The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-09
DEERING.
Regular Meeting of the City Council
Last Evening.

Voted Not to Accept the Maine CentraFs
Offer for an Underneath Crossing for
Sawyer Street.
At the regular monthly meeting OF the
Deering City Council last evening, Al
derman Redlon presided in the absence
of Mayor Sawyer. Aldermen Davis and
Small were absent.
Alderman Pierce was appointed to
represent the city at the sale of land for
unpaid taxes on February 18Th.
The petition of the New England Teie-
phone and Telegraph Company to locate
poles on Verandah street, East Deering,
was granted, subject to the approval OF
the city street commissioner.
1t was ordered that the following seven
attachments be allowed: Abby Davis,
SIG. 90; Mrs. r. Y Bar Der, 80; P. H.
NickersoD, $5.Os; DE. Nash, 70 cents;
also that &c., 81 be held as an asset of the
city on the lot of IF. Clark, and the
sum of 81. 33 on the lot of G. F. Whicher.
The committee appointed to take
charge of the matter of profile plans of
the land between Forest avenue. Oak
and Sawyer streets. reported that such
plans had been made and placed on file
with the city clerk.
THE MAINE CENTRAL'S OFFER.
The offer made by the Maine Central
railroad in regard to the extension of
Sawyer street across its track was dis
cussed.s The offer was that Thomas
street should be extended parallel to the
track northward co a point where the
land is lower, SO that street might
cross the track underneath. The pre-
vailing sentiment seemed to be strongly
against this idea, on the part of the city
council, and grade crossing at the ex-
tension OF Sawyer street, nearer the sta
ton, was more favorably mentioned.
Alderman Hanson said that road
under the track at the lowest point be
You'd the coal yard of Marsh Bros. would
have to be five feet lower than the pres
ent land level. AS that level is now
swampy and boggy, road-bed five feet
below it could not be kept in good con-
dition, and would require a canal boat
in the spring OF the year.
At the request of Alderman Berry,
City Solicitor Elder explained that the
matter of grade crossings in this state
rests solely in the hands of the railroad
commissioners. In regard to this par
ticuIar grade crossing, he had no doub BIT
that the commissioners came to the
conclusion that an underneath crossing
was feast BILE, and that while it's location
would not accommodate SO well the cltl-
zens on Sawyer street, yet it would be
better for the whole city. There is no
power that he knew of to compel the
commissioners to allow the grade cross
ing. There is no appeal from their de-
cision one way or the other.
When the hearing comes it will be for
the city to show the commissioners that
the proposed street under the track
would be of no benefit to the city, and
then it becomes simply matter as to
whether the desired grade crossing is
allowed or not.
Alderman Hanson spoke strongly
against the proposed street under the
track. He believed that the maintenance
of that street would cost more than it
was worth to the city.
Alderman Pierce said that such road
would not do one person any good.
Alderman Hanson asked if there was
a member of the council who believed
that if the railroad would build the
road, it would be worth while for the
city to maintain it.
Alderman Berry agreed with Alder
man Hanson that the swa mpy land
would make the road impracticable.
Alderman Berry moved that the city
solicitor sbe authorized to communicate
to the railroad that the city council had
decided not to accept the offer of con-
tinuation of Thomas street and CROSS
ing under the track.
1t was voted that the engineer who
made the profile lands should be present
at the hearing before the railroad COM
missioners on February 9th, at 10 a. m.