The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-13
FOREST AVENUE.
County Commissioners Are Told Why 1t
Should Be Widened-Immense Traffic
BY Teams and Electric Cars-Views of
Petitioners and Remonstrants.

There was large company in the
LAWYERS Room in the City Building all
day yesterday, in attendance on tile hear
ing before the county commissioners of
the petitioners for the widening of For
est avenue. This avenue is the main
highway from Portland, and its i'm
provement is a matter of great interest
to the people of Deering. The entire
board of commissioners, Messrs. Plum.
mer, Lord and Allen, were present.
Mayor John E. Sawyer of Deering at
tended during the forenoon to open the
case. The petitioners ask the county, on
the ground that the avenue is county
road, to widen it from Howard Wins
lows house to Ocean street by adding
twenty feet on the northeast sipe.
After briefly reviewing the case. Mayor
Sawyer called on Hon. Andrew Halves.
Mr.. Hawes spoke of the rapid growth
and promising future of those portions
of Deering tributary to this avenue. He
believed that now was the time to make
an improvement which would be of use
for all future time. AS to width he
thought that twenty feet would be none
too little addition. The city of Deering
would cheerfully assume the burden of
whatever width the board would give
them, even up to 100 feet. If it is not
done now it will have to be done after
wards at great expense. In response to
question as to why the street should
not also be widened from the bridge to
Mr.. Winslow's, Mr.. Halves said lie
thought that also would be well.
Mr.. L. B. Chapman said that before
the matter went farther he wished to
have the records of the city of Deering
for the action in regard to this matter,
presented. 1t was proposed, on the pc
tition of single man, the mayor, to go
to the great expense of tearing up this
ancient highway.
County Commissioner Plummer said
that the commissioners, before ordering
the hearing, had received certified copy
of the action of the city meeting and
were convinced that it was all right. He
requested Mr.. Chapman to wait until the
petitioners were heard. Then remon-
STRANGE would be in order.
Ex- Alderman James 81. Hutchins said
he had nothing to add to what had been
said by Mr.. Halves. He was present to
express his sympathy with the move
ment.
Ex-Alderman w. W. Mitchell said his
attention had been attracted to the mat
ter by the rapidity with which the lots
on the westerly side of the avenue were
being built upon. The other side was
yet clear, and he felt that now was the
time to do it.
City Solicitor George g. Hopkins said
that the largest benefit of the widening
would be shared by Portland and by the
outside towns. The larger portion of
the travel comes from Westbrook, Cor
ham, Windham, Gray, and the whole
central part of the county. Probably
over 1900 teams pass on the avenue a day.
One day last summer he counted the
teams for an hour, and they passed at the
rate Of two a minute. This was not the
busiest part of the day. The question
of damages had been spoken of. When
land is taken off the front of lot the
damages for land are not under ordinary
circumstances NOR than for back land.
From Winslow's to Clifton street, with
the exception of one or two small and
inexpensive houses near the baseball
ground, the damages would practically
be only at the rate of back land along the
bay. Beyond Clifton street the main
portion of the damage would be getting
through the buildings at Woodfords
Corner. He suggested that in those
cases the street be widened where there
are no buildings, leaving the buildings
for later time. Land in lots that can
be built upon readily along the avenue
sells for ten cents foot in places. In
other places it is somewhat lower.
1t has been suggested. and Mr.. Hop
kins would state it on his own authority
that widening of ten feet along from
William street to the Coyle : gully
would leave the line of trees along the
outside of new sidewalk. 1t might
also be better at Woodfords to widen on
the west side.
AS to the railroad, he understood that
it had a right to lay a double track any
time it wished to without regard to the
widening of the street.
Mr.. G. A. Woodbury. spoke of the con-
vergence of travel onto Forest avenue,
on which there was much more passing
than on Preble street. In his Judgment
there was more travel into Portland over
Forest avenue than over all other roads
into the city together. Two thousand
people a day on Deering cars and one
thousand day on Westbrook cars, pass
along this avenue in 200 cars day These
people are sentitled to some considera-
ton. Yet of the time of coming from
Woodfords in these people spend at least
five minutes on sidings, because there is