The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-20
The Proposed Route over the City
Farm.
circumstances Of Citizens 10 the
Plan.

thc VIEWS that called Tor their signatures In
the public prints. Some others were willing
to speak freely, but did not wish their names
used This Is always mistake. because ev
cry citizen is supposed to hold strong opin-
Ions ON all matters that relate to bis inter-
ests as taxpayer. and even the humbest
has not infrequently better ana weightier ar
guments at his command than men of far
greater means or important social or bust
ness position. Others were outspoken, and
had no hesitancy in stating what they
thought. 1t may be we'll to say here that of
all who were questioned on the subject not a
single citizen was favorable to the proposed
scheme.
Mr.. Frank Barrett thought the proposed
plan an outrage. There could be no adyan-
tage to the city from the connections in a
business point of view. Pecuniarily it could
only be matter of loss. The city needs all
the money 1t can obtain from this property
not only for its neeus but with which to pur-
chase poor farm elsewhere to take the
place of the present one, and the loss from
running railroad through this property
would be very great. He felt he not only
voiced himself in this matter but also MANY
of our heaviest tax payers whom he had heard
express themselves on this subject.
Mr. Woodman of Woodman 6 Thompson
Thought from his present knowledge of the
matter, that the scheme Was poor one. AS
far as behring's Oaks was concerned he dis
approved OF the plan. Here our wives and
children have pleasant resort for recreation
provided Tor them which, W tn locomotives
ana trains of cars constantly intrudinq
themselves, to their danger as well as annoy
oil 81 .
the beautiful property and the city had
already done Ii was the city's playground.
the property OF the poor man as well as the
Iicn. Ie the former, especially, 1t was a
Dreaming spot whose sanitary value could
not be overestimated. He Thought the
Union station could convene the Rochester
as we'll as the Maine Central or Ogdensburg
Mr. Charles Fobes, of Burgess, Fobes &
20, mad seen the proposed plan of the Roch-
ester road 1t was claimed by the road that
uliess they could Carry out this plan when
the Marginal Way was ready they could not
swing onto II with proper curve but would
nave to reach 1t by series of curves like an
elongated letter s.. Mr.. Fobes thought it
SHOULD pc SHOWN that imperative necessity
required the carrying out of this plan before
the city accepted it.
MT. Richardson, of Swan & Barrett, said
believe In It, MY
Mr.. X. John Little did not wish To he con-
posed TO the present location of the Union
station and saw no reason to change the
views he held before it was built He was
| opposed to this plan. He believed the park
Should 81 ~ ne carefully conserved and guarded
he thought great injury would be done the
city property. The wealth of the city must
| seek the city farm eventually for house lots
Inc proposed plan would kill off any oppor-
tnnlty to Improve the property.
Mr.. y. IL. klnes, of Rines Bros, had not
| given The matter muQl o.
from what he had seen and read he wanted
the Mayor and Aldermen to 20 very slow.
he thought that the PRESS editorial of Mon
day morning and his own idea of the matter,
were In perfect accord.
Messrs. Milett g. Evans thought that the
Rochester would find every convenience aud
necessity answered by coming in via Wood
lords as the Maine Central did.
Mr Owen, OF Owen, Moore & Co., thought
enough mad been given TO the railroads. The
Grand Trunk and Portland & Ogdensburg
had been given the front harbor. and the
Maine Central and Portland g. Rochester the
Dack harbor. We don't want a net work of
railroads. SO surrounding US that there won't
Dc one place we can get out of town without
crossing railroad track, and we don't want
| what little property the city has got left
| deprecated In value.
), Charles csIi :. z. Jose. of G.. E. Jose & Co.,
thought II he was an alderman of Portland
ne should have to feel thoroughly convinced
that the city wonld be gamer instead of a
loser before he should vote for the project.
Mr.. edmund Dana couldn't see where the
| advantages were coming from.
Ex-Counciman r. S. Rand didn't believe
| IN the scheme at all
Mr. Turner, of Turner Brothers, said he
| thought enough had been given the RAILWAYS
Tor the present, and assuredly Portland
didn't want to give away any more II was
| time now for the railroads to do Something
| TO help Portland.
| :. Mr.. III. N. Rich, secretary of the Board of
Trade, SAID, when asked TO give his opinion
concerning the matter Of extending branch
OF the Portland d Rochester railroad to the
Union Station over the proposed route: 81
think the matter shoald be thoroughly en-
| CURED into, what Is required should be thor
oughly understood, and If the road is to be
constructed through there it should be made
| 10 the least Inconvenience 30 the public
travel. wouldn't have any of the city's in
terests Jeopardized. but L am in favor of all
pubic In provements. 1t seems to me that
nali the room asked for by the Portland &
Rochester for their proposed branch road
would be sufficient l would not saw any-
thing to embarass the scheme, not knowing
| what Is wanted. don't see any obje .ti an
to going In from Woodfords. II there was
no other way OF getting to the depot people
| road"
Mr Hall, OF the trm of Thompson & Hall.
SAID: The matter should be carefully look
ed into before the Portland & Rochester
railroad Is granted the privilege of extend
| Ing the branch road l am not In favor of
having the road 60 through If it is going to
lnlure the park any. should be willing to
| do anything for the Portland & Rochester
road that wouldn't be detrimental to the in
terests Of the city,"
| Major III. s. Melcher was of the oninion
that the city is sacrificing good deal to the
Portland d Rochester road 10 allowing IL TO
| 20 through with its track. He said: az
tlink II would be great damage to the park
and to the Poor House lot; and another OBJ
| lectionable feature to the scheme Is the eros
sing OF Grove street 1t is not necessity to
| the public travel that this should be done.
because the Union Station can be reached by
| fords."
Mr. Loveitt, of the firm of John Loveitt a,
Co., wholesale fish dealers on Commercial
| wharf, said: If we're to vote on the mat
| ter should vote against allowing the Port
land q Rochester to extend the proposed
branch. The park Is going to be one of our
hnest resorts for drive, and l do not think
1t should be injured by allowing trains to
pass through there. The track would great
ly damage the park"
Mr.. Burgess, of the firm of Burgess, Fobes
q Co., said: Il am opposed to it for several
reasons. Other connection with the Union
Station can be made. The track will injure
the value Of property for the sale of house
lots. IL will be great damage to the city
financially If the track goes through in the
proposed location. don't think It is neces-
sary."
Yesterday afternoon remonstrance
was passed around the city and received
these signatures:
Gen. Francis Fessenden, James Quinn,
Shaw. Son & Lothrop, Thomas B. Merrill
J. b. DOnnell, w. III. Lovejoy
NJ +. Hicks, Horatio Hight.
:. w. Thaxter, John w. Perkins g. Co.,
john Dryden, IS. Jordan & Co.,
Cat Block warehouse Burgess, FObes Il Co..
Co., Elias Thomas & Co