The Portland daily press., 1885-11-13
THE FERRY LANDING.
The Testimony for the Petitioners
Completed Yesterday.
Judge coddard's Opening the Case
for the Renonstrants.

for the Renonstrants.
The hearing was resumed yesterday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. The attendance was not
large.
The ross-examination of Samuel league
was continued. He said the cost of drawing
the piles would be dollar apiece. The cost
of driving piles would be $1.75 OF ~ each
Over hundred piles would have to be driven.
He estimates the cost of building the whole
landing at $2100.
Albert J. Robinson of Portland testified
that in his judgment the cost OF constructing
the box would be $3.50, the drop $515.49 MAX
ing total of $965.49.
Mr.. Pittee of Cape Elizabeth testified that
the damage to buildings on the wharf, ac-
cording to the plans, would not exceed 1925.
On cross-examination he stated that Lewis.
Chase & Whitten's store would be left with
out an approach for teams. He thought the
damage to the buildings in reduction of rent
would be about $3.50 a year.
N. R. Dyer of Cape Elizabeth testified that
the cost of constructing the float would be
1925.
Mr. John w. Lane of Portland testified
that he is a real estate owner, paying tax
of over $4,000. He thought the pub
lie convenience demands the location of the
landing.
M. G. Palmer of Portland testified that it
would add to the public convenience to To-
cate landing.
VIM o. Fox of Portland, one of the asses
sors, testified that the assessed value OF Port
land Pier is $20500
I'll H. IF fhn
substantially the same testimony as Mr.. Fox.
Mr. York testified that he examined the
wharf property at the requests of Mr.. Cleayes,
and the assessors spent one hour in the ex-
animation.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The hearing was recommended at half past
one O'Clock, and Stephen X. Marsh, one OF
the city assessors, and George r. Davis, real
estate agent, testified that in their Judgment
the laying out of the proposed landing place
would not cost on account of damage to sur
rounding property more than $780, Letters
from large number of signers to the remon-
strances, stating that they had signed the
circumstances under a misrepresentation OF
the facts, were introduced as evidence. This
closed the evidence for the petitioners
The Remonstrants.
Judge Symonds stated that there being
number of different interests represented by
counsel and as he desired to shorten the
hearing as much as possible, he would defer
any remarks he might wish to make and sum
up the case at the conclusion of the hearing,
leaving Judge Goddard to open the case for
the remonstrants. The other counsel con-
| Judge Goddard then opened the case for the
remonstrants, speaking substantially as fol-
| lows:
have the honor to represent the remonstrants
of eight or ten towns of Cumberland County, Mr..
Looney representing the other two These towns
have an aggregate population OF 22,oO0 and they
900 75I q the Residents of the towns have sign
ed remonstrances to the granting of this petition
Deducting the eighty-fye recaEtations, leaves
| over six hundred signatures and many Of them
are the names of the most liberal and public spir-
tied of the people of the county Iamnformed that
| the list of names from Brunswick might be quad
It has been alleged that the remonstrants
| through their counsel have mlsrepresented facts,
but this cause cannot be contested upon such ac-
| cusation. AS to the charge that the cost of the
landing has been grossly oyerestimated, think
it will be shown that an estimate OF $4,000 cost
and annual expenses of $500 will not be found
to be too high.
the 81 or So witnesses called by the petitioners is
think that the roads of Cape Elizabeth between
Ferry Village and Portland Bridge are IN an ex
have not been indicted as nuisance or repaired,
fhe next thing demanding attention is that the
business of Ferry Village and Willard has been
very much overestilnated: MI. Iilton bases
his estimate shSTg that or
the assumption that each family in Ferry Village
and Willard annually expends $500 in this city.
When we take into consideration that nearly
every one of these families raises its own garden
vegetables, pays its house rent and buys its coal
Sapf # would eertany SHOW that - the
earnings and resources Of the people Of Cape
Elizabeth are much superior to those OF the PEG
pie Of other towns IN the county. think 1t IS
safe to say that onethird the amount estimated is
above the amount expended.
The Inconvenience to those who wish to come
y IRON the Cane tn Portland and Taturn the
ming has now ceased to existsand it is IA singular
| fact that Notwithstanding the condition Of the
| teamed in transporting them from Portland to
| Ferry Village, the witnesses called by the petit
TONER'S and several of those witnesses store
keepers are all eager to state that prices are
| higher in Cape Elizabeth than in Portland. The
coal dealer at Ferry Village besides ms MS business
the harbor. 1t is true that one of the witnesses
stated that he was obliged to give up the ice bust
ness at Ferry Village because of the difficulty of
carrying it but his place is now supplied by two
parties so that the residents may take their
choice. Moreover, the Portland merchants SEND
their teams around and deliver goods free of
charge.
These facts are taken from the testimony of the
witnesses called by the petitioners and in them
selves show that there is not that necessity which
would warrant the laying out Of this landing.
The gentlemen whs own and operate this ferry
benefit the city and county, but when they had
their boat constructed went to Bath, in the coun-
ty of Sagadahoc. This fact may not be, of much
importance but it is significant And then it is
found that the boat is unsuitable for carrying
teams, in that the passage for teams between the
cabins is but eight feet broad. 1t can be shown
that great many jiggers in use in this city have
width of 812 feet and even were the passage wild
ened fourteens inches as has been said to be pos
sible there is space of only four inches left be-
tween the wheels Of a large jigger and the parti
lions. If horse should get restless he could lot
be reached unless by climbing over or under the
teams which might be in front or behind him.
Then the failure o. hf be atP f. 9p a ae
one of their own witnesses has stated that the
boat cannot be run without county aid.
The expense of the landing has been greatly
under estimated. 1t is safe to estimate that an
expense of $25,000is to be put upon the county
$500 .upon the CITY for the maintenance Of this
way The desire to Increase business and public
convenience at public expense Is a laudable one,
as can be seen in the ease of this citys experience
in building two railroads. So great did this abuse
become that the eglsatare OF our s1aae iOuna u
which towns and cities might expend for such
purposes to five per cent Of their valuation.
We shall show that this landing place II built
would not give you what you want. The intent of
the act is to accommodate all ferry companies
and regular lines of passenger steamers A public
landing carries with it the idea of landing for
every ferry company. One-third OF the time this
landing is to be occupied by the Peoples Ferry
Company. who seem to hold that during certain
times the landing is to be reserved for them. If
my idea is correct and think it is. the running
time of this company is liable to be interfered
with by the presence of other boats in the slip.
No ausion has been made by the petitioners to
the costs for accident TO persons passing across
Commercial street, down the wharf and landing
place to the steamer, and the arrangements for
getting on and off the boat are unsuitable.
In conclusion, we should feel safe to leave this
matter as non-sut, as enough has not been
shown to warrant the laying out of the way.
At the conclusion of Judge Goddard's plea,
Oren B. Written of the firm of Lewis Chase
& Written, lessees of the building at the end
of Portland Pier, testified that the building
is used for packing fish and the selling Of
groceries, The firm leases the entire new
part of the wharf, paying 81, 100 therefor,
The taxes on building erected there by the
firm, and the charges for repairs. The firm
has the right to collect wharfage on this part
of the wharf If the landing place is laid
out as planned, the firms property is rem
dered valueless to them, being almost mac
cessible. If the ferry way is laid out, vessels
there would be no opportunity for storing
cargo The end of thelwharfis the most val
liable part and if it is taken away, the rest