The Portland daily press., 1886-12-06
THE cITY's INTERESTS.
Some Matters to be Presented at the
City Meeting Tonight.
The subcommittee of the ogdens-
burg Opposed to the Lease.
Legislation to be Asked for a Back
Bay Commission.

regular
meeting tonight. The following were the
questions and answers:
REPoRTER-lt is reported, Mr.. Mayor.
that some measures are on foot for relieving
Portland from the support of Prides and
Stroudwater bridges?
The MAYoR--If you think moment you
viii remember that one hundred years ago
Falmouth, Portland, Westbrook and other
towns were all classed together, and that
Portland wanted to be set off as separate
town. The other towns objected unless
Portland would agree to support Pride's
and Stroudwater bridges. Since then these
towns have all been sub-divided and have
become wealthy. Portland has supported
these bridges for hundred years, and it
now seems only right that the rich towns in
which these villages are located should take
care of them, especially when we consider
traffic now comes into Portland over the
railroads.
REPoRTER-How is it in regard to a prop
osition to annex to Portland a portion of
Deering?
The MAYoR-Petitions will be presented,
/ understand, to Portland, and also to the
Deering authorities, by the people living in
that portion of Libby's Corner, in Deering,
to be annexed to Portland. The point of the
petition is to have the lines between Port
land and Deering Strengthened. AS the
lines now run the people living on Douglass
street in Portland are obliged to pass
through Deering in order to vote, and the
children have to in order to attend school.
The people of Deering in that vicinity enjoy
al the advantages of Portland without hav-
ing to pay for them. The electric arc light,
for instance, at Libby's Corner, illuminates
Deering instead of Portland,
REPokrER.-What is this story in refer
ence to the establishment of Back Bay
Commission?
: The MAYoR.-It is proposed to establish
Back Bay Commission similar to the one that
has been so successful in Boston, and was es-
tablished some twenty years ago. Under
that commission the Charles River and South
Boston flats were condemned and filled, re-
sultlng now in the best part of Boston. I'm
der such commission the rights Of owner
ship in the flats would be determined, the
flats condemned and gradually filed. BY
means of the present City Government, $26,-
600 has been secured from the United States,
which will widen the Back Bay channel 300
feet and give depth Of water of u feet at
low tide. The material taken from this ex-
cavation could be used very largely in filling
the flats, and, once reclaimed, they could be
used for better class of buildings than
would be liable to be erected under the pres
ent drifting policy. If, in addition, High
SblCct SuOulu Ue through Deer
ing's Bridge-as has been stated In the PRESS
the getting rid of the tanneries and slaugh-
ter houses would result in a decrease OF the
odors that have caused such universal com
plant
REPoRTER.-How about the necessary leg
islation in regard to this matter?
THE MAYoR-That might be reached by
asking for specific and greater power to our
Board of Health Already She Board has
done much by restricting contagious dis
eases and removing the causes for disease by
means OF the ordinance passed the first of
October The health agent, Mr. Sayward,
has attended to 1900 complaints the past
season and had them remedied
REPokTER-How about restrictions in re-
gard to the erection of buildings?
The MAYoR-Legislation should be asked
for comforting on the Aldermen more power
In regard to restrictions on building opera
tions than they at present possess. Now the
Aldermen cannot prevent the erection of
building they consider dangerous to the pub
lie.
REPoRTER-Will the City Council proba-
bly, ask for restrictions in regard to the mat
ter of the proposed lease of the Portland &
Ogdensburg by the Maine Central?
THE MAYoR-The City Council will not
be asked to act on the matter unless the di-
rectors should vote to accept the PROPOSE
ton. In that case the next step would be to
get the consent of the City Government,
and after that of the people. Probably the
directors of the Portland 81 Ogdensburg will
consider the proposition at their meeting to-
morrow afternoon.
REPORTER-D0 you think that the propo-
sition will be accepted?
THE MAYoR-At the meeting of the SUBJ
committee OF the directors, to whom the
proposition was made, and at which three of
the four members were Dresent-the fourth
being absent from the city-they were unan-
imous in their opposition to its acceptance.
Asto the action Of the full board in the
matter / cannot speak until after the meet
ing eff the City Council, Monday night, ask
ing the city government to request the board
OF directors OF the Ogdensburg to issue
stock to the city for $2S3.500, covering the
amount of four years interest from Nov. 1,
1871, paid up to May 1st, 1875, covering the
z. u o. mortgage-the second mortgage-to
the city, claimed by some to be disputed by
the other bondholders. This will be done in
mination. It would seem to be equitable
that this additional amount of stock should
be issued to the city.
REPoRTER-Is it proposed to ask for leg
islation in regard to a change in the number
OF the school committee?
THE MAYoR-It is. 1t seems advisable to
enlarge the committee. There should not be
less than fourteen members, composed of
both political parties, and embracing women
as well as men.
REPoRTER-What about the police law?
Are there any changes you would recon-
mend?
The MAYoR-I do not say am prepared
TO recommend any legislation for changes
the coming winter, but l think with the
growing wants of our city, and the extra de-
mands on the force, that before long the
force must be increased somewhat If that
change should be made, 1t would be well to
provide that the deputies should be remov-
able at the pleasure of the Mayor or Mar
shall, and that the patrolmen, instead of
holding office until sixty years of age, should
oe chosen for term of, say FIVE years.
Thus If there were forty policemen, eight
would be appointed every year and eight go
put. Ii 2 policeman proved faithful and
efficient, he could be reappointed for an ad-
iitional term as long as it was desirable to
so reappoint him.
REPoRTER-How about the Soldiers Mon
lment?
The MAYoR-I understand the Council
will appoint a committee to meet commit
zee from the Association, who will ask the
legislature TO allow the citizens to vote
iirectly OF the Market Hall lot question.
REPoRrER--Is 1t understood that YOU
recommend sewer assessments shou ID 90
towards the construction of a
sewer instead of as now, into the sinking
fund. and the making special appropriation
for sewers?
THE MAYoR-That is exactly my position
IN regard to the matter.