The Portland daily press., 1895-10-08
ELECTRIC ROAD BATTLE.
Opposition To Cape EIeetries in
Market Square.
STRONG PRESENTATIONS BOTH
FOR AND AGAINST.

Interesting Speeches by Hon. w. w
Thomas, Jr., George Il. Bird, Charles
S. Fobes, Z. NJ. Rand and w. H. Green
Aldermen svote to Grant Location
Other City Business.
The main interest of the city meeting
Monday evening conferred in the petition
of the Portland and Cape Elizabeth
electric railroad for leave to change the
location of its tracks SO that, instead OF
coming up Gross street, its track may go
along Fore street, up Market street and
along Federal street to Monument square
and on and through Monument square
between the tracks of the Portland Rail
road company and the eastern line of the
square, to the line of Congress street.
Along Federal street a double track is
asked, and on Fore street a turnout is
asked for. Otherwise the track would be
single.
After Mayor Baxter had read the
petition for the new location Clarence
Hale, Esq, attorney for the railroad,
presented a number of petitions, headed
by w. W. Thomas, asking for the loca-
ton. Mr.. Hale claimed that the petitions
represented nine tenths OF the property
owners and those doing business along
the line of the proposed location. He be-
lieved that there was also a general desire
for the location.
Captain j. S. Winslow was introduced
as one interested in the International
line steamers. He said that this line
would be great convenience for pas
sengers on that liue, as we'll as for people
desiring generally to get to the water
front.
f. NJ. Rand, Esq. here asked leave to
ask q question, and inquired Of Captain
Winslow if he was not member of the
. Portland and Cape Elizabeth railroad.
Captain WinsIow replied that he was.
You are the president, are you not?
I am.
May 1 inquire how much stock you
own?
Captain Winslow demurred.
If you object 1 will not press the
question.
object
Can you then tell me how much stock
is owned by Portland people?
do not think any.
Hon William W. Thomas, Jr., was
Text introduced He said that Portland
was the hub of this locality. But Of what
use was hub without spokes. Portland
did little less than an act of heroism
when, in her younger days, she built the
Atlantic and ST. Lawrence. But fortune
favored the brave, and the city had got
back her money. which had brought
prosperity with it. This was the first
spoke in the wheel. Then came other
spokcs, the Ogdensburg, Rochester; and
the smaller spokes, the electric roads.
The latest spoke was the Portland and
Cape Elizabeth electric. This was to be
furnished without the expenditure of a
dollar of Portland money. 1t was free
gift, for which credit should be given the
gentleman sitting here Indicating Mr..
Krutz.)
Mr.. Thomas then went on to describe
the streets of the city, and to show that
this location would help the streets
through which it went and preserve an
equilibrium of property. The tendency OF
all cities is to grow westward. But Port
land has only about three, square miles OF
territory while other cities rarely have
less than twelve. Whenever we grow
westward we lavish our growth onto
other places. This road will tend to
arrest this westward growth, and aid the
property in the central part of the city.
MIR. Thomas's remarks were received
with applause.
Weston f. Milllken, Esq, was intro
duced to speak for the management of
Rieby Park. He said the new electric
road was of great business advantage,
and should, to do its best work, come in
to Market square.
George E. Bird, in behalf of certain
citizens, appear ed
IN OPPOSITION.
1t was question whether public con-
yenience required this location. He then
presented remonstrance signed by w.
L. Wilson, George B. Bagley, Benson
and others. He also represented William
G.. Davis who had property along the
route. Mr. Bird said that he had listened
to Mr.. Thomas with much interest, but
failed to see the force of the argument.
The Cape Elizabeth spoke had already
entered the city. 1t was fixed in the
charter of the road that Its tracks should
come to the head of Cross street. From
that place to Market square is only a
little over four hundred feet Are the
people of Portland SO degenerate that
they cannot walk that distance?
Gentlemen. you must distinguish be-
tween public convenience and corporate
greed. There is some cat under the meal,
although | cannot tell what it is.
The road would convenience nearly as
well all the steamers with the Gross
street location.