The Portland daily press., 1895-03-19

U0uCleuCleS 1880 IN rO9QS,
bridges, poor, ETC., etc., 1000
The
TYPICAL TOWN MEETING DEBATE
came up when the article relative to the
Ferry landing at South Portland came
up. Captain A. ID. Boyd arose, amid evil
dent expectancy on the part of those
pr esent, and moved that the ferry land
ing be let by the selectmen at the rate
OF not less than $1,000 year. Prof. John
B. Chase supported this motion, and Fred
H. Hartford, ESQ.,, antagonized it. The
matter was of vital Importance to large
section of the town. Since the Eliza
beth was financial failure in 1873,
there had been many attempts to run
ferries, all of which had brought finan-
cial loss to the owners. Owners of the
franchise should be encouraged, not dis
couraged. good ferry boat means
or with in valuation at South Portland
of about $4,000 yearly. The, present
company has added $4,000 to the valu-
alton of the town. Why should an in
stifution OF such value be laden with
hard conditions? He would assure the
people of the town that the Peoples
Ferry was not at this time paying ex-
penses. He would therefore move at the
proper time that the lease of the ferry
| landing ne renew ed for another term of
ten years at rental Of one dollar a year.
Captain A. D. Boyd next took the floor.
He said he did not come to plead for
any corporation or persons. But there
was present OH the floor gentleman who
was ready to offer rental of $1,000 a
year, who asked no sympathy from any
one, and was good for the contract.
Mr.. Hartford, in a spirited repl Z, said
that the parties referred to were I'M
doubtedly the owners of the Portland &
| Cape Elizabeth Ferry, who had occupied
this ferry landing for nothing for fifteen
| years. Because some of the owners of
the Peoples Ferry company had dared
to ask that a highway near their homes
| be widened for the electric railroad, it
| had been insinuated that they were OPP
posed to the road and this attack was
| now made on the ferry.
| Captain BOYD replied that the gentle
railroad. although very quietly and not
directly. But the cats tail had ruffied
the meal. The statement that the Port
land & Cape Elizabeth Ferry company
| was back of the offer was way off.
L Mr.. j. G. Rundlett spoke next. He
wanted to know who the $1,000 man was.
| Mr.. RupdIett said that he had always
stood by South Portland in the ferry
matter, aud he knew that the Peoples
Ferry company had bulldog to fight,
man who never let go. 1t was said that
there was in certain will in Portland
clause providing for running the Mary
W. Libby for many years. Mr.. Rundlett
thought rental of from $500 to $500 a
year might be right.
| Moderator T. 3. Haskell thought it very
important to know who the man was
who offered the $1,000.
| Il. G. Reynolds, Esq, thought ample
| ferry facilities should be given the people
of South Portland. The term of ten
years might be too long, and might adj
vantageously be shortened to five years.
E.E. Heck bert, ESQ.,, thought the ferry
landing might be leased to two parties.
each having the right to land. This
might be preferable to giving the exclu-
sive right to anyone.
There being more calls for Captain
Boyd to show his hand, he arose and
was proceeding to do SO, when voice
| cried: