The Portland daily press., 1895-08-29

A meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen
was held last evening. Mayor Baxter
and all the aldermen except Mr.. Smith
were present. The principal business of
the meeting was the hearing ON the petit
tions of the Portland Railroad Company
for right to extend its tracks along Port
land street in order to give the rapid
transit line to Union Station and to ex-
tend its line along Washington street to
rukey's bridge in order to complete the
belt line
When the hearing was about to COM
mence. Mr.. Randall said that the Var
mouth electric road had also petitioned
for location, and as they were the first
petitioners he thought they should be
heard first Alderman Peters also favored
this idea.
So the representatives of the Yarmouth
road were heard first.
Seth L. Larrabee Esq, said that he ap-
peared for the Portland and Yarmouth
Electric railroad. They had legislative
charter under which they wished to run
from Congress street down Elm, along
Cumberland and Washington streets and
over Tukey's bridge, on their way to Var
mouth The Portland and Yarmouth
Electric road ask now that they may have
their way located in Portland, 1'he Leg
islature has given them right to go
through the streets towards its destlna-
ton. 1t is left for this city government
to determine what streets shall be used.
OVER TUKEY'S BRIDGE
the Portland,and Yarmouth road has an
absolute right of way. 1t has not been
proposed, however, to lay the tracks on
tho bridge at once Buses will be used
for time The Portland and Yarmouth
Electric road has no antagonisms with
any other re adj, especially none with the
old established road The company is or
ganized with Il capital OF $500, 600, all OF
which will be placed soon. The officers
of the road are present, gentlemen OF
standing and responsibility, although not
citizens of Portland
Alderman Thompson asked If the char
ter of the Portland and Yarmouth Elec-
trio railroad had the exclusive right to
Tukey's bridge. Mr.. Larrabee replied
that it had the only right to cross which
the Legislature had granted There was
an implication in the charter of the
| Ocean street road that it might come into
Portland; but no express permission is
Mr.. Larrabeo said that the Portland
and Yarmouth Electric road could not
cross the bridge on the tracks OF Portland
railroad company. BUT the Portland
railroad company could cross on the
tracks of the Yarmouth road, and the lat
| ter could not prevent. This was because
of a general law to which the Yarmouth
road was subject, while the Portland
| road is not.
Mr.. Iarrabee said that the Yarmouth
road wished to be on termszof the greatest
friendship with the Portland railroad. :
President Perry Of Connecticut said it
WAS the intention to begin building to
Yarmouth this fall.
Judge Frank W. Robinson apparel for
the Portland railroad company. He said
he had nothing to say against the Var
mouth road, for the Portland road was
as anxious for friendship as the gentle
men on the other side profess to be. Mr..
Larrabee's idea as to the right to cross
Tukey's bridge would be considerably
modified if he would read the
CHARTER OF THE PORTLAND
RAILROAD
as carefully as he had the Ocean street
charter, he would find that the Portland
railroad company had the right to pass
out of Portland by the bridges leading to
what was the old town of Westbook.
Now the Portland railroad company is
a corporation tbat has expended three
quarters of million of dollars in the
streets of Portland. More than that, it
has given a service, and to the public has
accorded treatment rarely enjoyed from
corporations in it's situation. The public
know this, and we believe that they APP
preciate it, The Portland railroad, as is
we'll known, has always intended to
cross Tukey's bridge as soon as the
draw would permit. When the charter
of the Yarmouth road was asked, 1T was
turning the corner of Ocean street on its
way to East Deering.
Judge Robinson said that Mr.. Larrabee
was in error about the joint occupancy
of tracks. The charter of the Yarmouth
road gave it the right to the exclusive
oGcupaticn of the streets over which it
passed. Grant the location which that
road low asks as it asks 1t, ana the FORT
land railroad will be at the mercy OF the
Yarmouth road. Moreover, it will be
practically impossible for the two roads
10 use the Same tracks. The arran cement
of time tables would be impossible. II
the CITY governmnt should grant the Var
mouth location, the Portland railroad
could not lay its own tracks along the
same streets, because the Yarmouth cildf-
fer gives exclusive rights in the streets.
But if the Portland railroad is granted
theSlooation, the Yarmouth road may
still lay its tracks.
The Portland railroad company asked
no exclusive rights. 1t was willing to &C
cept the location Of its tracks on the con-
dition that
THE YARMOUTH ROAD
no a11o1uad alco tn cross the bridge and
go along Washington street.
Dir. Larrabee said that the Yarmouth
road was willing to take its location sub
iect to agreement to preserve the privi-
lerns of the Pnrtlandl railroad.