The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-18
UNION STREET sEwnR.
Hearing Given by the Board OF Alder
men.

|
case. Previous to taking up this case the fol-
lowing business was transacted:
Abner Paine presented petition for lie
cense as victualer at 129 Green street, and his
petition was referred to the appropriate COM
mittee.
Albert Warwick, in behalf Of the proprietors
of Dyer's wharf, presented petition stating
that the sewers emptying into the dock ma 10
SO much deposit that the business Of the dock
was very much decreased. A sewer laid out
by the City Civil Engineer, in connection with
one from the Boston & Maine, made such
quantity Of obnoxious deposits that vessels
would not use the dock, land they petitioned for
some remuneration. The petition was referred
| to the committee on claims.
Mrs L. G. Pennell presented petition for
damages, claiming that she had been wrongly
used by being sent to the Insane Asylum, and
asking recompense from the City Govern
ment. The petitioner was given leave to with
/ draw.
1 Andrew j. Davis and others petitioned for
lamp-post on the corner of Anderson and
| Madison streets. Referred.
The Mayor stated that the meeting was
called principally to hear the petitioners on the
| Union street sewer case and read the report
of the City Civil Engineer as presented at the
last meeting of the City Council. He request
cd any who had anything to say on the matter
| TO state their case.
Nathan Webb appeared in behalf Of the pro-
prietors of Union wharf. He thought the Civil
Engineer had made great mistake in his es-
Inmates, owing to the fact that he did not know
of the construction of the wharf To carry tho
sewer down through the wharf would injure it
and tho property on it to the extent Of $780,
co., The wharf is constructed in peculiar
manner The under portisn is q crib work,
somewhat open, in skeleton form. On this has
been laid large timbers which support layer
of large rocks On these rocks have been
placed large quantity of shells which prevent
the washing away by the tide tho earth on the
surface. To cut the crib work to allow sewer
down through would give it tendency to
lean, and to cut the timbers it supports would
affect them in the same manner. Taking of the
stone, as it would be necessary TO, would ex-
pose the shell work to the action Of the water,
doing it great injury and much impairing
the strength of the wharf. For this the pro-
prietors Of the wharf would claim damages In
addition there were 80 stores on tho wharf
held separate property by individual
some ten or twelve in number-each OF whom
would claim damages. Also the corporation
season of the year the stores are very busy and
business would be interrupted Tho owners
would run the risk of losing their tenants and
would ask damages for that On the other
hand tenants who remained would claim DAM
ages, and they must object to the sewer being
laid down through the wharf. There ID . very
heavy wall at the end of the wharf made OF
that class of stone which cannot be broken
through like regular laid stone and for the
damages to this claim would be made. The
damages would be very large by injuries done
to the wharf, the obstruction to business and
the loss of the tenants. IT the board should
lay the sewer and not award the damages sc-
cording to their estimates, they would be
obliged to appeal and claim proper remun-
GRAFTON. The engineer made but very little
difference between the routes and it was csr-
tainy better policy TO carry it down through
Widgery's wharf where there would be no
such large damages, than to break up Q solid
roaadbed interrupt business and bring on
large claim.
n o. Cram thought it would be general IN
terruption to business. There was not store
or she'd on the wharf but what was full, aud
no business could be done when it was being
constructed The engineer had not estimated
the damages enough. 1t looked TO him very
impracticable and very expensive to carry it
down through the wharf.
Simeon Shurtleff testified to the solidity of
the wharf, and didn't see how they were going
10 cut through without spelling it. 1t would
undermine the stores, and knowing the condi-
BILE for them to do it.
Alderman Deering asked if their would be
any objection to their going down beside the
wharf
Mr.. Webb replied that there was an ohjsc-
ton; that sewer running down the side
would be in the way of vessels and would crush
the piling. 1t would besnecessary to drive pill
ing to protect it.
Alderman Tukesbury asked If there was any
objection to its being carried down through
Widgery's wharf
A. E. Stevens stated that there were great OBJ |
jections. but there seemed to be no one present |
to state them. He was the only one present |
interested and hoped the others would be given |
an opportunity to be heard For himself he |
learned that by the report of the engineer that |
the sewer would run under his store. aud that
the box would be spiked to the piling. Bis |
store was very heavily loaded and he did not |
think the piles would stand the pressure. They
had been driven several years and he did not |
think that with the ice that would accumulate |
on the box they would be able to support it,
Alderman Winslow moved that the Wild |
gerry wharf owners be granted a hearing at tho |
next regular WeAting.
Alderman Deering thought that the object |
of the meeting was to listen to all parties iu- |
trested, and they should be present II they |
any money left to build the sewer If il should |
be laid out
The Mayor replied that there was not.
Alderman Deering did not see why this board |
build. AS for the best route, the assessed |
value of Union Wharf was only $4,000, be |
did not see where the $4,000 damages would !
come. The average depth was only seven feet
and the cost would not exceed the engineers |
estimate very much He thought it was not |
impracticable and that it would not injure the |
wharf He moved to indefinitely postpone |
the matter but the motion was not seconded. |
Alderman TukesDury did not see the nersssi- |
ty of combining the .outfall to Union Wharf.
Vbxyr, ot vii "a or1er mi min lou ~
between Central and Long Wharves.
Alderman Deering said he did not object to |
laying it out. but did not want to lay it out for
another board to act on.
Mr.. Webb SAID he was not only there in be- |
half of Union wharf as to running the sewer |
down through it, but also for an abatement, |
of the sewer If the action was postponed nm |
til another year, and they were obliged to bear
these sufferings that length OF time, the city |
would surely be indicated when the grand |
jury met in January.
Alderman Deering had no objection to lay
ing out the outfall if that would do any good,
it out. Cold weather was coming and it was
very impractcable.
Alderman Hassett, thought the objections
raised to this wharf would apply to every
wharf in this city. If they built 1t through
this they would have to build through others.
Why not build large sewer through CONNER
cial street with one general outlet.
Alderman Winslow stated that this was also
his plan. He thought Mr., Webb's reasons
very good 1t would injure the wharf, and If
this sewer emptied at the end of the docks they
would need dredging the same. They all were
in the same condition, and he favored the plan
of one grand sewer. 1t was only an expense
to build down through the wharf, and might
be money thrown away. He thought it would
be a good idea to shave engineers from other
cities come here and look at the plan. The
extensions in back bay seemed to do no good,
nor do away with the stencil. Other wharves
were complaining, and the general sewer
seemed the best plan.
Alderman Little was not very familiar with
sewers, but he thought the Union street sewer
was in bad condition and should be abated. Ii
the owners of the wharf had wanted the sewer
to be built and had been in favor Of it, he
should have been in favor Of doing it il posi-
ble But if it was to take the sum stated BY
Mr. Webb he thought the Board should look
about for some general plan that would abats
the nuisance. AS sure as Sic, 900 was laid ont
on Union wharf there would be other damages
the money would be spent and the work not 4
done in the manner it should be. He was in
favor of abating the nuisance, and hoped the
engineer would present some plan whereby it
might be DONE
Alderman Deering thought the matter should