The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-03-13

1t is quite likely that this subject may come up
again for your consideration the present year.
Many of our most conservative citizens advo-
cate the sale of this stock,-if it can DE done
to good advantage the application OF its
proceeds to the payment of our temporary
debt. Certainly it seems the part of prudence
to dispose of stock in gas company, in the
management of which the city has no voice
whatever and the value of which would suf-
fer serious depreciation at any time through
the nom payment of dividends.
Especially is such sale rendered more i'm
perative in view of the temporary debt carried
by the city, which ought to be cancelled from
available assets in the treasury rather than
made permanent by an additional issue of
bonds.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Our citizens are to be congratulated upon
the near approach to completion of the public
library building, undertaken by James p.
Baxter, Esq, and designed by him as gift to
the library association for its permanent occu-
pancy and use.
The generosity of Mr.. Baxter in making such
nIunifcent provision for the library, is as
timely as it is benehcent, for its quarters in
City building have become exceedingly crowded
besides being i'll adapted for use. The library
proper is rapidly gaining in books of reference,
assuming additional Importance in the estma-
ton of all to whom it furnishes enlarged facili-
ties for information and study. Surely next to
the church, there can be no more useful insti-
tuition in our midst than good public library.
Through its advantages the average intelligence
of the community is increased and its whole
intellectual tone improved.
Whoever contributes so grandly, as has Mr..
Baxter, to the promotion and permanence of
such benefcent public institution, will de-
servedly rank as grest public benefactor.
PORTLAND AND oeDENsBURG RAILWAY.
This road stiil remains in the hands of the
receiver. Its net earnings the past year were
somewhat below the average of previous years.
occasioned, no doubt, by the interruptions to
business during the early operations of the in
terstate law. Whatever moneys were earned
above the fixed charges, were devoted to pay
ments on rolling stock obligations, rebuilding
of bridges. and improvements of road-bed
Up to this time none of the second mortgage
bonds have been converted into stock 1t being
deemed expedient, before doing so. to await
the decision of the court as to the validity OF
the city's claim for $2S3, 500 additional stock.
This claim is in litigation, and decision upon
it would have been reached at the last January
term of court had not the counsel for the
plaintiff been prevented by engagements at
Washington from joining with the city solicit
tor in the submission of final arguments. As
soon as decision is obtained, the officers Of
the Portland and Ogdensburg railway will
issue stock in exchange for the bonds of the
old company, and then, complete reorganiza-
ton with stock will have been effected.
Considerable attention has been given the
past year to the disposal of this property,
always keeping in view the main object of its
becoming a link of transcontnental railway,
and, las a matter of minor but subsidiary i'm
portance,-the desirability of its yielding
fixed annual income to the city.
Continued communication with the Canadian
Pacific railroad developed the fact that that
corporation could not directly purchase or
lease the Portland and Ogdensburg road.
although, if leased by the city to another
company the Canadian Pacific was DESTROYS of
beng SO protected in the lease as to be able
always to utilize the Portland and Ogdensburg
road upon favorable terms.
In discussing the question of the citys dis
position of the Portland and Ogdensburg road
it must be admitted that, since my last message,
the railroad situation has undergone important
changes possibly requiring modification OF
views. The acquisition of the Boston
and Lowell system by the Boston
and Maine, has brought about a close
traffic relation between the Boston and Maine
and Canadian Pacific, so that. upon the COM
pletion of the Sault Ste. Marie road connecting
Minneapolis with the Canadian Pacific system,
the freight of the northwest, destined for
Europe, is carried by us on the other side of the
mountains to Boston. This is rendered neces-
sary from the inability of the city, or Portland
and Ogdensburg railway, to furnish elevators
and dock facilities for handling cargoes des-
tined abroad. 1t is plain, then, that if the
Canadian Pacific is unwilling to come here
directly and invest in terminal facilities
our only recourse for this purpose is through
some other corporation which shall be bound
under the terms of the lease of the Portland
and Ogdensburg road,-to make favorable
traffic or trackage contracts with the Canadian
Pacific and other western lines, and, also, be
sufficiently interested, of ITSELF to furnish facili-
ties for shipping all the freight seeking trans
portation from this port.
In no other apparent way can our coveted
object be speedily accomplished, of utilizing
the Portland and Ogdensburg road for the up
building of Portland as a point of tranship-
ment.
Entertaining this view, some of the directors
of the Portland and Ogdensburg road have
favorably considered the idea of leasing it to
the Maine Central, provided equitable terms
could be arranged. In addition to the fore
going reasons for such lease, they urge that,
if it should be made, it will practically result
in bringing into our city over the Portland and
Ogdensburg road all of the Western business
of the Maine Central, to be distributed hence
throughout Maine; while if not contaminated,
a connection would inevitably be made in the
interior of the State with the Canadian Pacific,
whereby most of this business would pass TO
the north and east of our city.
T., oh o1xr nf
Maine Central declare that.-besides the receipt
of an annual rental, and sure provision for the
payment at maturity of the city bonds issued
in aid of the Portland and Ogdensburg-such
| on act would result in the local development
of the Ogdensburg road, i'm the use of Port
land as a channel of transportation for all
| freight going east by rail,-and in making
our city the Atlantic terminus of the Canadian
Pacific, at least for considerable portion of
its traffic.
How much soundness and force are con-
tanned in these arguments, must be decided by
yourselves, in ease the matter should come up
for discussion and action.
Before any lease can be consummated, it will
require favorable consideration from the direc-
tors of both roads,-concurrent affirmative
action by both branches of the City Council
approval by the Mayor, and, finally, rati6ea-
ton by majority vote of the electors of Port
land at a meeting called specially for that
purpose. Therefore there need be no appre-
hension of unwise or hasty decisions. Neverthe-
less the subject is fraught with SO much i'm
portance to the commercial growth and future
prosperity of our city, as to demand the most
careful investigation into the policy of making
such lease, and, if deemed expedient, the ex-
ercise of utmost caution in Incorporating such
provisions into the contract as shall secure our
interests beyond all possible contingency.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS.
Upon the occasion of my first inaugu ration,
speaking of the equal enforcement of the laws,
l said what, in view of recent agitation, may
not be entirely inappropriate to repeat:
A public magistrate who is sworn to execute the
laws had no discretion as to their enforcement.
Whatever his personal ideas upon the merits or
the expediency of the statutes his plain duty is to
see that they are obeyed and that any violation of
them shall meet with its due penalty. To execute
one law and neglect the execution of another, is
injustice TO Ysocety, and subyersye to law Itself.
The officer who promptly arrests the Lad who may
steal to satisfy his hunger, and takes no cogni-
zance of the saloon where liquor Is sold in viola