodate the business.
Suppose some of, the Grand Trunk loco.
motives are, as alleged, IA feet inches, OF
even 16 feet tall, must the citizens of Portland,
and in particular hard working class thereof,
the teamsters, draymen, ETC., force their loaded
vehicles up grade as steep as the roof of a
house to save the railroad the trouble OF cutti
down smoke stack!
j 1t is said there are but t,1o of the Grand
Trunk engines but can pass under even the
lowest part of the Park street bridge. But it
is no matter if there are two hundred. High
street does not belong to any railroad, but to
the people of Portland. Their rights to COM
Portable and reasonable passage thereon should
not be wrested from them to make room fol
the superduous height Of a few smoke stacks.
The mechanic of the Boston & Maine rail
road, who is building the bridge, said in the
hearing of the writer, on Saturday afternoon
| last, "We don't mean there shall be bridge
| here but little while. 1t will be ripped down
| in year or two. "How far this party reflected
| the sentiments and re-echoed the language Of
| the railroad managers who hire him is moi
| known to the writer; but the remarks wert
| rather suggestive in connection with the al
most impossible grade which is being expens
| lively piled up by the railroad to 0bstruct the
| business of Portland and the use of one of it
| principal streets.
Will the Mayor and Alderman and all those
| interested, just take look at the place? Thi
| will be enough for argument We rather in
| cline to the opinion that no IL foot incl
4 smoke stock of any railroad will he taken a
| sufficient excuse for spelling the most impor
| tant use of High Street at the point in ques
| ton; and for making the building OF a bridg
| at all little better than ridiculous farce. TIL
| essential point is that the bridge can be at tn
| southeast end materially lowered without detri
| ment to the railroad and with greatly increased
convenience to the public The people Of Port
| land might justly be incensed as they see tn
railroad in question dividing amongst its own
ers, each six months, over quarter of mill0
of profits, while neglecting and violating it
engagements with themselves in regard to
passenger station. They certainly will not tol
crate the practical abolition of the transporta
tion uses of one of the most valuable of tn
across town avenues in the interest of that o
any other railroad. PUBLIC RIGHTS.