The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-08
TWO QUESTIONS AFFECTING PORTLAND,
Hearing on the Portland q Roches-
ter Extension.
The Annexation Of Deering to the
Forest City
Causes a Discussion which Makes
Interesting Reading.
Especial to the Press.l

road committee this afternoon. large
number of Portland and Deering people
were present, including Sidney w. Thaxter,
ESQ, E. P. Chase, Thomas l.. Talbot, ESQ.,,
Hon. Andrew Hawes. Hon. George P. Wes-
colt, Clinton l.. Woodbury.. ESQ.,, Hon.
George Walker and others.
Thomas L. Talbot, ESQ.,, appeared first
against the bill, explaining the law relating
to the Portland & Rochester extension, and
the clause which called for the approval of
the Mayor and Aldermen OF Portland for
the location. A city election had been held
since this law was passed, and Mr.. Talbot
said he supposed both the Mayor and Alder
men understood what was TO come before
them. But when the question did come up,
the Mayor and Aldermen abdieated their du-
ty, and without authority drew up the bill
presented here. That bill had no more au-
thority than as If any other seven men of
Portland had drawn it up. The bill was Of
no official significance.
Now, by the bill proposed, the railroad
might file the location fourteen days before
the election, and then go to the people for a
yes and no vote. The act says nothing about
how definite the description Of that location
must be. A very indefinite description
might satisfy the demands of the bill, and
the citizens of Portland might vote on pro-
position SO elastic as to allow road to run
in almost any direction, with almost any
curves. Now the people of Portland want
provision that the railroad shall give def
mite description of the proposed location,
with details as to width of track, bridges,
etc. Mr.. Talbot said he was here with an
amended bill, which he hoped the president
Of the Portland & Rochester would agree to.
The president had expressed a desire to do
all that was fair. Mr.. Talbot suggested the
following amendments:
Amendment one In section two of the bill
beginning at the word intended lin the
l4th line as printed in the PRESS and pro-
ceeding as follows: Extension, stating
therein in definite terms the initial and ter
minal points OF said location and the courses
and distances between said points by which
said location shall be fixed and determined"
Here section proceeds as In the first form:
"Such question shall be determined, etc.
Then further down In the same section at
the end of the sentence: "Said Portland &
Rochester railroad shall be authorized TO
locate. An amendment Is substituted for
the rest of the section to proceed as follows:
such extension not to exceed four rods in
width, in the manner set forth in the des
cripti0n filed aforesaid with the clerk of the
city OF Portland, and to construct, maintain
and use the same upon terms and conditions
approved by the mayor and aldermen Of the
city OF Portland provided said extension
shall be completed within - years from
the municipal election at which said pro-
posed location shall be approved by vote of
the citizens of said city of Portland"
Mr.. Talbot also proposed another amend
ment that two-thirds instead of a majority
vote be required to pass the bill.
Mr.. Talbot said that in such an important
matter as determining the location Of rail-
road through some of its most valuable prop
erty, the city of Portland should have more
IN Qo " nrn N in
tiating the bargain. SO he had Incorporated
In his amendments a provision for the fixing
OF terms and conditions by the mayor and
aldermen.
Hon. George Walker followed explaining
to the committee from map Of the city the
injury that would be done the Park and the
city property by the proposed line
but you would not of course deny the
Portland & Rochester connection with the
Union station, would your" asked one Of the
committee.
''They have now connection by the way
OF Woodfords, replied Mr.. Walker.
"But that Is not satisfactory Is it?'
mot so satisfactory to the railroad, but 1t
is satisfactory to the citizens"
he appeared.
Mr.. Walker replied that he appeared for
the citizens of Portland.
Col Moore explained that the first bill
was made by the city government and was
tu0 City RUNtEum6uL measure. lneSe
amendments were brought independently of
the city government as he understood it.
This brought up the question of the au-
thority OF the gentlemen VINO appeared and
MIR. Wakefield began to question that au-
thorty, seeming to think that the city gov
ernment only had authority to present bill.
Mr.. Talbot contended that the drafting of
bills was not the duty of the city government
any more than OF any other seven citizens of
Portland Neither the laws nor the city char
ter gave the Mayor AMI Aldermen the right
to draft bills.
Here the committee challenged Mr. Talbot
asking what citizens he appeared for. MIR.
Talbot not answering at once, Mr.. Wescott
asked, For whom do you appear, Mr.. Tai
'For Thomas l.. Talbot" he replied, "a
{ Here Mr.. Sidney W. Thaxter stepped for
ward. He said that he came to represent
the citizens Of Portland, and he showed
In his hand the remonstrance of more than
hundred leading business men and firms of
Portland against this plan.
Some of the committee asked Mr.. Thaxter
why he did not appear at the original hear
ing before this committee. Mr.. Thaxter
said that he had in behalf of citizens of
Portland applied for hearing on this bill,
writing to the chairman of the railroad com
mittee. But he had received no answer. He
had tried in othe. ways to get hearing, but
without avail. and the first thing he knew
the bill had been reported and was going
through the House. Then through a Repre-
sentative they had got the bill recommitted
for this hearing today.
Colonel Moore here wished to explain. He
said the hearing on this bill was amply ad-
vertised in the Portland PRESS and Argus.
Mr.. Thaxter went on to speak against the
proposed location of the road, arguing that
1t would injure the city's interests, and fire.
quently answering questions interposed by
MIR. Wescott and by the committee.
Mr.. Wesc0tt again asked Mr.. Thaxter
whom he represented, and Mr.. Thaxter pro-
duced the rem0nstrances, headed by Gen.
Francis Fessenden, and several hundred
other representative men of Portland. ''the
men, Mr.. Thaxter said. .who make Port
land what she Is, who know the business in
terests OF the city and what those interests
do need and what they do not need"
Mr.. Z, z. Chase followed Mr.. Thaxter, ex-
planning the value of the poor farm. He
said the city had already given four millions
the poor farm until they could sell 1t for a
good sum to help out the city taxpayers.
And he told the committee that the city had
been offered $4,000 for this lot and could
have 1t at any time. e,s
Among many other questions, Mr.. Wescott
asked Mr.. Chase whom he appeared for.
II appear for the citizens Of Portland"
said Mr.. Chase, land / am not ashamed of
it."
Mr.. Andrew HaWeS appeared next, TO ask
that the town of Deering have the right to
vote on this question of extension the same
as the city of Portland. They asked this be-
cause the location passed through part of
the most valuable and beautiful land in
Deering. Moreover, the extension would be
an obstruction to the people Of Deering.
Messrs. Clinton l.. Woodbury. and Luther
Bradford claimed that Deering should be
given the right to vote as well as Portland.
Mr.. WescOtt next appeared. He said that
the opponents of the road were but thirteen
or fourteen men who had been opposing the
Rochester plan since last November He
said the appearance of the Deering people
was but plan to knock two heads together
so that between the two the bill of the road
should fail. 1t was but scheme of factious
opposition. Mr.. Wescott next showed that
the bill before the committee had the official
sanction of the Portland city government.
He said that In the petition for its location
the paper that went before the Mayor and
Aldermen described as definitely as could be
reasonably asked, tie location asked for.
Mr.. Wescott then gave detailed account of
the proceedings before the Portland city
government which terminated finally In the
enabling bill, which was before the commit
tee. He read from the Press Of Jan.
10th, to show that the remonstrants
had ample warning Of what was coming.
They had from January 10 TO January 2S,
when this bill was presented to the legisla-
ture to go before the city government and