The Portland daily press., 1895-06-11

about the removal of these alleged tracks
and the contract of 1874 was made as to
the construction and maintenance of the
present overhead bridge
In conclusion Mr. Bird summarized
the offer of the B. & M, which was to
discontinue their old public way to the
public, turnover to the city for support a
much larger amount of street,; and
throw in with it few paving stones.
Judge Symonds, in reply, said that
since 1858 the city Of Portland had main
tanned the Cape Elizabeth crossing.
Therefore the county had not done it.
and the crossing was not part of the
drawbridge, which the county maintains.
The County of Cumberland only had a
right to support an overhead bridge, and
when it ceased to do that the rights of
the county ceased. The city has main
tained that crossing for 40 years. and it
ought to be able to discontinue it.
Alderman Thompson recalled how the
Boston & Maine had always imposed on
the city. When the contract for the build
ing of the Clark street bridge was drawn
up it was supposed that the railroad
would maintain it. But to the amaze
ment of all, when the contract was
port of the bridge was thrown upon the
city. Mr.. Thompson said that the cross
ing was necessary now and in furture.
Hon. George P. Wescott recalled the cir
cumstaces of the Clark street bridge As
mayor, he had sent the city marshal to
prevent the railroad laying an extra
track. Then the railroad officers said
that if they were to serve the merchants
of Portland, more tracks were needed So
the arrangement now in use was pro-
posed. The overhead bridge had to be
built to Clark street instead of Brackett,
because of grade. For plank way
much less grade is required than for a
dirt way. The arrangement made in 1874
had worked well; but the growth of bust
ness had now made that crossing again
troublesome 1t was a question whether
that crossing was to be removed to al
low for increased railroad traffic; or
whether the Boston & Maine shall remove
it's freight sheds out towards Union Sta
tion. That would not be good thing for
the business of Portland
Mr. Elias Thomas -'The Boston &
Maine has never done much for Port
land. -
Mr.. Wescott-"I think it has done
great deal. +"
Mr. Wescott continued, saying that the
contract of 1874 was made openly, pub
lished in the papers, and generally under
stood.
After the hearing had closed Alderman
Thompson said that the crossing was ex-
ceedingly dangerous, and the proposed ar
rangement might be better. He then
read paper recommending a contract be-
tween the city and the railroad, embody-
ing the following points:
The private way to be laid out as a
street and paved by the railroad making
it public way.
That the railroad shall grant to the city
the continuing right to construct an over
head bridge from the end of the draw
bridge to such point as the city should de-
termine, and that the railroad should
erect and maintain this new bridge, if
the discontinuance of Clark street bridge
should be determined on.
That the railroad should at all future
time so long as the second bridge shall
not be built, support and maintain Clark
street bridge.
The form of contract provides that the
city council shall determine material,
kind of construction, etc.
This form of contract was unanimous
ly approved by the committee and will
be reported to the city government.