The Portland daily press., 1895-10-29
TO BRIDGE OR NOT
That Is the Question Agitating
Belfast.
col. DAMRELL'S LIVELY NEIGH
BORLY PARTY.

Citizens Voted His Way-Numerous
Citizens Grow Eloquent to the Colonel
A Spicy Hearing.
A hearing was given yesterday after
noon by Lieut.. Col. A. N. Damrell. on
a petition asking the secretary of war to
grant permission to the city Of Belfast
to construct bridge across Belfast bay,
starting from the foot of Main street
shore. This bridge to take the place of
an old bridge, for some time regarded as
being in a dangerous condition. A
remonstrance against the proposed
location was also sent to the Secretary OF
War, and Colonel Damrell was directed
to give a public hearing to all interested
at his Office in this city. Notices of the
hearing signed by Colonel Damrell having
been sent to all interested parties there
was a large gathering of the solid citizens
of Belfast.
| Colonel Damrell was introduced to the
following gentlemen who desired to be
heard for or against the location; for re-
| garding the necessity for a new bridge
there was no dispute. Every body was in
favor Of that, Mayor Hanson, A. G..
Sibley. L. 7. Shales, CAPTAIN l. Nj.
Boardman, 6. E. McCrilis, W. Il.
Rogers, r. J. Morrison, J. f. Wilson,
Captain Charles Baker, James S. Harri-
| ~ lxxyin
John Sanborn. 1t was evident from the
first that is was likely to be very lively
hearing Hon. George M. Soldiers, and
f. V. Chase, Esq appeared for those
who opposed the location, and were
assisted by James S. Hartman, Esq, OF
Belfast. Mayor Hanson managed the
case for those who are in favor of the
proposed loo alton.
Colonel Damrell briefly explained that
he was ready to listen to anything an y
gentleman might desire to offer, and to
report the result of the hearing to the
Secretary of War. He explained that he
should also require a written statement
the Secretary of War to take into con-
sideration. Mayor Hanson then called upon
e. J, Morrison who started in by making
general statement regarding the pro-
posed, and of the amount of business
likely to pass over it. He said that the
bridge is important to the business men
of Belfast, and that the present bridge
has for some time been in an unsafe con-
dition.
/
(. Mayor Hanson-'sI should say SO. Why
Colonel, a section dropped out just after
a loaded team had passed.
| Mr.. Morrison resumed his statement,
and gave some figures showing the i'm
portance of the bridge to the citizens of
Belfast He spoke of the necessity of
changing the location of the bridge so as
to make it tributary to the business SEQ
ton of the city.
| At this point Mr. Chase asked him the
nature of his business, and his interest in
the bridge. He said that he was interested
| in proposed electric road that when
built will pass over the bridge
| Mr.. Chase-"Then the bridge is to be
built in the interest of an electric road. ;"
| Mr.. Morrison-"Not exactly, but that
| ia nv interest. We can not we'll carry
our road over bridge where the present
one is located
| Mr.. Morrison said he did not propose
to discuss the question of location, but
should refer Mr.. Chase to the minutes of
the proceeding at a public meeting in
Belfast when the proposed location was
unanimously adopted. 1t will avoid hills,
and on the east side will open up a new
section of the country. He gave it as his
opinion that not over 25 per cent of the
shipping will. go above the proposed
location. He was somewhat closely cross
questioned by Mr.. Chase, and grew
FESTIVE saying that he had not come there
to be questioned, and was not prepared to
give statistics.
Mayor Hanson said he objected to the
asking of questions in the nature of a
cross-examination. Any draw bridge is
an obstruction to navigation, and if the
average captain could have his way he
would locate all draw bridges on
mountains 1t seemed to the mayor that
the time had past for discussing
localities. There must be a new bridge,
4
and that at once, and the only question
to be presented at the present hearing
seemed to be twill the proposed bridge
stop the ice to such degree as to obstruct
navigation" The street commissioner
of Belfast goes under the bridge every
day looking for the places most likely to
give out next, but the trouble is nobody
knows where they are. Belfast voted 683
to rs in favor of the proposed location,
and that showed to his mind that Belfast
wants the bridge, and it is called for by
those who favor the electric road. He
then took up the question, ''Will the pro-
posed bridge cause the ice to form above
itY' and argued that it would not. When
the river is solid below the bridge so that
teams cross without danger, above the
nroposed line no man would venture on
the ice. Who are opposing the proposed
plans. Payson Tucker at first though
that it would injure the property of the
Maine Central, and SO notified him, but
payson Tucker is not in the fight, but is