The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-09
BOTH SIDES FORCIBLY PRESENTED.
Tho Adjourned Nearing on the
Rochester Extension.
Speeches by Representative Business
Men and Attorneys.
The Hearing Closed, the Decision to
be Reached Later.

The adjourned hearing on the question Of
the proposed extension of the Portland q
Rochester railroad, before the Board Of
Mayor and Aldermen, was held In the Com
mon Council chamber last evening All the
members Of the Board were present.
Popular interest in the question was
shown by the large plumber of citizens who
were present to witness the proceedings
The room was crowded, and many stood in
the doorways.
The following remonstrances were offered
Nettie Schryver and so others, j. r. Lunt
and II others. Ed Fl. Smith and IS others,
Charles II. Robson and go others, T. l..
Darrah and 60'others.
The discussion then commenced, both sides
OF the question being well presented by the
speakers, whose remarks were as follows
MR.. cHAsE's SPEECH.
Edward p. Chase was the first speaker. He
said: A burnt child breads the fire, and he
had learned by sad experience that il was
better to lock the stable at night before the
horse was stolen than In the morning. The
citizens of Portland have sold out their in
terest in railroads, and he supposed that
WhCh VIC bbb NACoAAoA w anu bnC DuAo HNhD
put up, they would stay up. There are 12
oyerseers who have charge Of this city prop
erty. They have been looking forward to
the time when the city would have to have
new buildings, and perhaps new plant
somewhere else. He was satisfied that II
they granted the request of these petitioners
and put the road through with location 80
feet wide, they would subject the city to
great Inconvenience and damage, and destroy
large portion Of that property and reduce
the value OF the remainder, whereas, IL IL Is
preserved for few years longer 1t will be-
come still more valuable than 1t Is now.
Mr.. Chase then spoke Of the damage which
the location would cause the Park. A great
deal has been said about improving Back
Bay. He had heard that for fifty years, and
who can point to one single Improvement
that has been made ON Back Bay by reason
Of or through the aid Of any railroad? He
had heard about pork and -four coming from
the West and steamships coming up into
Back Bay. Look today on the front or har-
Dor side and see the wharves lying idle. and
then say whether IL Is probable with that
property In dlsuse that the steamships are
going up round through the bridge into Back
Bay. A number Of years ago he was asked
to buy stock In the Portland q Rochester be-
cause they were going TO push II through to
worcester, and SO bring New York
down to Back Bay, and that
bought the stock he would have lost every
dollar. Ex-Mayor Wescott had the Portland
Il Rochester in trust for good many years
and the road not only made nothing. but
nearly lost the rails. and finally the city was
compelled TO sell for $250,OO0. Today the
road cannot be bought for a million dollars.
What has made the change? Have they
changed the officials of the road? There Is
where the money Of the laboring man and
the taxpayer has gone to.
Addressing the Mayor, Mr.. Chase said
that when he was candidate for mayor
three years ago he said that II elected he
would look out and protect the best in
terests Of Portland against any railroad
scheme, and that that was what he was here
for today. Applause.
Mayor Chapman said he had noticed In the
public prints that. Mr.. Chase was willing to
make some offer for the poor farm, and
called upon him to state what it was and
upon what terms.
Mr.. Chase said that he did not know that
he could be very definite in his proposition,
but that he, and some of his friends, would
pay .S150,0o0 for the city property, including
the buildings on The condition that this petit
tion shall not be granted.
The Mayor-Do you mean by this city
government, or by any other?
Mr.. Chase Il don't suppose this city
government can bind any future one.
Mr.. Cunningham asked him If he was not
willing to take warranty deed for this
property in the same form and upon the
decided to him.
Mr.. Chase-I am willing to take this prop
erty at S150,000 provided that this board Of
aldermen refuse to allow this railroad to go
through it,. | think you understand that
Applause.
MR.. sTRoUT's SPEECH.
A. A. Strout, Esq, said:
am directed to favor the granting of this
petition. l appear here tonight for that
purpose. 1t will be seen without much ar
gument that it will be greatly for the interest
Of the Grand Trunk Railroad that this short
er and easier route to connect with the I'm
ion depot shall be established. 1t win be
perceived that l cannot in behalf Of the
Grand Trunk Railway make arrangements
| for using these facilities II they shall be
| granted; that is a matter to be determined at
| later time between all the representatives
| Of the several railroads interested. In the
very nature Of the case cannot make any
| authoritative statement as to what the Grand
| Trunk will or will not do, either In relation
| to the route or to a new passenger station, II
| such should be. erected at or near the foot Of
| Preble street. can only state TO you, gen
tlemen, the situation as 1t now exists, and
| you can draw your own inferences as to
| what Will be the probable course adopted by
| the Grand Trunk Railway The terminus OF
| the Grand Trunk Railway Is In the City Of
i Portland; 1t has already very extensive ter
Il
/ which include large yard, wharves, freight
i sheds and depot. Prior t. the erection Of
| the Union depot, It was accustomed to run
| its trains to the station at the foot of State
| street and there deliver west bound passen-
| gers, and the Boston Il Maine and Eastern
| ran across TO the Grand Trunk and delivered
| passengers that were bound to different
| points on the Grand Trunk. When the I'm
/ ion station was erected all this was changed.
| At first the experiment was made OF deliver
ing and receiving passengers at the Union
| station, but this:was found so incOnvenient
that new arrangement was made,
and to-day the Grand Trunk are
| obliged to run across the city by the way of
| Commercial street, leaving the car TO be
/ transferred to the knownothing station In
Cape Elizabeth, and when passengers bound
over the Grand Trunk come from the West
they are obliged to change ears at the know
nothing junction, taking car running over
| Commercial street to the Grand Trunk.
| When there Is through car attached to the
| Boston x Maine trains, persons may take
without any change; but Il they are in an
i other car then they are Obliged either To be
| transferred to the Grand Trunk car on the
rear Of the train, or what is quite as incon-
| yenient they cross over from the Boston 4
| cial street.
1t will be seen at once that this arrange
/ ment, while 1t Is the best that can be prOvi-
ded by the Boston Il Maine under the pres
/ chb SOhuitiou Ot dIdlTS, Is more or less cum
D0rsome, apt to be attended with delay to
the Grand Trunk passengers, and Is not such
as we were accustomed to enjoy before the
| building Of the new station.
| !. No argument Is necessary to show that. II
the Portland Il Rochester is permitted to
extend its track to the Union Station as pro-
posed, that the Grand Trunk cars could be
transferred to that station by a shorter and
more direct route and without the delay and
trouble which IL now experiences.
Moreover, there Is another view which you
can perceive is quite possible In the future,
especially II the station Is built at the foot of
Preble street, as Mr.. WescOtt predicts twill
be; the Grand Trunk has occupied its pres
ent passenger station for many years; IL is
centrally and conveniently located for part,
at least,ot the city ofPortland II refer TO that
part which lies northerly from City
HalD, but II will be readily perceived that II
a convenient station should he built at the
foot of Preble street IL would for certain pur-
| poses greatly accommodate the patrons OF
1 the Grand Trunk "a ho de4ira 10 take trains