The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-14
ELECTRIC RAILROAD GRANTED.
Interesting Hearing Before the Board
of Mayor and Aldermen.

nernissiop of the board by the Portland
Railroad company to establish an electric
car system in this city. was held in the
aldermen's room yesterday afternoon. the
Mayor presided. There was large attend
ance of prominent citizens.
Aldermen Thompson. Little and Smith
were absent.
Upon The assembling of the Board Mayor
Baxter read the following petition of the
company:
To the Honorable Board OF Mayor and
Aldermen of the City of Portland:
The Portland Railroad company requests
permission to operate its railroad within
the limits of the city of Portland by electri-
cal power by the single trolley system. and
to set and maintain such poles and wires,
appliances aud fixtures, as are necessary
along and upon the streets where the said
railroad is now located, and necessary In
tervening streets including st. John street
from Portland to Congress street to Libby s
Corner and thence along Portland street to
Libby Corner.
By W. r. Wood, its president.
Hon. C. T. Libby of tie Portland Railroad
Company thus addressed the board in sup
port of the petition. He said the Board
would have been satisfied to continue its
present horse service, but the corporation
found there was great demand for better
service and the company must deal with 1t.
to electricity means an outlay of $780, GOO.
We have shown disposition to give the
public first class electric service, on ac-
count of the popular demand. service not
surpassed by any in New England. Such
service means substantial relaying of
tracks with heavier and better rail. We
must throw aside our present cars and we
shall replace them with the finest made. If
= rix La
best service possible. l think this is the
practical wish of our citizens. III there is
any opposition 10 the road am here to
meet it. If the permission is granted US we
propose to push the matter forward TO COM
pletion at the earliest possible moment.
Aldermen Peters asked where it was pro-
posed to put the poles.
Mr.. Libby said they would be placed by
the curbs under the direction of the city
engineer and electrician. The poles will
be properly painted.
Alderman Randall asked of what the
poles would be made.
Mr.. Libby replied of wood. because they
do not divert the current. There will have
to be eight miles OF poles put up or about 72O
poles.
Mr.. Randall asked if iron poles would not
be cheaper in the end.
Mr.. Libby thought, taking everything into
considera ton. that they were not.
In answer to question whether electric
cars are more dangerous than horse cars,
Mr.. Libby said he wished he could say they
were not. he then described the cars used
and showed that they weighed twice as
much as horse cars. 1t is the intention to
use what is known as an intermediate car
;a
the second in size on the Westbrook line.
Mayor Baxter asked if the board would in
terfere with the telephone system. and this
brought out quite long discussion as to
whether the telephone company ought to
be allowed to stand as a hindrance in the
matter. Mr.. Libby claimed the company
here mad not introduced the modern sysem
with metallic return. He understood
new company with as many subscribers as
the old stood ready to put in modern ser
vice at fair prices. This objection of the
telephone companies is constantly being
made in cities where electric cars are intro
dueed.
Alderman Randall presented remon-
strace signed by The following gentlemen,
which was in the nature of protest against
having the telephone service any poorer
we've the signers:
! Henry P. Merrill. George B. Swazey. John
W. Powers, Vim. Allen, Jr., T. E. Small, H
J. Patterson. Henry H. Brock. F. H.
Gerrish, Addison S. Thayer, Israel T. Dana,
W H. Moulton, Twitcnell. Champlin Com
pany. Fessenden V. Carney. John W. Per-
kins & Co.. Cook. Everett. Pennell Com
pany. Thos. P. Beals Company, E. E. Holt,
~ u n II
George G. Frye. E. A. Fessenden. DR. S. C.
Gordon, tunless some arrangement can be
made to prevent so much disturbance of
telephone;, A. K. P. Mescrve, mo objection
to electric street cars, but desires better
telephone servlce;, R. Il. Hinkley, provided
the trolly system does not interfere with
others rights.
Mr.. Libby said this opposition was the
threshing of old straw. When the Westbrook
line was premeditated Mr.. Farnham. an ex-
pert electrician Of the company came before
the Board and contested the granting of
the necessary permission.
Alderman Peters asked if the poles were
not sometimes placed between the tracks.
Mr.. Libby said yes. where there We're
wide walls, but on Portland streets il would
be dangerous for passenger might jump
Prof Thompson of the Thompson. Houston
company, was introduced and gave some
Interesting facts. He said in crowded dis
tricts of cities now the electric cars ran but
littles faster than The horse cars. If a troily
wire should drop and strike man whose
feet were on damp ground, he would receive
a severe bus not fatal shock. A horse,
however. is more sensitive. Prof. Thonip-
son gave n pleasing account of the building
of the roads, and said the proposed Port
land road would be one of the best.
Mr.. Libby said the present telephone rates
are SIS to $50. and that the new Bay State
company would furnish metallic returns,
and first class service for S37.
Mr.. Baxter then called up various citizens
who were all in favor of the road, and were
greatly pleased that it was to be built.
There were President Winslow of the Board
of Trade, Mr.. Theodore Woodbury., Park
Commissioner Smith. G. E. Jose. Drs. Holt
and Merrill from the opposition explained
they did not object to trolly system. but
tina { they object to having their telephone