The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-20
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Special Meeting of the Board of
Mayor and Aldermen.
The Board Grants the Petition of the
street Railroad Company.

~~SNAASS VI 4NAdyOE OotIluSt AiuoAAdA
Winslow, chairman of the Board of Aldermen,
presided.
Messrs. BRINE and Melcher we're absent.
The chairman read two petitions, one signed
by Daniel Cboate and others, and the other by
Nathan Dyer and twenty-five others, in favor
of the proposed extension.
Mr.. James H. McMullen asked il the petit
tions presented were signed by property owners
and residents along the line of the proposed
route.
Mr.. John G. Cobb requested the reading OF
the list of signers by the chairman, to answer
the gentleman's question.
Alderman Emery said he would be clad to
know what objections hac been made against
the petition, as he was not present at the last
meeting.
Mr.. McMullen spoke against the proposed
extension. State street is twice as wide az
High. bat it is said SIT is too beautiful street
to have the track run through it," He failed
TO see the justice of extending the line through
High street, and believed that the value of
property on that street would be very greatly
diminished by the extension.
Mr.. William FL. Moulton, one of the gentle
men demonstrating against the proposed extern
sion, thought that the parties who own and
occupy residences along the line of the pro-
posed extension are best fitted to Judge of
what effect it would have on the value of
property along the line. High street is de-
voted to residences only, and the fact ought
to be taken into consideration. 1t is said that
the proposed extension will be required by the
New Union Depot;" but that is something
that has been talked of for the last ten or
twelve years, and is likely to be considered for
as many years to come And. besides, the pre-
posed depot has never been even located, and
| it is by no means surs that the proposed ex-
tension would in the least help forward the
scheme of such depot.
Mr.. W. s. Dana said he would rather have
the railroad in front of his house than other
wise, and he was in favor of the proposed
extension. He lived on High street, and
would pay more for house on street with a
railroad.
Mr.. Cobb believed that horse railroad
where it can be made to pay is Of benefit to the
community OF the persons signing the petit
ton you have on Danforth street Mr.. Knight,
s. G. Strout, Elias Thomas and F. G. Messer.
/ ~ANH~ SlQn6Q
the petition, and who are anxious to have the
road carried through. Mr.. Cobb said he be-
lieved that the railroad will be found OF adyan-
tage to all who live ON the streets along which
| 1t will be laid. The residents on the streets
| where the cars now run find them to be of
great advantage. Along the line of the rail
road there are few houses with "to let'' in the
| windows. He believed that il was the general
| desire of the residents along the proposed line
that the railroad should not only be built, but
| built at once.
Mr.. McMulen said that Mr.. Clifford pro-
tested against the proposed line running by his
house, and he requested Mr.. Cobb to explain
| why all concerned seem to be SO very anxious
| for new line at present.
| MT Cobb replied that the people on Vaughan
street are lew, and there is not public neces-
| sity for the road there any more than there is a
| public necessity for an extension OF the track
around the Eastern Promenade: but there is a
| pubic necessity that the depots should te
tapped, and that in the most direct way.
| Hon. @. F. Libby said that in the matter of
the Vaughan street extension, the railroad
| practically withdrew its petition but that the
| present route was selected by the directors af-
ter Careful consideration of the whole mat
| ter, to meet what they deemed to be the Dnb-
Tic convenience. There had been a general
desire expressed for the railroad to run near
the depots to accommodate those who could
| not afford to ride in hacks The proposed ex-
tension was in the interests of the general
Pubic, ana while the wishes Of property hold
ers are to by consulted, they should not be al
lowed to control in this matter, If the board
believed the extension to be for the public i'm
terests. Mr.. Libby said he was not prepared
10 admit that the horse railroad is damage to
property in any part of the CITY: on the con-
trary. he believed it enhanced the value Of
property on every street where it ran.
| Alderman Emery said that the board in the
/ matter OF the Vaughan street extension, did
not regard the wishes of the residents on
Vaughan street, but they did take into consid-
Grafton that there is already line up Congress
| and Spring, and thar Vaughan and Pine are
about the only driye-ways to reach the Prone
| made.
Mr.. Mcmillan asked Mr. Libbv wbv the ar-
tension is not asked for down State street.
| ME- Libby said that not being one of the d.
rectors OF the Horse Railroad Company he was
not prepared to answer the question. He was
informed BY the directors, however, that the
| route through High street had reference to the
proposed union depot, which it is supposed
Will be built long before the time indicated by
Mr.. Moulton in his remarks, and when built
wan De located at the foot Of High street. or in
| that immediate vicinity
Mr.. Noyes of the Common Council said that
| he should be glad to have the railroad pass his
mouse He spoke for all his neighbors
|. Mr. William Il. Wood, one of the directors
OF the Horse Railroad company said that Hon.
~. W: Inomas, who was opposed last year to
the extension then made, through Commercial
street now admits that the road is OF adyan-
tage to thepeople. Hon. G. e. Jose, who lives
| very near the road, says that he finds the cars
OF advantage to him and does not find the noise
matter OF much Importance.
Mr.. Fainsworth would oppose the proposed
extension through Emery street, but would
Iavor the extension along Spring and down
Vaughan street.
Mr.. Wheeler of the company said it is pro-
posed to run the Spring street cars as at pre-
sent, and to run extra cars to meet the trains.
| Alderman Hawkes. asked if any person was
| to Dapforth.
Mr.. Noyes had heard of no one.
.. v. Dyer said that as far as he is aware
tnere would not be dissenting voice to having
the route extended up Spring street TO Vaughan
and down Vaughan to Danforth.
| Mr. CoDD called attention to the fact that it
is admitted that the road is convenience if
not necessity. and it should be remembered
that the directors Of the company have already
given the proposed route their careful atten-
tion, and there is no stronger argument than
That which Carries with it the investment of
| dollars and cents.
Mr.. Kelsey of the Council called attention to
the TACT that the people of Wards /, 2, and 4
have frequent occasion to reach the Eastern
Maine Central and Boston & Maine depots.
MI w. L. Small would favor the extension
OF the road further up Spring street. The people
"a oouiso dsh LILO company TO give all the &C.
commodation possible
Alderman Hawkes. would like to know
what the railroad people think of the extern
sion asked along Spring to Vaughan.
Hon. Z. 4. Libby, said he never heard of the
proposed change until he came to the CITY
Building to attend the present meeting. The
petition now before the board was presented
October Sd, three hearings have been given
and at each, new changes have been suggested.
So far as as he knew the directors had never
considered the proposed change.
The chairman explained that the reason for
the postponement the previous week was to OBJ
tain full board and asked the board if in their
opinion it was advisable to further extend the
hearing.
Mr.. Cobb failed to see the necessity of furta-
or delay The question is, has evidence enough
been presented to show the necessity of this
extension?
Mr.. Farnsworth said that should the track
be taken up in trout of his house it would low
or the value of his property.
Alderman Tukesbury moved to extend the
time one week. Not seconded.
Mr.. Gould was in favor of immediate action.
The question was then put and carried and
the petition was granted to /.
Adjourned.