The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-02

BOSTON, April ~, 1074.
General Samuel J. anderson, President Port
land and Ogdensburg Railroad, Portland,
Maine.
Dear Sir-I have yours of the 29th think
the report in the Argus to which you refer
must be an incorrect report of Mr.. Rands
words l was in Portland yesterday and heard
that there was such a statement. Meeting one
of the Aldermen who was present, asked him
if Mr.. Rand did make such a statement, and
he told me that he did not understand MIR.
Rand TO have made any such statement.
certainly did not say to Mr. Rand that the
Eastern Railroad had the Portland and Og-
densburg under its thumb. or that we had
been putting the screws down in any way, or
any words that could be twisted to any such
meaning.
am extremely sorry that any such reports
should have been published, but there seems to
be some parties who desire to create false
impression about the relations between the
Portland and Ogdensburg and the Eastern
Railroad. The intent seems to be to make out
that the Eastern Railroad absolutely controls
all the bus ness of the Portland and Ogdens-
burg and that the Portland and Ogdensburg
road was to be turned into Boston line to the
detrimept of Portland. have tried to correct
this impression in all proper ways aud to show
that the Portland business of the Portland
and Ogdensburg was entirely untrammelled.
l trust it is not necessary to ask you not to
give credence to any such unfriendiy reports
until you have. as you have in this case, APP
piled to us for an explanation,
Yours truly,
CHAs. f. HATCH.
Our reporter did not understand Mr.. Rand to
say that the statement quoted above was made
to him personally by Mr. Hatch, but did get
the impression that it was matter of heafsay.
Clearing the Sidewalks.
Mr.. EDIToR:-A scriptural injunction. sSer-
wants, be We obedient unto them who are your
masters" is very applicable to the present day,
considering the relation between the people and
the office holder. We have city ord nance for
the removing of Instructions from streets which
is construed and put into force according to the
views of those in power, very much to the in
convenience and interference of the wholesale
trade, and if in these dull times cask or bale
of merchandise appears upon the sidewalk, in
dcatng some little business, a patrolman goes
for it with as much avidity and authority as q
State Constable or Custom House official for a
contraband article.
TIE writer but recently visited the CONNER
cial portions of many of the largest cities IN
the South and West and one of the most en-
couraging signs of u reviving trade from the
dizziness of the past season, is the piles of goods
that are moving from the stores to the side
sidewalks end streets are blocked and filled, all
indicating some life and business. Thete are
promeuades and avenues reserved for lade:
and kid gloved gentry, but in no city aside
from this do we find any interference with the
| exhibition and movement of merchandise in
| the streets DEVOTED TO the Wholesale trade.
A community as well as an individual is af
| fected by the reputation it suetains. Lookin.
| at the vacant wbarves, the Sunday-like appear
ance of Commercial street as it appears to-day
with cleared sidewalks, one cannot wonder tina
| Portland is pub icly known as dead, dull vii
lage, "waitlng for something to turn up" q
| reputation that all the Boards of Trade or Man
! Ifactures existing cannot cOunteract.
| Therefore, pile out your goods make an ap
| De3rance of business 1T might be better L
| stop Marginal Ways and railroad encroach
meuts for additional tracks, by ndicting then
| as a common nuisance, and fill your street
with drays aud teams MI Commercial street i
| as blocked as many streets in other cities, ant
| IN the noise and rush OF such change pOssibl,
the town might wake up.
| Pardon the space occupied. Our purpose wa
to refer to city ordinance relating to obstruc
| tions. sc. If our City Fathers can't revoke
| let it remain dead letter. Ii not dead let
ter. amend it to require our merchants to ap
pear during business hours in full dress, Will
white kids, subject to the daily Inspection o
the Police Department