The Portland daily press., 1895-07-03

of the draw, they couldn't pass over the
draw any faster, whatever the width OF
the bridge beyond.
Questioned by Mr.. Heckbert, the aver
age duration of the opening of the draw
was about IS minutes. The two cars then
blocked wouldn't occupy any more space
than the carriages
Questioned by Mr. Hale he didn't think
the travel of the electric cars would de-
crease the number of teams. The travel
is increasing Capeward each year.
Mr.. Chas. A. Brown, testified in an
swer to Mr.. Birds question that he lived
on the Cape four mo nths of the year and
drove over the bridge with horses great
deal. He thought the Portland end of the
bridge at present was very unsafe and
that electric cars would much increase
that danger. He thought the presence of
the track itself was dangerous without
any cars With third of the bridge
taken up by the track, he did not con-
slider that the space left was large enough
to ensure safely. If 7 rails were used it
would be very dangerous
Questioned by Mr.. Hale he did not
know how such rails were laid, but he
did not think any rails are safe. He
had no practical knowledge of methods of
laying such rails so that they might be
safe.
Questioned by Mr.. Bird he was fire.
quently delayed by the opening of the
bridge for 80 minutes. If the rails were
laid in the bridge as they have been on
South Portland they would be very dan
gerous.
Questioned by Mr. Libby, his experience
showed decidedly that the bridge was
not now wide enough for team traffic and
that narrowing of it while the traffic is
increasing would be very dangerous.
Asked by Mr.. Hale, he wouldn't ask
the county commissioners to widen the
bridge if there were no railroad track, but
he thought the railroad company ought
to pay for widening the bridge.
Mr.. r. B. Denison testified in response
to Mr.. Birds question that he lived on
Obp0 NliLdDCun dDOuu lOul luOAUlo Vi ullC
year and had occasion to cross the bridge.
He thought the Portland end of the bridge
was dangerous and would be more SO if
the electric cars were there. He thought
the laying of the track would practically
render worthless for driving about ten
feet of the bridge and that the remainder
would not be wide enough to render
travel safe. He had been delayed there
by the opening of the draw from 20 to 30
minutes At such times there is a great
congestion of traffic. 1t seemed to him
that it would not be Justifiable to lay the
track on the bridge before it was widened
and wait to see what the results would
be. He was in favor of an electric road,
but if it was laid at all, he wanted it
laid right H.
Questioned by Mr.. Verrill he knew
nothing aboutssthe facts in regard to other
bridges where there were electric roads
His testimony was based upon his judg-
ment of what would result and not from
any object lesson.
Questioned by Mr. Perry he thought
that there would be more danger from
horses on the bridge than on Congress
street. He didn't know how much space
would be left on Preble street after two
rails were laid.
This closed the testimony of the petit
TONERS
Mr.. Hale said for the railroad company
that he should offer the certificate of en-
gineers of other bridges. Judge Robinson
objected. He didn't know by what right
the county commissioners could pass upon
testimony of engineers, without the pres
ence of such engineers
Mr.. Hale began to read the facts about
these other bridges. but Judge Robinson
and Mr. Bird seriously objected. The
latter thought it was green sort of .testi-
mony, and the form Or said that it wasn't
fair to admit such testimony.
Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Verrill. agreed that
the..testimony would not be admissible in
court of Justice, trying crimi-
nal, but in such informal hearings all
sorts of testimony is introduced for in
formation.
This information in regard to other
bridges, said Mr.. Verrill, would serve as
an object lesson. There ought to be the
greatest liberality in admitting testi-
mony
Mr. Hale wanted to know if when the
petitioners offered their testimony it was
required that the signatures of thepetition
should be proved.
Judge Robinson said that it must be
apparent that these plans were not the
right sort of evidence they having had no
opportunity to know whether they were
correct or not
The county commissioners ruled that
they did not consider the plans suitable
for evidence.
Mr.. Perry offered the remonstrance of
William P. Studley and 1873 other citizens
of South Portland against the effort to
cause the widening of the bridge. This
is the petition recently published in
the PRESS. He presented several other
petitions to the same effect, with total
of over 800 signers.
Mr.. Verrill read circumstances to the
same effect, signed by over 500 names.