The Portland daily press., 1879-06-20
THE PORTLAND g. ROCHESTER, SALE.
Opinions Of Prominent Citizens.

In order to obtain an expression of the views
of our leading citizens about the sale of the
city's interest in the Portland g. Rochester
Railroad representative of the PRESS yester-
day visited lmany such, and the gist of their
conversations in regard to the matter is given
below. 1t will be noted that these gentlemen
are of the unanimous opinion that the city
should get rid of the property as soon as
possible and nearly all thought Mr.. Wescott's
bid of S175,5 should be accepted unless more
could be obtained that the bids should be
rejected and the interest of the city sold BY
auction.
Hon. Jacob Mcclellan said that he did not
consider the offer of $175, 800 enough, if for
that amount all rights were relinquished and a
quitclaim deed or release were given. He
should not be surprised at larger bid, but
has no knowledge of any such. While he
thinks the Wescott offer is small was not
prepared to say that he does not wish the city
to accept it, if no more can be obtained.
Chas. Mclaughlin compared the city to an
individual who owns bad debt which, while
worthless to him, may be of value to another
The property is worthless to the city and
should be sold for the most it will bring; the
city can't expect to get all it is worth. He
thought serious and embarrassing condition
of affairs might arise if the city should sell
without consulting the seven per cent bond
holders. This question should be thoroughly
examined and settled by the best counsel
procurable before any sale is effected.
Before selling it should be clearly settled
what the city has to sell. He thinks the
interest should be sold at public auction
provided a minimum bid of S175,5OO be OBJ
tanned. He thought the Grand Trunk Rail-
way Company might desire to secure the road
He is of the opinion that the interest of the
city is worth more than Mr.. Wescotts offer and
that more might be secured.
Mr.. Mclaughlin is perfectly satisfied that
Portland cannot afford to run railroad and
it is useless to try and force trade from its
natural channels by building new roads.
Mr.. Geo. S. Hunt was next visited and
stated that he had not studied the subject but
he thought the city should dispose of its
Rochester stock on general principles;
don't believe in the city's running railroad"
Mr. Thomas Shaw, of Shaw, Hammond &
Carney, said it would be foolish thing to sell
better be done than endeavor to carry it
longer The bids should be rejected and the
city's interest sold at public auction to the
highest bidder Is doubtful about the position
the seven per cent bondholders might take
Mr.. George e. B. jackson authorized the
statement that the Davis bid was not in the
interest of his road; that they had not thought
of buying and didn't want the Rochester road
He deems it for the interest of the city to sell
for the most that can be got at public auction.
He said that railroad men in other cities were
of the opinion that the road should be run as
a local road, and if SO run can be made to pay
a fair percentage on an investm ent of about
$4,000. The attempt to make it through
line has failed. In evidence of this he showed
the following tabulated statement taken from
the Rochester Roads reports: