The Portland daily press., 1896-05-12
TO POND COVE.
The Cape Eleetries Want to Go
There.
BY WAY OF THE BEAUTIFUL
SHORE ROAD,


Elizabeth-sea View Cottage Filled
With Interested Citizens-Preponder-
ance of Sentiment for the Road-The
Remarks-Decision Reserved.
Electriclty continued its onward march
into the domain of the ancient and hon
orable town of Cape Elizabeth yesterday.
That is, the Portland and Cape Elizabeth
Electric Railway company had hearing
before the seleotmen of the town of Cape
Elizabeth on Its petition to further ex-
tend Its lines along the shore road to
PondsCove. rhe ooncensus of opinion
seemed to be that the board of selectmen
would grant the location as asked for in
the petition Of the company, although,
OF course, nothing definite can be stated
on that point until the selectmen make
their report.
There seems to have been considerable
revulsion of feeling in regard to the Cape
road. A considerable number of people
who when the building of the road was
first agitated were violently opposed to
1T have evidently changed their minds in
regard to 1T, and are now enthusiastic In
its advocacy. The weight of expression
at the hearing yesterday was largely
with the side of the road, but there was
enough opposition on the part Of Mr..
Henry St. John Smith, Herbert Payson,
the Messrs. Robinson and W. r. An
thoine, who appeared for several re-
FpnnGtTQnto vUhn ohioofod fo thn oo
a whole OF as to some specific points of
its location, to give decided spice to the
hearing.
AS wh0ls the meeting was good
natured one though there were several
lively little tilts It was after two O'Clock
when Chairman Staples of the board of
selectmen, called the meeting to order
in the large parlor Of the Sea View cot
tage, where the hearing was held, and
the room was filled with interested par
ties.
The full board of seleotment was pres
ent, Messrs. @. s. Staples, Charles Pea
bles and Fl. S. Jordan.
HON. CLARENCE HALE
Opened the hearing for the company. Mr..
Hale began by reading the petition.
Stripped of it's legal yerbiage the prayer
of the road is that additional location be
granted it. Beginning at the Shore road,
SO called, at the boundary line Of the
towns of South Portland and Cape Eliza
beth, and running thence principally on
the southerly side (the Shore side) dis
tanoe of two miles or less to the bridge
at Pond Cove, SO called, in said town of
Cape Elizabeth.
MIR. Hale after abiding briefly to the
organization of the road and describing
the rights granted by the charter under
which the road was operated, said that
in response to very numerous requests
on tbs part of residents, tax payers and
owners of property in the town of Cape
Elizabeth, that the line be extended, the
company asked of the municipal officers
this extension of location. He explained
why it had become necessary on account
Of the division Of South Portland from
Cape Elizabeth, which were one town
when the charter was granted, to proceed
sometimes as subsidiary corporation In
taking legal action, but it was all one
company, and it is the original company
which asks this location which they are
prepared to Immediately begin to co n
struct.
The road is desirous of going where YER
the public demand. They hope eventu-
ally to extend the road to Bowery Beach.
1t would be impossible, however, to ac-
complish that this season. He did not
think it possible to proceed this summer
at the most, further out on the Cape than
the town end of Delano Park. Without
attempting to influence the board in any
way Mr.. Chairman" said Mr.. Hale,
1--WE have presented our petition which l
have read, and trust that this meeting
will result in full expression of the
sentiment of all present, in relation to
the proposed extension. We shall call no
witnesses, but hope for a full expression
of opinion"
Mr.. Hale here put in evidence plan
Of the proposed road showing the proposed
location.
Mr.. Henry st. John Smith inquired
who made the plans and Mr.. Hale re-
piled.
Mr.. Staples Of the board of selectmen,
had it prepared. 1t was necessary to
have plan made and we asked him to
attend to it.
Mr.. Smith seemed desirous of showing
that Mr.. Staples had been employed by
| the road.
In reply, Mr.. Staples said that it was
entirely proper for anybody to prepare
the plan. He was well acquainted with
the premises and had prepared it. The
plan was necessity. 1t was not at all
the obligatory route. 1t had been pre-
pared as possibility only, and was not
arbitrary in any way whatever. He
considered he had done his duty and
what was entirely proper and consistent
With his obligation as seleotman and to
the citizens of Cape Elizabeth and the
public at large.
VIM. R. ANTHOINE, esq,
VINO appeared for several remonstrants