The Republican journal., 1895-10-31
The Bridge Question.
VERY LIVELY HEARING AT PORTLAND.

Heiu ~ IofbiaHu MONDAY before COl. Dam
rell, y. 5. Engineers, on the proposed bridge
across Belfast harbor at the foot of Main
street. The hearing was ordered because of
remonstrances sent to the War Department,
it resting with the Secretary of War to grant
or withhold permission for such a structure.
ent at the hearing: Mayor E. F. Hanson,
Charles Baker, j. f. Wilson, E. J. Morrison
and Capt. W. T. Rogers, for the bridge; Jas.
S. Hartman, L. I. Shaes, H. G. Pitcher,
Capt. l. M. Boardman, A. G. Sibley Edw
Sibley, G. d. McCrillis and John Sanborn
opposed. The Portland Press Of Tuesday
contained a full report of the hearing, from
which we quote as follows:
Hon, George NJ. Seiders, and F. V. Chase,
Esq. appeared for those who opposed the
location, and We're assisted by James S.
Hartman, Esq, OF Belfast Mayor Hanson
managed the case for those who are in favor
OF the proposed location.
Colonel Damrell briefly explained that he
was ready to listen to anything any gentle
man might desire to offer, and to report the
result Of the hearing to the Secretary of
War. He explained that he should also re-
qure a written statement from each side of
The points they desired the Secretary Of
War to take into consideration. Mayor
Hanson then called upon E. j. Morrison.
who started in by making general state
nient regarding the proposed bridge, and Of
the amount of business likely To pass over it,
He sal that tine bridge is important to the
business men of Belfast, and t4at the pres
ent bridge has for some time been in an I'M
safe condition.
Mayor Hanson-"I should say so. Why
Colonel, section dropped out just after a
loaded team had passed.
Mr. Morrison resumed his statement, and
gave some figures showing the importance
of the bridge to the citizens of Belfast. He
spoke of the necessity of changing the loca-
ton OF the bridge so as to make it tributary
to the business section 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 a proposed electric road that when built
will pass over the bridge
MIR. Chase-"Then the bridge is to be built
in the interest of an eee trc road
Mr.. MorisOn-"Not exactly, but that is
my interest. We not we'll carry our
road over a bridge where the present one is
located.
Mr. Morrison said he did not propose to
discuss the question of location, but should
refer MIR. Chase to the minutes of the pro-
ceedlngs at a publc meeting II Belfast when
the proposed location was unanimously "
adopted. 1t Will avoid hills and on the east
side will open un a new section of the cOun-
try. He gave it as his opinion that not over
% per cent. of the shipping will go above
the proposed location. He was somewhat
closely cross questioned by Mr.. Chase, and
grew restive saying that he had not come
there to be questioned, and was not prepar-
Ell to give statistics
Mayor Hanson said he objected to the ask
ing OF questions III the nature Of a eross-ex-
animation. Any draw bridge is AT ohstruc-
ton to navigation, and il the average cap
tain could have his way he would locate all
draw bridges on mountains. 1t seemed to
the lnaN0l that the time had past for discus
siug localities There must lie Il new bri ige,
and that at once, and tie only question to
be presented at tile present hearing seemed
70 be twill the proposed bridge stop the ice,
tu such Il degree as to obstsnct nayigti0n?
, Ihe street commissioner of Belfast goes
under the bridge every day looking for the
piaces most likeiy To give out next but the
trouble Is nobody Knows where they are.
Belfast voted 6S3 to - i'll favor of the pro
posed iocatioli and that showed To his mind
that Belfast ants the bridge and it IS cal
ed for NY these WHO favor tie electric road
He tlen took Up tic question. "Hill tile
proposed brit ge cause the ice to form abov v.4
II p and argued that 1T wnnld not When
I the river is soild below the bridge so that
teams cross without danger, above the pro
posed line no man would venture on The ice
Who are opposing the proposed plans? Pay
son Tucker at iifst thought that it would
njure tlle property of the Maine Central.
and so notified him, but Payson Tucker is
not i'll the fight, but is at Nanceboro. Dam
age To the wharyes must be paid for by tine
CITY of Belfast, and IT is perfectly able to
pay all bits against it. We admit in
advance chat any draw bridge is an obstruc-
tion TO navigation and this one will be no
exception to the rule.
Colonel Damrell said that the local courts
must settle the question Of damages, but
| that he was anxious to discover TO what
degree navigation would be Distracted
James S. Hartman was the next man
who was called for, and Mayor Hanson
wanted ia advance to ask him a question or
two. Nv asn't you invited to be present at
public meeting called in Belfast TO consid-
er this question ?'' he asked.
II was,' replied Mr.. Hartman, "but |
say to Mayor Hanson that | am not in the
habit OF trying case with a packed Jury
Had gone there and made any objection /
should have only been hissed and hooted.
The mayor has said that the city OF Belfast
is to ask for this location, but while he is
here the city OF Belfast is not" He then
made vigorous assault on Mayor Hanson,
and his petitlo ers. anu went into statistics
He said that those who voted for the pro
posed location do not pay one-tifth of the
taxes of the city. OF those who voted for
the bill the larger portion only pay poll
tax, and in large number of cases that was
dDdteu ldSl year. NOrbnport pduper was
one of the 6S3 who voted for the MAYORS
plan.
Mayor Hanson Interrupted Mr.. Hartman.
and denied that he could by any possibility
know how people voted at that meeting,
but Mr.. Hartman retorted that he he had
gone pretty deeply into the matter. He said
that he proposed to call upon men who do
know a great deal about the harbor of Bel
fast and the ice.
John Sanborn, a stevedore, was called
upon, and started in by speaking of the
course of the channel fifty years ago, but
Mayor Hanson interrupted with the Ques-
ton, "What has that got to do with the
bridge, John?" Mr.. Sanborn paid no at
tention to the mayor but proceeded with the
history Of the harb0r, but was INTERRUPTED
by Colonel Danrell, who wanted to know
where the draw bridge is to be placed and
Mr. Sanborn said he understood at the point
where the water is the deepest.
Mr.. Sanborn said that he knew as much
about the wharves any man III Belfast. A
heavy storm would send the smaller schoon-
ers flying for the upper harbor and safety,
and then the proposed bridge would be a
very dai gerous obstruction to navigation.
Mr.. Sanborn rather called in question the
motives Of some of those who favor the pro
posed location. 'There's my friend, Captain
Baker," he said, "when he owned property
on the water front he was a great man to
| keep the harbor clear of ice. He was the
one who solicited the money, and he was
was raised. Now that he's sold his water
front property he's interested i'll the bridge,
and cuts no lce.'
I,l, <,ll ~, I