The Portland daily press., 1895-07-03
PORTLAND BRIDGE.
The Hearing To Widen 1t Before the
Commissioners Yesterday.
MANY PROMINENT PORTLAND AND
SOUTH PORTLAND MEN
TESTIFIED.

Wide Difference in Their Opinions As To
What is Necessary For Public Safety
cussed.
Yesterday forenoon, the County Com
missioners held hearing on the widen
ing of Portland Bridge. The hearing
opened by the reading by Commissioner
Lord of the numerously signed petition
for the widening of the bridge to the ex-
tent of eight feet in view of the proposed
location thereon of the Portland and
Cape Elizabeth Electric Railway Com
pany's tracks. The hearing was held in
the Superior court room. Besides the
attorneys large number of South Port
land citizens were present.
Judge Robinson read the petition as
mentioned above and the very long list
of signers beginning with Hon. William
H. Clifford and including many promi
nent citizens of Portland and Cape Eliza
beth. The Judge said that first he should
desire to have the evidence taken as to
the extent of travel over Portland bridge.
ne Sdlu tlletb Nc dppcdiSu LUZ tuo UoWA VI
Cape Elizabeth.
W. N. Bradley said that he appeared for
Henry St. John Smith. George E. Bird
said that he appeared for Daniel F.
Emery, E. B. Denison, and Chas. A.
Brown & Co. Edwin E. Heckbert said
that he appeared for the citizens of South
Portland. Byron ID. Verrill appeared for
Hale appeared for the railroad company.
Charles f. Libby appeared for himself
and other residents aof Cape Elizabeth.
Stephen c. Perry appeared for the town
of South Portland.
William NJ Bradley said that on Satur-
day last beween 6 a. m. and p. m. there
were 1906 teams passing over the bridge.
Of these 104 were heavy laden drays etc.,
80 were express wagons, market wagons
ETC., and 732 were driving teams, car
riages etc. On Sunday, during the same
hours, there were ST. driving teams. On
Monday there were IT'S heavy teams, $50
express wagons, carts etc, and 800 driv-
ing teams, total of 1916 teams
Mr.. Henry ST. John Smith testified in
answer to Mr.. Bradley's question that he
had lived in Cape Elizabeth since 'S4 and
had occasion to cross the bridge almost
daily. He spoke of the great variety and
number of teams that cross the bridge
and of the danger of the approach on the
Portland side. He thought that an cleo
trio railway on the bridge as it now is
would make it just so much more danger
T1o., i Al
numerous teams had blocked the bridge,
as they do, the presence of an electric car
would be very dangerous. He thought
the bridge ought to be widened now, be-
cause later, after the tracks were laid, the
railway company might not be willing to
pay for the widening of the bridge. He
referred to a runaway accident that he
himself had suffered. Questioned by Mr.
Perry he was quite sure that the bridge
beyond the draw was about 80 feet wide
Questioned by Mr.. Hale, he had not seen
or noticed bridges in Massachusetts cities
over which electric railways pass
Mr.. Charles r. Milliken testified in re-
Spouse to questions by Hon. Chas +.
Libby that he had lived in Portland 40
y
Portland and had driven over the
bridge very extensively. He had signed
the petition because he thought it would
be unsafe for electric cars to pass over
that bridge SO narrow as it now is Since
the cars pass but every half hour and
since the horses that pass over the bridge
would see them but few times day,
they would not get educated to them 1t
is different in a crowded city where many
cars and teams are passing over street
or bridge all the time.
Questioned by Mr.. Verrill, he was
aware that the bridge beyond the draw
was wider than Spring street in Portland
and yet had no objection to the running
of the electric cars in the middle of that
street.
Questioned by Mr.. Hale, his objection
was founded upon the matter of the fright
of horses. If the cars run every Is min
utes it would be better for the education
Of horses and if there was continuous
stream of cars, the objection would large
ly be done away with.
Questioned by Mr.. Libby, he thought
there was more pleasure travel over that
bridge than any other highway leading
out of Portland
Questioned by Mr.. Bird, he thought the
taking up of third of the width of the
bridge by the car track would be a serious
crowding and hampering of traffic.
Questioned by Mr.. Perry if the travel