The Portland daily press., 1886-04-01

Cr0ss-erGnlined-I have been told that the
do9ole END ferry Is OF sufficient capacity ana
VIDE enough to carry a fire engine, but do
not know that for fact Speaking individ-
ually, would say that if there was a boat
running which would afford facilities for
taking one OF our fire engines across, would
rather take risk there at an eighth per
cent less than if there were no such faeili-
ties. For instance, if the rate there was one
per cent without the facilities, | would rath-
er take it at seven-eighths if there were fa-
cilities for carrying over an engine
Moses G. Palmer testified: | reside in
Portland and have been in business here
twenty-five or thirty years. My business
amounts to some sixty or seventy thousand
dollars annually. l am acquainted with the
business interests of the city 10 some extent,
and the location of Ferry Village: In my
Judgment the business interests OF the city
and the wants of the public require the To-
cation of public highway into tide waters,
as proposed in the petition. 90 nor Know
what limit of expense WOula be JustlnaOle
in the laying out of such way, but should
be willing to pay my share OF the taxes on
$4,000 or $4,000.
Joseph II. Webster testified: l was born
in this city, and am engaged in the lnsur-
ance business. l am pretty well acquainted
with all portions Of the city, C0mmerclal
street, the ferry landing and Ferry village:
In my opinion it would be for the interest," OF
the public and for the business interests OF
the city to lay out public highway at Port
land Pier, extending into tide waters. For
the past four years l have spent the sum-
mers upon the other side, and for the first
three years | suffered great inconvenience in
getting back and forth, especially in the
evening. | could not get across after Z
o'clock in the evening without hiring boat.
For the last year we Travelled on the double
end boat, could go and come when we liked,
and were very well accommodated. Previous
to that, If | wished to return from the city
after $50 or O'Clock in the evening, was
obliged to get across in a boat, or walk
around by the bridge.
Cross -Erdnined-I am pretty well satisfied
with the present arrangements.
Re-Direct-A public highway might be of
particular advantage to me at times, but l
am speaking in reference to public inter
eStS, and not of individual interest, OF that
of any one else.
Andrew w. Smart, testified. l reside in
Portland. and am now engaged in the retail
shoe business, Previous to coming to Port
land resided at Ferry Village for about IA
years, when at home. L have followed the
sea as master of a vessel. When at home
from sea, while residing at the village, If
got into the city after eight O'Clock, seven
o'clock the most of the year, 1t would cost me
from SO to So to get round to Ferry Village
Under the management OF the OLD, Ferry
company, there was an hour at noon that the
boat did not run. tnever had occasion to
cross a great deal. Twas not at home but a
few times ia the winter, and could not tell
about the regularity OF the trips. AS TO tne
ferry house, l have seen ferry landings In
most all parts of the world, but I,haVe never
seen so mean one as we had there IL was
dlsgraceful. Itwas small and dirty, and was
used for other purposes, for storing coal, as
sleeping room, and for almost everything,
and have seen people walking around out
side While waiting for the boat rather than
go within There was always great COM
plant about the boats. | have been across
on them myself when l have had to get upon
the rail to keep out of the water. | was at
the hearing before the Legislature. 1t was
proved then that the boats were not consid-
cred safe. Witness testified that he at one
time requested the old company to run an
extra trip to the city, but that the company
refused to do so for less than So, and that be-
cause of he Inconvenience he had expert
enced he moved to the city. He thought it
was next to impossible for large boat like
the present one to run into a narrow dock
for any great length of time without meeting
with some accidents, and thought it safe to
say that no boat in New England could run
and do less damage than this one has done.
He thought the landing was much needed by
the public.
On cross-examination witness said that he
attributed the collision between the steamer
Gordon and the ferry boat last summer as
due to the mistake OF men who were lnexpe-
rienced in the handling of such boat.
Reuben B. LOring testified that he had re-
sided at Ferry Village for twenty-five years,
and had been engaged in business there and
in the city while residing there. He described
the Inconvenience experienced in getting to
and from the city, and the poor accommoda-
tions at the landing on the village side, and
testified that it had at first cost him there 20
cents hundred pounds more for ice than the
price for ice in the city, but that this advance
was afterward reduced to ten cents more
than the city price.
Michael Small testified that he had resided
at Ferry Village for about ten years, and for
about eight years of that period had been en-
gagged in business in the city. He testified as
to.the ill accommodations on the old steam
ers, and the inconvenience he had eXpe-
rienced in getting to and from his business,
especially in the winter time, and stated that
he thought the landing greatly needed, and
that, if established, it would secure the per-
manent running of the ferry.
On crOSs-eXaminatiOn, witness testified
that so far as he was individually concerned
the present arrangements were satisfactory;
that he considered the permanent running of
the steamer more secure with a public land
ing than it would be without. If the COM
pany should hire its right of way and land
ing, and keep the same in good repair, he
could not say that the public would not be
just as well accommodated as If the landing
were furnished by the county:
Caleb dyer and DR.. David A. kincaid
were called and testified as to the poor ac-
commodations afforded, and the difficulties
experienced in getting to and from the city
when depending upon the old ferry boats.
Samuel league was called and testified at
length in regard to the construction Of
that he did not think the total cost would
exceed 81, 200, and that the expense Of keep
ing the same in as good repair as any wharf
in Portland would not exceed 10 OF IL per
cent. of the cost.
Counsel for the petitioners then announced
that they were ready to proceed with the
testimony as to the damage of laying out the
way; that this was necessary, as it was one
of the elements entering into the question
whether or not public necessity demanded
its location, and that the petitioners con-
ceded that if the committee should deter
mine to locate the way, it would be for the
county commissioners to fix the damages
Counsel for the respondents stated that they
had not considered the question, but would
do so at an early day and state their views
upon it to the committee.
William o. Fox, one of the city assessors,
was then called by the petitioners. A plan
of the City Engineer was produced, showing
the location of the wharf and docks, and
from the valuation books witness gave the
assessed value of the property upon the
wharf.
AT this point the hearing was adjourned to
Thursday at $50 a. IN.