The Portland daily press., 1874-11-18
"X" to "W. L. p"
From TUESDAYS Adyertiser.1


1t has been expected by those best in
formed, that the versatile and accomplished
gentleman who is "regularly employed and
paid" by the Boston and Maine railroad as
their advocate in courts, public hearings,
'frog" contests and the newspapers, to de-
fend, extenuate. or extol as circumstances
might require-would put in an appearance
about this time. That he has done so, the
initials "W. L. P.." purposely employed as
we suppose, leave no room to doubt This
time it is in the role of newspaper puffer," in
which, as on many former occasions, he
proves himself master of the trade. The
skilfully put illusions to the "great improve
ments effected by the Boston and Maine rail-
road in this city," to the "Park street bridge"
to the "extension of York street." to "the
disposition of the corporation to do the best
for all concerned" etc., etc., betray hand
practiced by long experience in the arts of
adulation and eulogy bought with a price.
The public will be able to judge with what
grace, insinuations and charges as to paid
services and mercenary motives come from
such source, and reference is made to these
points solely that they may be able so to
Judge.
With regard to the origin of the various let
tiers that have appeared in the public prints,
the alacrity with which he refers them to the
Eastern and Maine Central railroads will be
readily understood, in view of the terrific ex-
coriation administered to him on one or more
occasions in time past by functionaries of
those roads, for newspaper or other imperti-
nence and misrepresentation. 1t is doubtless
true, however, that the railroads named feel
deep interest that the approaches to their de-
pots-High street amongst them-be not OBJ
structed. They might with entire propriety
seek to prevent the threatened injury, by
statements of fact and appeal to the public
sense of justice. But the gentleman wholly
ignores the fact that owners of property
and business men are deeply interested in the
same matter, that these gentlemen have had a
survey of the premises taken at their own
cost, that they have in some cases set forth in
print the results thereof and their views upon
the question by their own hand in others by
the hand of those more experienced in cleri-
cal work. This they will doubtless continue
to do until redress of grievances is secured.
I beg to add that the public do not care
row Of pins who write newspaper articles,
editorial or otherwise, or how many may
write them, or whether they are paid for it, as
is "W. L. P," or not. Their only concern is
for the facts in the case-that they be clearly
time upon irrelevancies and glittering gen.
eralities.
This latter suggestion is made for the
especial benefit of "W. L. p; for what does
his letter, entitled the "High Street Bridge"
have to say upon the bridge and upon the i'm
practicability of the grade piled up below it
by the Boston and Maine railroads Hardly
a syllable from beginning to end, and not one
that signifies anything. He assures us that
the corporation has the best of motives with
reference to all concerned, that they have
secured great advantages to the city, made
great Improvements, etc., all of which may be
or may not be true, but certainly has no
bearing upon the matter in hand.
The sum and substance of the grievance
complained offs, that the Boston and Maine
railroad have raised the bridge at High street
to such an elevation as has made
the grade below it steep beyond
the possibility of reasonably convenient use.
Does "W. L. p" deny this. Was not he
present on Saturday last at the rooms of the
city engineer in company with other Boston
and Maine employees and the street commit
tee of the City Council, devising and deliber-
ating with them how this very grade might
be made less-abrupts Was it not conceded
that the grade must be reduced? Has not
the city engineer, under instructions from the
committee constructed aplan, with view to
alleviating the difficultys Surely then there
was real cause for complaints. 1t is no just
answer to these, to say that "thero has been
no complaint at any other point than High
street, and that the railroad has on the whole
secured great advantages to the city" 1t is
mere folly to stigmatise the public expressions
of dissatisfaction as "prejudiced and en
pare." The only question is, are they Just
and well-foundsds That they are so, the ac-
ton of the street committee openly confesses
But where does the Boston and Maine rail-
road stand, as effort is made to get decent
passage way for the public from High to
Commercial streets 1t refuses to assume a