The Portland daily press., 1889-01-08
THE ROCHESTER EXTENSION.
The extension Endangers Life.

To the Editor of the Press:
Please allow space for citizen OF Deering
to say few words in reference to the
Rochester extension. There have been
many objections offered-all of them sound
and true. One of them, although several
times alluded to, has not been sufficiently
emphasized. 1t is the Importance OF having
one road, by which passage with teams may
be safely made to and from Deering and the
country beyond, without the danger OF en-
countering locomotive, and this danger in
innumerable instances, is not an lnslgnln-
cant one. OF the very large number OF
horses in daily use, and especially among
driving horses, a large proportion are AFRAID
of an engine. some Of them extremely so.
Fine and valuable animals in every other re-
spect, they have this one failing, which IN
very many instances can never De overcome.
Now every time such horse is driven over
railroad crossing, where train is en-
countered, not only the safety of the horse
and carriage is endangered, but the very
lives of those who may be riding, whether
they be men, women or children. ms is
person knows perfectly. well who under
stands the condition of terror-strlcKeh
horse.
The writer has personal knowledge Of
many cases, where men doing business IN
the city. and obliged to drive in and out
every morning and night, take the Grove
street route, solely because OF the FISK they
would have to run at the foot of Green
street.
/ myself drive a spirited and valuable
horse, perfect, except that at close quarters,
he is frightened by locomotive, and in an
instant Is liable to get beyond my strength
to control him. This very morning, l drove
in the she'll road, being obliged to be in the
city at a certain time, but upon reaching the
bridge, found Green street blocked by an en-
CINE and freight train, which one moment
would be directly across the street, and the
next slightly off 1t on one side, but in either
| case, an effectual barrier to the passage, with
| such horse as mine. After waiting at a
| distance, for five minutes, with my horse be-
| coming more FESTIVE and excited, turned
| and drove up by the Deering mansion, and
in by Grove street, thereby being late to my
| business, but arriving in safety. Now had
there also been a crossing at Grove street,
| and as might easily have been the case, a
| train there, it will be readily seen that |
| would have been placed in disagreeable
and dangerous position. rms is not an $50
| lated case, it has happened to myself many
| times in the past years, and to many others
| whom l could name.
| If this danger is often serious one to a
| man, it becomes grave. indeed, in the case OF
ladies and children, and | ask those who are
| to decide this matter one question. Laying
| aside the property damage, which none can
| deny must follow if the location is granted,
/ / ask them, if on account of this road, the
| life of one innocent child, or of one helpless
woman, should be sacrificed, las more than
1 Uuc ouIciy WUuiu ucJ WOulu any ufautaSV,
| which may accrue to this railroad. stand for
an instant as an Offset to the value OF this
| precious life ?Supp0se for moment that this
should be one of your own loved ones, OF
| even some friends las it might easily bel
Take this home to yourselves gentlemen, and
| give il the serious consideration which II
deserves, and you will find that 1t is grave
| responsibility that you assume, II you decide
to grant this location.
One more point and have done. A cor
/ respondent in tO-day's PRESS says truly, that
it would require but little filling to make the
| area between the Oaks and Mr.. behring's
field, a fine lawn, and a pleasant part of the
| Park itself. Let us go a step beyond, anC
| assert that with the growth of the city, anC
its advance (which is inevitably into Deer
ing, the Deering field will also be wanted fol
further extension of the Park, and who /:
there but will say that, with its graceful emf
nence, and its beautiful southerly slope, i
would not be by far the most splendid por
ton? Such beauties as we already possess
and such grand possibilities as ero before Us
for ono of the finest parks TO be found III
| the whole country should never be destroyed
| by anything but absolute necessity, and thi,
| does not In the present time exist.
1t may be said that man living outside
the city, has nothing to do with this affair
but there are many of us who have business
there, and who pay more or less taxisto the
treasury of Portland, aai who are as earn
estly interested in its welfare, as those WHIT
reside within its limits. Neither does the
interest in this question stop with Deering
There are very many living score Of mile.
| out, who are Interested, and who are also tx
| man opposed to 1t.