The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-11
CITY MATTERS.
Hearing Before the Aldermen-Ex ten-
sion OF Double Track ON Congress
street.

Hearing Before the Aldermen Exten-
sion of Double Track ON Congress
street.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen held a
special meeting last evening to determine
upon the petition of the Railroad Company to
lay turnout on Congress street between High
and Park streets. Besides this business in ac-
cordance with vote passed at the last meet
ing. His Honor appointed the following police
men to serve during the summer months:
Henry w Hale and Luther E. Skillings at
Peaks Island; Geo. Il. Williams, Eastern
Promenade; Clinton z. McIntire, behring's
Oaks, and Seth B. Day, Western Promenade
William j. johnson was appointed special
policeman without pay.
Mayor King then read the petition OF the
Railroad Company and asked what was the
desire OF the aldermen in the premises.
Alderman Hawkes. suggested that it would
be better to have the siding intercept the main
track one hundred feet this side Of Psrk. The
street was little narrow at this point, and the
travelling public would notice it if the track
should be laid up to the point the petitioners
asked for.
Alderman Gallagher thought the present
double track in Congress street might be ex-
tended up to the point where the State street
siding is at present. A continuous track would
not disturb travel as the siding proposed in the
petition.
Alderman Hawkes. said the present track
was laid In the centre of the street, and if this
track was to be made continuous he would
like to inquire if the new track would be laid
to the right of the PREF mt one or If the posi-
tions of both should be changed. II the former
there would be room but for single carriage
between the new track and the sidewalk. If
the interception with the main track was made
one hundred feet this side of Park street at
the point where Congress street begins to mar
row it would in his opinion be far better than
either continuous track or the siding prayed
for in the petition.
Alderman Noyes said that in his opinion the
petition should not pass in its present form.
The travel on Congress street was too extern
sive, and the street itself was not wide enough
at this point to permit the laying of another
track.
Considerable discussion arose on the width
OF the street, the distance between the rails of
the track, the space required between double
tracks, and the width of the cars. Finally. on
motion of Alderman Hawkes., seconded by AL
derman Gallagher, the following order had
passage, Alderman Russell aloneivoting in the
negative.
Ordered: That the Portland Railroad Com
pany be authorized to lay continuous track
along Congress street from High street to a
point one hundred feet eastward from the east
erly side OF Park street, or to such point far
Their eastward as may be deemed expedient by
the committee on streets, sidewalks and brIdg-
es. Said track shall be laid according to plans
and of such materials as shall be approved by
the said committee, and the said Railroad
Company shall conform in all respects to such
plans and specifications as said committee
shall prescribe both with regard to manner of
building such track and the materials of which
it shall be constructed. 1t is an express con-
dition precedent of this permission that the
double track hereby allowed shall be construct
ed in the middle Of said Congress street.
Mr.. Wheeler, president Of the company, then
presented another petition, asking that the
company be allowed to extend the track which
the foregoing order permits to be laid, as far
as the State street siding. Notice OF the petit
ton was ordered to be made by publication,
and hearing was fixed one week from to-
night.
At 9.15 the board adjourned.