The Portland daily press., 1886-04-05
THE FERRY LANDING.
The Closing Testimony at the Hear
ing Before the Committee.

Inc u6dEluS O1 tLO a OAAJ AeANAAA5 ~" ~
sumed at 10 o'clock Saturday forenoon.
Franklin G. Morse, called by the remon-
strants, testified that he did not think a
landing on Portland Pier should be laid out
at the expense of the county but had not
given the matter much attention.
c. w. T. Cooling, clerk of the Portland d
Cape Elizabeth Ferry Company, testified
that the net earnings of that line for peri
cd embracing 10 years and over had been
la per cent on capital of $4,000.
John ]. Ray, teamster, testified that he
could not get one of his large iiggers on the
Cornelia H. Thought he could make trip
to Ferry Village quicker and safer by the
the road than by the boat.
G. w. I. Cooling. recalled, testified that
during the time his company had occupied
the town landing they had spent 1900 for
digging mud, kept some of the piling in re-
pair and built float and drop. The prop
erty which they took away when leaving
was worth but about $500. Since last spring
the company has laid out about $500 on a
new landing and waiting rooms at Ferry
Village. Their rent on Custom House wharf
has been increased since the improvements
were made in their buildings on this side.
/. P. Harrington, Anson NJ. Hart, Fritz II.
Jordan, j. L. Parrot, Franklin Simonds, j.
IL.
their opinion the laying out OF the ferry
landing was not called for. Mr.. Earring
ton thought that $4,000 would be too much
to spend on the work and that the landing
would cost over twice that sum. Mr.: Jordan
testified as to the difficulty of obtaining good
situations for the fish business substantially
the same as previous witnesses. He said
that the fish business had been carried on
at Widgery's wharf and that docks in the
upper part of the city could be dredged
out.
A. NJ. Smith, recalled, testified to remem-
bering certain statements made by Capt. A.
M. Spear at the former trial which Judge
Goddard read from the reports published at
the time. The evidence was admitted after
some discussion.
Oren B. Whitten of the firm of Lewis,
Chase & Whitten, testified as to the desira-
bility of Portland Pier for their business
and the difficulty of obtaining other situa-
tiOnS substantially as he had before testified.
He thought landing should be laid out II i
could be done at reasonable rate, but did
not think Portland Pier suitable place.
John III. Russell and Howard Winslow
testified that lumber could be delivered al
Ferry Village in considerable quantities as
cheaply as at Portland. This would not ap-
ply to the delivery of small quantities OF
lumber.
The reports of the testimony of ex-Mayor
Deering and Capt. David Brewer as given al
the last hearing were admitted as evidence
J. c. Tewksbury testified to the expendi-
ture of about $4,000 by the corporation when
Portland Pier was extended.
Counsel for the petitioners called Solomon
Stuart, one of the selectmen of Deering and
former county commissioner. He testified
that Pride's bridge, Stroudwater bridge
and Tukey's bridge were taken care OF by
the city of Portland, and Vaughan's bridge
by the city and town Of Cape, Elizabeth,
Portland bridge, Martins Point bridge and
Staples Point bridge are maintained by the
county. Deering pays county tax OF about
$50 and the valuation is about $2,6S0,OO0.
Fl. FL. Pettee testified to the manner. in
which double end ferry boats were checked
struck the drop with no great force. He al
so testified in regard to accidents with which
the double ender has met.
Capt. c. II. Knowlton testified in regard to
the island traffic and its accommodations,
substantially the same as at the former hear
ing.
The counsel for the remonstrants submit.
ted the reports of the testimony given at
the previous hearing by Nelson Tenney, M.
p. Jordan, G.. S. Pickett, Ammi Whitney.
Albert Hall, Oren Hooper, W. L. Corey, Ira
Clay, j. w. Lane, and also the petitions
from persens in the various towns in the
county which were presented at the former
hearing. The testimony of Weston f. Milli-
ken was likewise submitted by the remon-
strants.
The session was adjourned at this point
until afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION. .
The hearing was resumed at shortly be-
called by the remonstrants, and reading G
from the records the reports and action OF
the city government in 1854 In regard to the
laying out of public landing place al
Thames street, between Franklin and Galt's
wharves. The clerk had examined the
record and did not find that the landing had
been discontinued. The city clerk also read
from the records of the action taken
at various times in regard to the landing al
Maple street, showing that the street south
OF Commercial had been set apart as pub
lie landing.
Counsel for the petitioners called Leande1
E. Cram, register of deeds, who testified to
the sale of the old town landing to the At
lantic and St. Lawrence Railroad in 1847.
City Clerk Burgess testified that this was
not the Thames street landing.
City Civil Engineer Goodwin showed on
the map the location of the Thames street
landing and testified to its having been used
by the city. The dock is rs feet broad, ex-
cept at the extreme upper end where there is
breadth of 40 feet. The dock is occupied
by the New York steamers. Counsel for
the petitioners raised the point that
buildings had been raised on the city's land
at the Maple street location. The city clerk
then read from the records to show that the
city had not relinquished its claim, having
ordered their removal
N. R. Dyer testified as to the manner of
entering slips with ferry boats and re-
ducing their speed.
Ira Clay testified to measuring the breadth
of two of Mr.. Rays largest jiggers and find
ing it feet 10 inches and feet inches re-
spectively
II. H. Pettee testified that he could make
the necessary alterations in the building on
Portland pier for $225. On cross-examina-
tion by Mr.. Bird he testified that he would
leave the roof of the portion he proposed to
remove.
The hearing was adjourned and the com
mittee taken in carriages to view the public
landings at Thames street and Maple street.