The Portland daily press., 1895-06-04
A LONG SESSION.
The City Government Did Not Ad-
journ Till Midnight.
THE ARMORY ORDERED TO BE
BUILT.

| bUlLI.
} Five Hundred for the Fourth-Dirieo Tele
phone Petition Referred to Next Meet
ing-Warm Discussion About Sale OF
SLand on Pine Street-Many Orders
1 Passed-Much Business Done-Lunches
at the Meetings Hereafter.
The meeting of the city government last
evening was long one and it was past
twelve O'Clock when adjournment was
finally made. The most important matter
was the decision for the erection of an
armory.
THE ARMORY TO BE BUILT.
Alderman Randall read the order for
the erection of the proposed armory and
public auditorium on the Market lot,
according to plans of Architect Thomp-
son, and moved that it have passage
Alderman Thompson said that while
he had no objection to the city's building
an armory, he did want to go on record
against the city's expending $4,000 or
$780, 900 for state militia over which the
city has no control 1t is expending this
money for the State of Maine 1t will
have no control over the building if it is
erected for this purpose. The amount
stated is s20,o but it will equal $50, 600
He was opposed to it.
Alderman Randall said that we are
already caring for the militia at greater
expense than this will be, and that the
state forces the city to do it.
Alderman Thompson thought that we
couldn't be forced to expend this money,
and that it was too much for Portland to
do
Alderman Smith said that he under
stood that the Smith heirs made propo-
sition in regard to the use of certain
building, and he would like to know
about it,
Mayor Baxter explained that this
proposition had been considered and in
volved more expense than at present.
Alderman Randall moved that the order
have passage.
Aldermen buddy, Thompson and Smith
voted no. Passed.
The lower board concurred unanimous
! ly.
FIVE HUNDRED FOR THE FOURTH.
The common council order for $2500 for
Fourth of July celebration was taken
| from the table and non -concurred in BY
the committee of conference it was decided
to cancel the order for $250O, and the
lower board sent up another order appro-
priating $500 for Fouth of July, and this
was agreed to-
SIXTY CENTS A FOOT NOT
| Alderman Smith read an order that the
city's land on the south side of Pine
street, containing 5000 square feet, be
bargained to Harrie B. Coe for the. sum
of 60 cents per foot.
Alderman Thompson said that he
understood the land in that vicinity was
held as high as rs cents foot He knew
of parties who would have bargained for
this property had they known it was in
| the market
Alderman Smith said the only other
party that had desired the land would
not pay over so cents for it. AS for the
statement that it was worth rs cents a
foot, that was entirely wrong. He cited
various prices of land in that vicinity all
ranging from 55 to 65 cents.
Alderman Thompson simply said that he
knew that that land could be sold for be-
tween 65 and 70 cents afoot.
| Alderman Randall read statements to
the effect that the said land could be sold
for from 65 cents to 70 cents a foot. He
thought that everyone should have fair
chance to buy this land, and he moved
that the order be laid on the table till the
next meeting
| Alderman Smith said that he knew
there had been good deal of misrepre-
sentation about this land. Here was
party ready to buy this land and put up
house on it worth about $4,000.
| Alderman buddy said for the commit
tee that they were fully aware as to the
arrangements for selling this lot to Mr.
Coe He himself had set the price at
| from rs to 80 cents foot. He had been
told by the other members of the COM
mittee that the land was not worth that
much, but since then he had learned that
it was worth more, and though he had
signed the agreement bargaining the land
to Mr. Coe, he now wished to say that he
favored the laying of the order on the
table
Alderman Smith said that he wished to
call attention to one thing. He had sent
for the books but he found that the clerk
had seen fit to keep the books at home
Alderman Peters moved that the whole
matter be laid upon the table
Alderman Smith said that it would
be onlykcourtesy to listen to Mr.. Payson,
who owned land there, especially as
Alderman buddy had seen fit to question
his prices of that land.
"Now 1 know what am talking about,
because have priced the land in that
vicinity myself
Alderman Little suggested that a
| motion tO Law on tbo toI,1o ,,,oc