The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-21
THE PORTLAND q ROCHESTER.
The Mayor and Aldermen Visit the
| Proposed Location Of the Track.
The Names OF the Signers to the
Remonstrance So Far.

Yesterday afternoon the board of Mayor
and Aldermen, City Civil Engineer Good
win, Mr.. Wescott, president of the Portland
& Rochester railroad and PRESS reporter
left the City Building in hacks to visit the
proposed location of the railroad track con-
Meeting the Portland & Rochester with the
Maine Central at point near the Union
Station. Upon arriving at the Portland &
Rochester track at the foot of Green street
the gentlemen left the carriages and proceed
ed down the track to the point where the
proposed track will start from the main track
of the Portland & Rochester road. This
point is in Portland a short distance from
Mltchelrs wool shop. According to the
plans the branch track will be in Portland
for the first 100 feet and then 1t runs into
Deering and continues in that town until
Grove street is reached. here irstrikes into
Portland again and is within the city limits
for the remainder of the way. The point
where the branch will start from the Port
land d Rochester main track is 600 feet from
behring's Oaks, and after the first 100 feet
the track Is separated from the Oaks by the
flats between Deering and the Oaks. Mr..
Wescott stated that If the plan Of starting
the track from the Portland & Rochester
within the city limits was Objectionable it
would be started from point just over the
Deering line and then the branch would be
in Deering all the way to Grove street. Al
derman Smith said that he did not think the
track would be an injury to the park because
1t is SO far from it. After crossing Grove
street the track runs close to the north side
OF the electric light plant In the tannery lot.
then it strikes into the Poor House lot run
ming close to the north side of the Pest
House. Here the cut will be some twenty
two feet deep. When st. John street is
reached there will be an overhead bridge
and good deal of filling in to make the
track ON a level with the Maine Central
track which will be reached between the
new horse railroad stable and Portland
street. That the track would be great dam
age to the Poor House lot was evident to the
board, aud the crossings at Grove and St.
John streets were seen to be Objectionable.
The board visited the proposed location of
the track in order to be able to act more nm
derstandingly at the hearing Thursday
night. After going over the entire route on
foot the carriages were taken at the corner
of st. John and Portland streets for down
town.
Mr.. E. A. Noyes. treasurer of the Portland
Club, said yesterday that he was decidedly
opposed to the scheme proposed by the Roch-
ester road, and should appear tomorrow
night at the hearing for that purpose. Not
only would the plan iujure the city property
on 81. John street, but on the proposed street
running parallel with st. John street. for
both these streets would be crossed by the
railroad. All the gain the railroad would
make would be shortening of the distance
few hundred yards.
MI. John +. Rand, member of the Coun-
CHI ana member OF the committee on unim-
proved real estate. was opposed to the plan.
In SO far as he could see, it would be great
injury to the city property.
Bolster, Snow q Co. thought the Mavor
and Aldermen should go very slow in the
matter.
Mr. Geo. w. Woodman, of Woodman
True q Co., took strong ground against the
project. He could not see why the CITY
property in the poor farm and the Oaks
should be injured when Woodford's Corner
"ouiu answer every purpose.
b. b. Farnsworth, of B. B. Farnsworth q
Co., thought this was scheme of the Bos-
ton d Maine to get down to freight depot
ON the Back Bay But he didn't think that
Deering Park and the poor farm should be
ruined for that purpose.
Charles j. Walker, of C. j. Walker e. Co.
believed that the Rochester should come in
over the 0gdensbnrg at Cumberland Mills.
or else come straight in from Woodfords
laying track for that object. He thought
the city had done enough for railroads; now
let the railroads do something for the bust
ness men before they ask more favors.
W. W. Whipple did not believe in injuring
the Oaks or tho poor farm by running rail.
roads through them.
Haskell q Jones were opposed to any
scheme OF the kind, which, In their Judgment
would depreciate the property Of this city.
Edwards & Walker were opposed to the
proposed route.