The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-11-12
THF FERRY LANDING.
Continuation of the Hearing Before
the County Commissioners.
Many Witnesses Testify in Favor of
the Petitioners.

The hearing before the county commits
sioners concerning the proposed landing at
Portland Pier for the Peoples Ferry was re-
sumed at 9 O'Clock yesterday morning in the
Superior Court room in the City Building.
Hon. j. H. Drummond, Hon. Henry b.
CleaveS and f. Fl. Hartford, Esq, appeared
for the petitioners. Hon. j. w. Symonds,
city solicitor, appeared for the city. Hon.
George E. Bird represented the owners OF
Portland Pier. Hon. c. w. Goddard and
George H. Townshend, Esq, appeared for
the remonstrants Of Bridgton, Gray. Stand
ish, Brunswick, and other towns of the
county. VIM. Fl. Looney, ESQ.,, appeared for
the remonstrants of Freeport and Gorham.
The first gentlemen called to testify in favor of
the landing were VIM. H. Sanborn and w. i.
Corey, furniture dealers of this city, Each testi-
fed that owing to the bad roads, which indeed
were extremely bad at certain seasons Of the
year, O public landing would materially benefit
his business. They had no doubt that the business
interests of both Portland and Cape Elizabeth de-
manded such a landing and that 1t would be a
public convenience.
Nelson Tenney and Alvin Deering Of Portland
testified that in their judgment the business in
terests Of Portland would be materially advanced
by public landing.
Dr. c. NJ Pingree of Portland testified that he
had frequent occasion to go to Cape Ellzabeth,
that the roads in Cape Elizabeth at this season OF
the year were very bad. He never used the ferry
He always went to the Cape with his team, and If
he could go across the ferry with team he
should do it.
MI. A. j. Robinson of Cape Elizabeth said that
public landing would enhance the value OF ii real
ness of both Portland and the Cape. He believed
that public landing would ensure the continuous
running of double end team ferry. Public
necessity and convenience in his Judgment re-
quired the location of public landing.
Ira Clay, Commercial street truclInan was OF
the opinion that time and expense would be saved
by the location of the proposed landing. AS to
expense he thought it would be reduced about
one-third.
r. M. Cole, who for twenty-five years has done
an extensive business at Ferry Village was of the
opinion that public convenience and necessity re
quire the location of public highway on Port
land Pier The Portland teams in delivering
goods would use the ferry if such highway were
Constructed. At present the teams of the mer-
chants Of both places experience great dlneulty @
tain seasons of the year the bridge is bare while
there is snow in the roads. On this account 1t
frequently happens that runners have to be
changedfor wheels andlthus much trouble caused.
Should the landing be constructed no such
difficulty would be experienced.
that he at one time supplied the people Of Ferry
Village with ice, but discontinued because OF the
additional expenses occasloned by the long as as
distance would be saved and about one-third OF
j. S, Fickett who has lived all his life at Cape
Elizabeth and has held many important town Off
ces said that the proposed landing would be
public benefit. He always came TO Portland by
either Portland or Vaughan's bridge as he lives
about half way between them and would if the
public landing were located. As general rule
people of the Cape with heavy teams would pat
roniZe the Ferry boat. He claimed that the gen
eral prosperity of the town demands 1t.
M. p. Jordan of the firm OF II. Deer1ng q Co.,
Portland and N. o. Douglass OF Deerlng, Thought
that public convenience demanded pubic land-
William Spear who is in the. coal business at
Ferry Village said that his business, and the bus
mess interests of the public generally would be
advanced by public landing.
