The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-09
BOTH SIDES PRESENTED.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST pAcF.1


made under it, it cannot be undone. He
contended that the petition is not regularly
before the Board for consideration that the
act OF 1887, which made the location of this
road through the Oaks subject to the consent
Of the Mayor and Aldermen, contemplated a
location before asking such consent.
the. location would be valid. He ar
gued that the consent of the Board upon this
petition here presented would amout to moth
ing becuse no location has been made. To
be sure map has been circulated, giving
some IDEA OF the locality and the general
line which they propose to adopt, but the
consent Of this Board upon this petition
does not give any valid location of railroad.
Inc petitioners have got to go to work after
wards and make their location and file 1t
with the county commissioners.
Inc Judge also commended that there was
no need for immediate action; that the
fortiand q Rochester road have not yet the
funds to build the proposed extension, and
that no road appeared here with. the state
ment tnat they were willing to furnish the
funds: He said that Mr.. Strout had repre-
sented the Grand Trunk very fairly, but that
there was nothing In his statement which In
dlcated that the Grand Trunk was going to
put money into the line, or even to use it af-
ter it was built. He thought there was moth
Ing In the interests of Back Cove which re-
CURES any hasty action on the part of this
Board. The legislature is now in session,
and an act can be passed giving the citizens
chance to vote upon this question at the
next municipal election, (which is only two
months hence.
Judge Symonds continued at some length
in the same line of argument as at the for
mer hearing, in relation to a belt road around
the city and the traffic facilities which the
road already has by the way of Woodford's
Corner.
In regard to the city farm, he said: AT
ter the offer made by Mr.. Chase tonight do
not see why It does not follow that the ofil-
in view of the correspondence which has
passed, should withdraw their petition. OF
course there were certain conditions attached
about the deed being delivered by o'clock,
| but was not the true idea of it, and was not
the proposition by Mr.. Wescott, in substance
that II this was really bona tide offer, If
| the property was really worth $150, 000 or If
the city could get any such price for it, then
it was unreasonable for the Portland & Roch-
| ester to press its petition, and they would
withdraw it? There was no meaning in the
| correspondence unless 1t did mean that, and
/ give the officials of the Portland & Roches-
ter road credit for their good judgment APP
| plausel.
MIR. PUTNAM's SPEECH.
Mr.. Putnam said that he did not intend to
follow Judge Symonds in all that he had
| said, because much of it had been replied to
at the former hearing. He thought the pic
ture was overdrawn considerably on both
sides. He looked upon it as practical
| the city of Portland, not to Commercial
street, nor the Union Station, nor Ward
Seven, nor the Horse Railroad, but taking
| the whole interests of the city together. All
| that has been said here, and in the news
| papers, as to what has been done for the
railroads and in behalf of the railroads is
not of the slightest consequence. Ii 1t Is not
| for the interest of the city that this petition
should be granted, he did not want it
granted in behalf of any railroad. Judge
| Symonds represented the owner Of land, and
appeared here as paid attorney, just as he,
| Mr.. Putnam, appeared in behalf of the rail-
road He advised Mr.. Chase to take the
land with the condition that the railroad
shall not be laid drought it this year. but
next year he had better see to it that rail-
road should be laid drought it, and he
would make a handsome profit, no matter
| what price he paid for it. The Portland Il
Rochester are willing, and expect, to pay
fair damages for every foot Of land they
take.
Mr.. Putnam went on at some length to
show that the proposition to take the freight
around from Commercial street, or the I'm
ion Station through Woodford's Corner to
Back Bay, was not feasible. The Alderman
from Ward said that freight did go
by Mr.. Putnam said that the charge was $5
car from Commercial street to Back Bay.
Mr.. Putnam said that amounted to practi-
cal prohibition. Mr.. Putnam said that the
Portland & Rochester and the Boston a.
Maine stand ready to build this road, and IL
the city. did not accept it, they ought never
to say that the Boston & Maine Railroad
were not ready to aid the business interests
Of the city of Portland. [Applause.l
MIR. wEscoTT's SPEECH.
: Mr.. Wescott said that. at the former hear
ing, 1t was suggested that none of the bust
ness men had asked the granting of this petit
tion. Tonight he had here 1450 names of as
good citizens as there are in Portland in fav-
or of 1t. The Portland & Rochester does not
ask for this extension simply to get to the
| Union Station, but they ask it to bling the
Boston & Maine and the Grand Trunk roads
to Back Cove,and If they come around there,
we trust in time, it win bring business there
and enhance the value OF property. The
reason the Portland & Rochester are asking
| for this extension now is because this prop
| erty is undeyeloped. We ask the right to
| lay our tracks through it and then let the
contiguous property develope, as it will, by
buildings and improvements that are suita-
bleto it. We admit that we are a little early
| in making this request, but If we DELAYED
longer until it was developed, we should be
| open to just censure for not stating that we
before.
As to the assertion of Judge Symonds that
the road had not the money to build this
| proposed extension. he said the road was gu
of debt. had 100000 of stock. and could
raise $4,000 or 100000 on their notes, es-
pecially when other parties guaranteed the
| interest, as they were ready to do. He said
If the city grants this petition, the road
would undertake to make no grade cross inEs,
and whenever the city of Portland laid out
another street the railroad would be willing
and ready to pay its part, or the whole, Of
tire expense of an overhead bridge, but he
thought that a street running parallel with
the road would oyiate the necessity of many
cross streets, and be for the better interest Of
the adjacent property.
Mayor Chapman asked if there were any
further remarks to be made by parties inter-
ested. No one responded, and Alderman
Smith said that if there was to be any further
hearing he wanted it closed tonight.
Upon motion Of Alderman Hobbs, it was
voted that the hearing be closed. BY vote
of 5 to the hearing then adjourned.