The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-11-25
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Special Meeting of the City Council
Last Evening"
Communication and Order in ReIa-
ton to the Maine Central Lot.

A special meeting of the City Council was held
last evening. A quorum in the upper board not
being present business was Immediately intro
duced in the lower board
Common Council.
Absent Messrs. Woodbury., Beals Somers,
Smonds, Higgins, Rumery, Mcclellan, Williamson,
Lang and Briggs Councilman Thomas P. Shaw
was chosen chairman pro. tenl., and Mr. F. G.
Fassett clerk.
THE MAINE CENTRAL LOT.
The following communication from the presi-
dent of the Maine Central Railroad Company was
read by the chairman
PORTLAND, Nov. II, 1886.
To the Honorable Afdyoralld City Council Of the
Referring to your action relating to lot of land
conveyed to this company in 1882 under certain
conditions, we desire to state that this lot was
purchased for the purpose and with the full nten-
ton of erecting the machine shops of this company
thereon.
We did not expect at the time of purchase to
Immediately move our shops, but did intend to do
so within reasonable time. Circumstances oc-
curing since then have made the delay unayoi
able on our part, and we are not now prepared TO
take definite action.
We have no desire to evade in any way any part
of our obligation, but feel the necessity of asking
you for further time.
Nearly four years have elapsed since the agree
ment referred to was made, and we recognize the
propriety of your demanding some definite action
on our part and while we are unable to decide at
the present time to erect our shops on the lot re-
ferred to, and while it may be decided to be i'm
practicable to do So for the purpose of reaching
at this time mutually satisfactory adjustment OF
the question between us we respectfully submit
the following proposition:
committee from our board to fix upon fair valua-
tiOn OF the property referred to. If said commit
tees fail to agree upon valuation, they shall
select third party, competent and diSinterested,
to make such valuation This company TO agree
erect IFS SlOng tha LOT before the
day of January, 1889; falling to do which they
will take the property at the valuation fixed as
above or surrender it to the city.
We have important reasons for asking that the
date for final decision of this matter be fixed as
previously stated and it is fair to presume that
the taxes paid meanwhile upon this property VIII
be fully equal to any income that the city might
derive were it in their possession.
President Maine Central Railroad Company
In accordance with the above communication
the following order was passed:
That the committee on reduction of the public
debt be directed to confer with a committee of the
board OF directors of the Maine Central Railroad
Company to fix upon fair valuation of the land
conveyed to said company in February, 1882;
with Instructions that if the said committee fail to
agree upon valuation they shall select parties
competent and disinterestedto make such valua-
ton; each committee selecting one person and the
two SO selected choosing third; and the yalua-
ton fixed by the three persons SO selected shall
be final and conclusive upon both parties. And
be it further ordered that if neither the commit
tees HOI the dfDlIfdJOIS ABOVE SelecIeQ snail
upon valuation before the twelfth day of Decen-
Der, 1885, the city solicitor is hereby instructed
to bring an action against the said Maine Central
Railroad Company for the recovery of the land so
conveyed for breach of the conditions OF the deed
as provided for in an order OF the city council APP
proved November Sd, 1885.
Councilman Wilson thought that the passage of
the order would make the matter binding In his
opinion the committee should report back to the
city council
Mayor Deering said that it was not his custom
to approve such actions by committees until re-
port was made to the city council.
Councilman Hobbs thought that it would be fix
ing the value today for land in 1889, which might
be worth more at that time.
Councilman Shaw said that certain conditions
had arisen on account of which the managers of
the road could not at present carry out their orig
nal intentions The order was passed by vote
of to g. Chairman Shaw preventing the tie
ORDERS PASSED.
That the city treasurer give to Mrs Julia W.
Rich deed OF lot of land on the westerly side of
street. containing 5000 square feet, at the rate
OF eight cents per square foot
That the city treasurer give to Wellington A.
Wry deed OF lot of land on the corner of and
Cstreets, containing 5000 square feet, at the
rate OF eight cents per square foot.
In Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Absent: Aldermen Birnie, Noyes and Sawyer.
Mayor Deering called the meeting at 500 O'Clock.
Upon reading the communication and order
with regard to the Maine Central Railroad, Mayor
Deering said that while no suit had yet been be-
gun against the road for the breaking of the con-
tract OF 1882, yet circumstances made it necessa-
ry to come to some conclusion on OF before Dec.
IL, 1886. The communication was placed on file
and the order passed.
Alderman Denison, chairman of the joint stand
ing committee on unimproved real estate, pre-
sented report recommending that all land be
longing to the city lying between the Western
Promenade and Arsenal street, and land lying
east OF the easterly side line of street, between
C..street and land of the j. B. Brown estate, be
reserved for the promenade and turned over to
the commissioners of cemeteries and public
grounds. The report also gave notice that at the
next meeting of the City Council this committee
will offer an order embodying the above recon-
mendation for such action as the City Council may
take.
The petition of twenty-five citizens for an cleo
trio light to be placed at the corner of Madison
and Washington streets, was referred to the
committee on street lights.
Papers passed by the upper board received con-
cnrrent action by the Common Council.