John f. Woodbury. and Daniel f. Emery OF
of Ferry Village testified that the interests Of the
public demanded public highway,
Hon. Chas. F. Libby of this city thought that as
a matter OF public convenience and necessity the
time had arrived when such a landing should be
constructed Mr.. Libby resides during the sum-
er IF az t6 sns ann and
interests of the Cape and Portland he should say
that public landing should be located:
He said if ever pablic landing was to be secured
on our water front, now was the time to do it, as
the longer it was delayed the more it would
cost; that the growth OF Cape Elizabeth justified
it, and the business interests of our city would be
promoted by its construction. That his opinion
had no reference to the wants OF any particular
Ferry Company but was d to the
public landing-a matter OF general interest;
Upon cross-examinatien, Judge Symonds asked
Mr.. Libby if in his opinion the county should
land damages in locating would be IRON S25, 900
to $4,000, the cost of building the highway
from So 600 to 81 900, and the yearly cost to the
city of maintaining the same at least $500. Mr..
Libby said: "This is matter that addresses itself
to the Judgment of the County commissioners,
sources of the county than am; but taking your
lowest figures instead of your highest, as | judge
them more nearly correct, answer yes"
that public interests demand the construction of
the landing. He also stated that as representa-
tive of his brother he was Interested in Cape
At this point the hearing adjourned until 2
o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The hearing was resumed at o'clock yesterday
afternoon. and Captain Smart was called to the
stand. Captain Smarts testimony was TO the
effect that Portland Pier is the most suitable
place on the water side of Commercial street for
the proposed landing.
John c. Phenix testified that he is in business
in Portland, and in his opinion the necessity Of
the harbor Witness thought boat to convey
teams would be great advantage On cross,
he thought it would be desirable to lay out the
landingif 1t could be done at reasonable expense,
but he had made ne estimate OF what the cost
would be.
Joseph H. Coffin, of the firm of Dow, Coffin s.
Libby, was the next witness. He testified that he
thought the time for laying out public way had
tageOus In increasing the business Of both places,
whose interests he thought were nearly Identical.
On cross-examination as to the amount OF money
which might reasonably be expended for the pur-
pose of a landing, Mr.. Coffin thought $4,000
would be a reasonable sum.
George w. Stone was next called and testified
that he is ship carpenter, living at Cape Eliza
beth. In getting to and from his work in the city,
he has often been, obliged to go around by Port
land bridge in rough and stormy weather. This
inconvenience has been felt by many of the resi-
dents of Ferry Village. including ladies'. On
ferred to the state Of sairs existing before the
putting on OF the new boat. He remembered the
double end boat formerly on the route, and stated
Portland bridge became free, but he thought that
the boat was not taken off on account OF lack of
support. The. witness. stated that from actual
count he estimated the number OF people now
daily using the ferry at 400 or 800.
LIS. Arey of Willard testified that he does bus
mess grocery man at Ferry Village bs4s IA and bE has
to Ferry Village If the landing is laid out the
witness thought he should transport his goods
that way during four months of the year. On
pork and sugar he thought he could save fifteen
cents barrel by using the ferry Mr. Arey has
once had goods delayed two days on account OF
the bad condition of the roads and has number
of times been out of necessary articles In his
store from the same cause.
H. H. Pittee of Ferry Village was next called
and said that he had been associated with the
village for ~ years He had examined the site of
the proposed landing place and had estimated the
at I27 or 13o, and the number required for fend-
ers at from 90 to 100 Mr. Pittee then explained
the plan for the landing place.; The drop should
be 60 feet, hinged to the middle of the float, the
framing timbers to be of Southern pine and three
of them, properly trussed. The distance from the
harbor end Of the wharf to the upper. end Of the
twelve feet wide, leaving a space of twelve feet
for waiting rooms. The cost of construction has
been estimated by Mr. Pittee as follows:
Box hoat. .......-.................S 469.62
Drop. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 515.49
100000
Total cost Of landing place. 81 ,9S5.11
TrI.. 4
cost of the materials and labor required in the
construction of the drop and float, but is an Off
hand estimate as to the slip. 1t costs about
81 so each to draw and drive piles. The build
ing of the slip does not come in the legitimate
business of the witness. The float is 16x16 feet.
No allowance has been made by witness i'll his
estimate for contingencies and the expense of
examining and making any necessary repairs in
the wharf above the drop and in the solid fill. The
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