The Portland daily press., 1885-03-02
Peoples Ferry Conpany-A Cau.ion.

Tho controversy existing between the friends of
the proposed new ferry company from Cape Eliza
beth to Portland, and the present company. is one
in which our citizens and tax pagers should and do
take interest," and therefore our representatives
in the Legislature should take an especial care that
the charter to be given to this company should not
contain in it any provisions which should now or
hereafter, be detrim snta to the interests of our
city.
Each Of the parties interested in this matter have
had able counsel to represent them before the COM
mttee of the Legislature, and the result has been
that bill has been reported by the committee Civ
ing charter to the new ferry company, who intend
to give better facilities for the transportation of
teams and carriages between this city and Ferry
Village than now exist For this reason the feeling
in this city in favor of the new ferry and for the
further reason that it not supposed that the
city in its corporate capacity would be called upon
to contribute any money towards it, or that our
citizens were to be taxed to aid this company.
Nothing In the bill as presented to the committee
indicated any such purpose, and during the hear
ings before the committee there any intimation
given that any such aid or taxation of citizens
was intended.
The bill as it passed the Senate contained no such
provision, but when it came to the House an amend
ment was offered, apparently harmless in itself
which adopted, and if concurred in by the Sen,
ate the city of Portland and it's taxpayers will be
called upon topay an uncertain amount, sufficiently
large however in the present state of our liabilities
to add materially to our present taxes,
The action in the House on this bill 1 copy from
the legislative proceedings. viz:
ION motion OF Mr.. Staples of Cape Elizabeth
Senate document No. 81, an act to incorporate the
Peoples Ferry Co., was taken from the table the
pending question being the acceptance of the report
of the committee. The report was then accented
and the bill had its first and second readings The
came gentleman then offered the following amend
ment: Amend sec. by adding after the word
''Void the following: And it is provided that the
county commissioners of the county of Cumberland
shall not be called upon to lay out highway into
the tioe waters of Portland harbor, under act of
1873. chap. 375. until double end team ferry
suitable for the carrying of teams and carriages is
put upon said ferry route and its continuous opera
ton secured to the satisfaction of said county com
missioners. The amendment adopted and the bill
then passed to be engrossed under suspension of
the rules on motion of the same gentleman"
This bill with the amendment now goes to the
Senate for its concurrence.
NOW this amendment does not on its surface dis
close its tn meaning. what its effect will be- and
it therefore we'll for citizens to be informed
to the history OF previous attempts by those in
terested in ferry accommodations to the Cape to
involve this city in large expenditures for this OBJ
ject.
In 1878 certain citizens of Cape Elizabeth OBJ
tanned the passage by the Legislature of the follow
ing act,vz.; "Chap 375, an act to authorize and
power the county commissioners of Cumberland
county to construct and maintain public highway
into tide " ateT in the city of Portland
SEC. THAT the county commissioners of the
County OF Cumberland on petition of one hundred
or more citizens of said county, be and hereby
authorized and empowered TO locate public high
way IN bn0 clCy OF FOrbanu, SXJouClng into tide
waters, of sufficient depth, with good and sub
stantial ferry way and landing therein suitable
the accommodation and passage of teams and foot
passengers with right to take private property, in
like manner and effect as in locating other highways
in said county.
SEC. 2.-Said highway and landing shall be gov
erned and controlled by said city of Portland and
much Of said highway and landing as is not re-
CURED for said ferry purposes, may be used and
leased by said citv tor any other purposes. (Ap-
proved Feb rs, 1879
Subsequently parties who were interested in this
ferry petitioned the county com mmissioners to lay
out this highway. The city of Portland objected
thereto. aud the county commissioners after full
hearing, decided not to lay it out.
In 1875 the town of Cape Elizabeth presented a
petition to the Legislature in reference TO this pro-
posed highway, which caused the following action
by the city of Portland:
Extract from City Records, January 27, 1881
''Ordered, That the City Solicitor be and he is
hereby directed to appear before the committee on
ways ana bridges of the Legislature of this State
in opposition to the granting of the petition of the
town OF Cape Elizabeth to compel the county com-
mssioners of the county of Cumberland to lay out
erect and main ain ferry landing in the city of
Portland at the expense of said county and city,
The Legislature refused to pass any such act; and
the county commissioners, after a hearing having
refused to lay out the proposed highway the law
1873, under which they were granted power to lay
out this ferry way, has become obsolete and of no
force. Now this amendment. if adopted, will re-
vive this law of 1873, and make it possible to in
volve the city in large expenditure.
The amount which it would cost the city and
county if this law of 1873 should be revived and
the gay to the ferry boats and make suitable ac-
commodations, will be no small sum for our citizens
TO pay In taxes.
First The laying out of a roadway across the
whole length of one of our principal wharves in
central and expensive location, aud the payment of
damages therefor; the building OF drops, floats
piing etc., would make an expenditure at the be.
ginning OF not far from SlO0,000, of which
the eity's proportion would be about $50 600 the
| yearly interest of which would be S3 900.
Second-The necessary repairs on the roadway
and repairs the wharf would annually be a large
sum, and in addition, the city would be liable for
| all damages as in the case of other highways.
As citizen and taxpayer, in favor of granting to
| this new Ferry Company all reasonable privileges
and accommodations foI the transportation between
this city and the Cape, opposed to being taxed
1or that purpose, ! believe If this amendment
passes we shall be- therefore hope that our SEN
atoTs and Representatives from this city and county
viii see to it that such amendment to this ferry
charter passes and if necessary insert in the bill
| that the county of Cumberland and the city of
| Portland shall not be required to make any ex-
penditures for the benefit of this private corpora
| tion. TAXPAYER.