The Portland daily press., 1886-03-09

with the Electric Light company in the sum
of $4,000, for the complete lighting of the
streets of the city; thereby intending to do
away entirely with the use Of gas through the
substitution of the incandescent lamps. Con-
siderable criticism has been made as to the
wisdom of this substitution. While no one
has questioned the utility of employing the
arc lights where large and dark areas require
extensive illumination, yet various reasons are
urged against the incandescent system. 1t is
claimed that the erection of so many poles is a
serious blemish upon the beauty of our city,
and the stringing of so many wires conveying
strong electric currents IN every direction is a
constant menace to its safety. A practical
difficulty in furnishing light, when most need
ed. also presents itself though the breaking of
circuits by an accumulation of ice in the win
fer. and heavy winds liable to different sea-
sons. The financial argument is raised that
the CITY. being heavy stockholder in the Gas
company, is bound by every consideration of
prudence to be its own patron. Some of the
above objections can be removed by placing
the wires under ground, and it must also be
borne in mind that the expense OF mixed
system of arc lights and gas street lamps,
would be larger than the electric system as
now employed. Certainly we do not want to
take any backward steps, if it shall appear
after due consideration that they have frst
been taken in the right direction. This whole
matter will come up for discussion upon the
renewal of the contract and should receive
your careful attention.
ICE STORM.
We recall this memorable storn with feel
ings of mingled CONSERVATION and sorrow. 1t
is not within the recollection of our oldest in
habitant that like destructive storm ever oc-
cured The morning following the 2Sth
January, 1886, instnctively carried us back to
the morning Of the great fire of 1866. The
appearance, then, of those, tall, naked Chin
neys the only remnants of our homes, was
desolate IN the extreme. The feelings awakened
in US this year, as we witnessed the destruc-
ton Of our beautiful trees, the pride of our
city, were drear and sad. The same
air of desolation pervaded all, despite
the beautiful effects which such storms pro-
duce. The largest and Oldest of our trees
have suffered most and in many instances we
watched the forester with pangs of regret as
we saw one and another of these old land
marks cut down. The work Of clearing is
necessarily slow and the expense correspond
ingly large. Already three thousand dollars
have been expended, and but small portion of
the trees have been cared for. This draft upon
the city's resources can be materially lessened
Dy 6dcn cllll9ly us kuI do pOonlulcs lOuhhS dAtct
the trees in the vicinity of his home. Such
practice is not generally allowable, but the
special emergency would seem to justify it.
While the beauty and outline of our trees
have been greatly impaired. if there is prompt
application of suitable measures for their pres
ervation, it is stated on good authority that
what now seems great calamity may ulh-
mately prove decided advantage in more Wig
orous growth and beauty of foliage.
PORTLAND CENTENNIAL.
The centennial anniversary of Portland oc-
ours upon July 4th of this year, it being pre-
cisely one hundred years from that date
since what was then known as Falmouth
Neck was set off from the town Of Falmouth
and incorporated into sel arate town called
Portland. We should seem remiss in our
appreciation of the event if we let this ami
versary pass unnoticed: Upon such day,
the history of the past hundred years should
be publicly recounted, and the sons of Port
land scattered all over our country, should
be welcomed home to join with us in the eel
ebratiOn. AS the anniversary occurs upon
the Fourth of July, it might be judicious to
unite both celebrations in one. If any action
is to be taken in observing this anniversary,
allow me to suggest that it be done promptly
by the appointment of suitable committees,
as much of the work of preparation must of
necessity be slow.
OLD CITY HALL.
This building yields annually an income Of
$1,000 from rentals besides furnishing a ward
room for ward four, and armories for three
military companies. Also, to many of our
citizens, it possesses a historic signif-
canoe of much value, on which account
they strongly oppose its demolition. The spot
upon which it stands Is regarded by large
majority of our voters as the most desirable To-
cation for the monument which it is proposed
to erect to the honor and memory Of our sol
diers who died in the civil war. Whatever
my individual views may be as to the supe-
riority of this location for the monument or
the feasibility of the city's quit claiming its
interest in this property, in trust to the mon
ument association, for the sacred purpose of
their memorial. / shall regard il my duty to
subordinate them to the popular will expressed
at the polls, provided after still further inves-
tigation and discussion, measures looking in
that direction should meet with concurrent ap-
proval at your hands.
PORTLAND AND oeDRNsBURa RAILROAD.
Probably there is no subject which COM
mands such earnest attention among our bust
ness men as the city's interest in the Portland
and Ogdensburg railroad. Scarcely more than
a decade ago our city prompted by many of
its wealthiest and most influential citizens,
was led into this enterprise, and, as result
has invested in it principal and interest more
than three million dollars. We are an
nually paving in taxes more than eighty thou
sand dollars interest on this investment, and
eventually one million three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars of the principal, which re-
mains at the present time unpaid, must be
liquidated. This burden is permanently fixed
upon US and should render us doubly jealous
to secure any benefit to the city which may
result from its imposition. 1t is matter of
congratulation that the load having passed
through various stages of trial and
embarrassment, such as are seldom ex-
perienced in railroad history, has been
delivered out of them all with its identity
preserved and its usefulness never more prom
ising than now. 1t is needless to rehearse its
history, as you are familiar with it through
public agitation. The present date finds the
road in the hands of receiver, and fore
closed by the trustees for the benefit of the
second mortgage bond holders. Prior to the
expiration of the preceding city government,
the trustees asked the city to take the neces-
sary steps. in connection with the other bond
holders. for meeting preliminary to organiza-
ton of the road under the statute. Action
on this request was postponed to this city
government and the matter will very likely
come before US at an early date.
The questions growing out of the sale or
lease of this road are most absorbing and vii.'l.
However our citizens may be divided on ;he
expediency of selling or leasing the road, or
the details connected with its reorganization, yet
upon one point they are substantially agreed,
viz: that no sale or lease shall be consummated
which shall not, under its terms, absolutely
secure to our city the advantages for which it
was projected. This road was intended to
form a link in transcontinental line of rail-
way from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, the east
ern terminus of which should be our city, with
its unrivalled harbor and great natural advant.
ages as shipping depot. In the view of the
projectors, the products of the West and the
merchandise of the East were to flow in never
ending currents through the channel of the
Notch and over this grand highway of COM
merce between the oceans. am aware that to
many conservative citizens, these visions ap-
peared chimerical and also that the bright
pictures set forth by the projectors to hold the
public gaze, while the subsidies were being
voted, have been somewhat obliterated by the
pitiless hand of taxation; yet who will deny
that many lines in the original drawing are
coming true again? Not only has the Northern
Pacific been completed from Minneapolis and
Lake Superior to the Pacific coast, but also
the Canadian Pacific, not then contemplated,
has been pushed from Montreal far away into
the British possessions, draining an immense