The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-07-04

the value of their real estate. and SO they |
are ready to surrender the streets of their
town to the corporation. We do not come
here IN opposition to the budding of the
road but we are trying to guard the
rights of the citizens of Cumberland
county.
Hon. G. f. Libby made a strong and
spirited argument for the petitioners He
contended for calm and fair --considera-
ton of this matter and deprecated the in
PRODUCTION OF outside questions No one
is attempting to impose unheard of con
ditions upon this corporation. The public
safety and convenience are being con-
sidered He contended that the board
should go strictly by the charter. not by
any private agreement or understanding
among individuals. He called attention
to the language of the charter and con-
tended that it must be taken literally as
it stands. Section three of the charter
gives permission to the railroad to con-
struct a bridge and draw on the easterly
side of Portland bridge Had the legisla-
ture been told that the corporation didn't
intend to do any such thing? He then
sharply criticised the framing of the
charter, claiming that it was not the
work of one mind but was patched to-
gether and loosely connected. After
giving this private corporation all they
had asked for the legislature had an idea
that the county commissioners ought to
have some power in the matter. so the
right was conferred on the commissioners
or any other court of competent jurisdic-
tion at any time to order the widening OF
the bridge. They say our fears are
imaginary, but the language of the
charter shows that the legislature had
some such fears.
In the course of Mr.. Libby's argument
he criticised severely Mr. Verrill's state
ment that if the commissioners widened
the bridge the road might refuse to pay
for it as provided in the charter.
Mr.. Hale said the road had made no
such threat.
Mr.. Libby retorted that he took the
statements of counsel as he heard them,
and Mr.. Verrill had certainly said So
Mr.. Hale insisted that Mr.. Verrill was
statement.
Mr.. Libby said if that was so, he was
glad to give the road the full benefit of
its own statement. He severely arraigned
the selectmen of South Portland for
granting permission to lay double rails,
to make curves with bent rails, instead
of special fittings and to set poles in the
streets without a hearing, contrary to the
statute. He asserted that if the road is
allowed to be built on the bridge without
widening some one is going to be respon-
sible for the terrible accidents that must
occur. He should not think any reputable
corporation would desire to go on that
bridge without widening. Some
mysterious influence is alleged in Fopposi-
tion to this road. If there had been any
opposition to the road itself would there
not have been opposition to the granting
of the charter? We simply want this road
to come forward and meet the obligations
which they have assumed.
Judge Robinson spoke for the inhabi-
tants of Cape Elizabeth. He charged the
municipal officers of South Portland with
bullheadedness and said that the citizens
of that town seemed to imagine that they
are the entire public. The Cape Eliza
beth people assert that they have some
rights in this matter. He pictured the
present dangers of driving on the Port
land bridge and told how they would be
increased by electric cars He spoke of
what has been alleged of crowded bridges
in other cities and charged that the con-
ditions vary materially from what they
are on Portland bridge
The county commissioners reserved
| their decision to a future date