The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-02-02
FERRY VILLAGE.
The Meeting TO Obtain Better Ferry Ac-
c0mmodatiOls.

cOMmVNAAVAss
Communication between this city and Ferry
Village is chiefly had by means of the boats of
the Cape Elizabeth Ferry Company. This
company. it is claimed by the people of Ferry
Village does not provide proper transportation
and accommodation for their patrons. A
large number of the Inhabitants do business in
Portland and are dependent upon the ferry
boat to reach their places of occupation. The
trips are so arranged thar, it is claimed, it is
impossible for man to get to town in time to
commence work at the usual hour and, people
spending an evening in the city must return
home by the bridge as no boat is run after half
past seven or eight o'clock.
The present legislature has been petitioned
to 10 grant charter for new company to be
owned and operated by people of Ferry Village
Fourteen petitions, representing interested
parties on both sides of the harbor have been
presented and hearing for next Friday has
been granted by the committee on Interior
Waters to whom the matter was referred.
A week ago last Saturday, a large meeting
was held by the citizens of Ferry Village to
take measures to secure the granting of the
new charter sEd arrive at an expression of the
peoples opinion. After appointing commit
tees and transacting other business and listen
ing to various speakers the meeting adjourned
to last Saturday.
At eight o'clock last Saturday evening when
the meeting was called to order by DIR. j. w.
Lowell, the chairman, Union Hall was full of
people. the majority of whom were men
directly interested in the matter under dis
cRssioD The minutes OF the last meeting were
read by the secretary, Mr.. N. B. Knight. The
following gentlemen have been appointed as
committee TO go before the legislature: Charles
A. Tilton, H. Fl. Pittee, John f. Norman
Robert a. Davis, Andrew W. Smart, A. V.
Cole, DR.. d. !" Kincaid, Fred A. Dyer. Mr.
I. G. Hutchins was afterwards added to the
committee.
Resolutions were adopted as follows:
ReSotved-That we, the undersigned citizens Of
Ferry village, Cape Elizabeth, in public meeting
assembled hereby enter protest against the pre-.
sent conveyance across Fore River as provided by
the Cape Elizabeth Ferry Company and it is hereby
Resotoed- That patience has ceased to be virtue
and we, as the people here assembled publicly de-
clare that improved accommodations must be pro-
yded whereby the public shall be able to get to and
from the City OF Portland earlier in the day and re-
turn later at night.
1t was voted that copy OF the resolutions
be transmitted to the Legislature.
A remonstrance against the proposed meas
ure was read and it was voted:
That 1T is the sense of this meeting hat we
ulsapprove OF the sentiments contained In this
remonstrance and the motives that aotuated
the slgners thereof, as comparatively very few
OF them pass over the ferry"
The draft of the new charter is as vet not
quite complete. The charter provides for the
formation of corporation to be known as the
Peoples Steam Ferry Company. The capital
stock is not to be less than $4,000 nor more
than $4,000, and is to be divided into shares Of
700 par value. The company is to provide
boats suitable for carrying passengers and
teams and is also to have boats convenient for
the night time and when the harbor ia obstruct-
ed by ice. Suitable landing places and wait.
ing rooms are TO be maintained, together with
proper attendants, for unreasonable neglect of
which fine is to be imposed. The, rates Of
toll and the running hours Of the boats will be
determined by the charter
During the evening remarks were made by
many of those present.
Mr.. VIM. Spear referred to the bad condi-
ton of the waiting rooms of the present compa
ny and spoke of the argument used in refusing
better accommodations He said :"The company
say they found us without facilities and helped
us at great cost. Now they have hard feelings
at being obliged to do better when SO poorly
remunerated. If the company has lost money
we are sorry, but we don't think that they
have. II they are losing money we will relieve
them of their Improbable work and if they are
making money they must give better service.
Mr. L. q. Hutchins said that o company
which would continue to do business at a loss
and then hold on to that business with death
grip is too good to do business for the people Of
Ferry Village. The last time complaint was
made the company promised to discriminate
in favor of those who used the boats regularly,
They did discriminate by not allowing mans
wife to travel on the same Communication ticket
with himself. That is discriminating little
bit too much.
Contributions to defray necessary expenses
were called for and made with liberality, and
after some further discussion the meeting ad-
journed.
1t is understood that if the new charter is OBJ
tanned certain gentlemen are willing to take
the stock and guarantee to operate the compa-
ny satisfactorily and without expense to the
town of Cape Elizabeth.