The Portland daily press., 1885-03-03
THE PEOPLES FERRY.
How Cape Elizabeth Feels Towards H.
A Handsome Vote from the Town.


ing reading "to see what instructions the town
landing, Ferry Village" 1t was understood
that the proprietors of the present line would
be on hand when this article was read and
would make liberal offer for the privilege of
continuing to land there. This called out
probably the largest crowd that ever staid the
day out at the town house. The building was
packed, and for selectmen 618 votes were
thrown. Mr.. Tilton, the candidate from Ferry
Village, received $50 votes while his associates
got 1896 and 371. Although straight party
tickets were in the field, many Republicans
from the Ferry voted for Mr.. Tilton, as
specially representing the interests in the ferry
matter. The article above mentioned came up
in the afternoon. As soon as it was read by
the Moderator representative OF the present
line submitted proposition which he wished
read to the voters. This proposition, whatever
it may have been, was Immediately laid on the
table by unanimous vote, and vote passed
instructing the selectmen to lease to the
Peoples Ferry line, in case they received a
charter, the landing in Ferry Village for the
period of 10 years at 81 per year. There was
not a dissenting voice, and both votes were
passed without any opposition whatever.
Yesterday a representative of the PRESS
called upon the Messrs. Spear of Ferry Village,
who are the parties that are behind the Peo-
ple's Ferry Co., and who win probably take
large share in the stock. Messrs. G. o. and
A. M. Spear are brothers, who have recently
returned from Wisconsin, where they have an
extensive lumber business, and settled In Ferry
William Thav hova oaruirad nanc;daro hlo
fortune in their Western business, and being
once residents of Cape Elizabeth, have re-
turned to their old home to enjoy it. Mr.Wm.
Spear the coal dealer in Ferry Village, lis also
interested to considerable extent in the new
line. Messrs Spear are thoroughly acquainted
with steamboat matters and will personally see
that the new boat will be Just such an one as
the people need. The plans of the new boat
have already been drawn. 1t will be 80 feet
wide and nearly 100 feet long, with ladies
cabin on one side and gents'cabin on the 9TH
er, both having all the necessary convenien-
cies. Over all will be promenade deck. Ev-
erything will be new and of the very best de-
sign. The engine will be a Harris-Co en-
gine, and plans for it are in the hands OF the
Harris Works, in Providence, r. I. The hull
will be built in Bath. Two parties there are
being negotiated with, but the New England
Ship Building Co., will probably do the job.
The charter calls for O boat to be placed on
the line within 80 days after date OF its pas
sage,b but the parties who are to build the above
will give bonds to have everything ready in so
days.
Mr.. Spear gave the following information in
regard to the establishing of the present line,
| and also stated the reasons Why the people OF
| Ferry Village are SO anxious for a new line.
| Mr.. Spear saids "In 1871 the old company,
| that ran the Ell. n. Day, failed through poor
management and the present company obtained
| obliged the company to run boat from a. m.
| to 8 p. m. ia the six warm months and from
$50 to 7.30 in the other six. It did not state
| the number of trips that should be run per day
or the style of boat that should be
| put on the route. 1t did not make
| any allowance for Sunday either
charter and not started on Sunday trips until s
o'clock They have also, in stormy weather
| and in some very moderate storms, been. in the
habit of laying off and stopping early, claiming
| they could do SO under the charter. The boats
| they have given us have been small and in
capable of carrying any heavy freight, so that
no attempt would be made to ship heavy
| goods that way, taking them around by the
bridge instead. One of the boats, the Jo-
sephine Hoey, has long been considered unsafe
and the risk in going across in her has some
times been very great. OF late she has had no
cabin and people in their hurry to get to the
1 h0at uould hncoma haated and tho couuou COW.
ering would not protect them, 80 that bad colds
have been the result. The waiting rooms
have also been very bad. The IL O'Clock boat
has been run SO that people who work up to
that hour could not reach it in season, SO they
were obliged to eat cold dinner. IT they got
off early they couldn't get back until LIS
| o'clock as there was no 1890 trip. There are
| 2.500 people in this region of the town and we
are all barred out from the city after o'clock
| at night. There are no places Of amusement
here and We cannot get to Portland to any un-
less we pay good price for the boat to rnn an
| extra trip. The people here are great lovers of
evening amusements, and if they could get to
the city without going around by the bridge
would travel a great deal in the evening.
There are also a great many here who belong
| to secret societies in Portland but it has been
SO long since some of us have been to our
lodges that we have almost forgotten how to
get into them, simply because we can't get
back from them without walking four miles
Our property. upon which many valuable i'm
provements have been made, has been steadily
decreasing in value and will not bring as
much as it would when the present company
| put on their boats. The results of this kind of
ferry, accommodation has been that class of
| people have come over here simply because
to make the rents low to get tenants. The
company says we have not appealed to them.
| This we have done repeatedly. They say the
property does not pay, giving dividend of
only II per cent. If the company cannot
make 1t pay the people propose to take it into
their own hands. One of our townsmen, o
thoroughly reliable person, was stationed in
| the two coldest days we had this winter, where
he could count the people who took passage by
the boat. One day there were 551 and the
next 559. This represents the number of pec-
pie who are actually obliged to cross every
| day.
In answer to the communication from "Tax
Payer" in yesterdays PRESS Mr.. Spear said:
"The statement that a roadway down the
wharf in Portland will cost 100000 is wrong.
1t can be done by private individuals for $780,
600 and by the county, with the laws it has
behind it, for much less than that sum. We
will guarantee that it shall not cost over this.