The Portland daily press., 1897-09-07
II THE OTTAWA HOUSE. :
The following resolution was present

The following resolution was presented:
Mhreas, 1t has become known that
negotiations are pending with the United
States government for the sale of the
Ottawa house, situated on Gushing g
island, in this harbor. With our limited
accommodations for the tourists who have
SO largely increased in numbers of late
we cannot but view with alarm the
serious loss we may sustain in the trans
| fer of this attractive hotel. 1t is conceded
| to be the "Gem" of the Atlantic coast;
the purchase of it by the government
means closing of its doors to the public
and a consequent diversion to other points
of large and influential class of citizens
| This loss may not be SO apparent to the
community at large as to the various
branches of the retail trade; and what
will be more keenly felt at this time, the
loss to the city Of Portland nearly $500
annually of taxable property. 1t was
stated by those in authority at the time
of condemnation proceedings in the
United States court, that 1.-THE govern
ment had acquired even more land than
was needed for Notifications and has no
present or prospective need of the
'Ottawa." The negotiations now opened
by the bond holders, urging the govern
ment to purchase that, for which they
can only have remote use, is of SO
serious nature to our city as to call for
| u.
is therefore,
Resolved. That in consideration of the
preceding statement of facts, we do most
earnestly protest against the United States
government concluding any purchase of
the Ottawa house.
Resolved, That copy of these pro-
ceedlngs be transmitted to EACH the seere-
tary of war and the secretary of the treas
ury.
After Mr.. Rounds had read the resolu-
lions he move ed their passage.
Alderman Ilsley said he did not see the
need of the resolution. If the government
wanted the Ottawa it would take it; if it
didn't want it, it would not take it. The
preamble recited that the government did
not want it.
Mr.. Rounds said he thought this should
be passed. Portland needed the hotel. and
to close it would be blow to the interests
of the city.
Alderman Moore said it was we'll
known that the government was erecting
a splendid outer line of defence for the
harbor At Portland Head, on Cushing IS
island, and on the islands below were be-
ing erected extensive and probably i'm
pregnable Notifications. The governmen t
should have all the land it needed for the
Notifications. In time of peace we should
prepare for war. We should do nothing
to embarrass the government in its work,
and MIR. Moore said that for one he
should vote against the resolution.
Alderman Rounds said it had been fig
ured out at the recent banquet that even
with these defences it would be necessary
to go to Gorham to get out of the range
OF IRE. He thought that under SUCH cir
cum stances it might be all right to keep
the Ottawa and go little beyond Cor
ham in cnse of trouble.
Alderman Ilsley said he did not think
it any business of the city government to
Interfere, and he moved that the resolu-
ton lie on the table. This was carried
Aldermen Ilsley, Moore, Pagan and Nc
Donald voting yes, and Messrs. Rounds
and Leighton voting nay.
CHESTNUT STREET SCHOOL
Alderman Moore presented an order to
direct the committee on unimproyed real
estate to purchase of James w. Fitz-
patrick, the lot of land adjoining the
Chestnut street school house for use as a
school yard, the amount of land being
about eight thousand square feet and the
limit of price being fixed at $4,000.
Some question was raised by Alderman
Pagan as to the appropriation from which
the money should be taken. Alderman
Rounds thereupon proposed that it be
taken from the Public Library appropri.
alton.
Alderman Ilsley proposed transfer of
s4200 from the account of overlayings to
the account of the new school house. He
did this as preliminary to an order trans.
ferring like amount from the new
school building account to the purchase
Of the land for the Chestnut street school,
Alderman Leighton said he thought
the city had land which it could ex-
change, without paying cash.
Alderman Moore favored the acquisition
of the property. A new building for the
Chestnut street school was one of the
needed
Ihe order for the purchase of the land
was then passed, it being provided that
the amounts should be taken from the
new school buildings account.
In the council Mr.. Stone made a speech
in favor of the order, and it passed
unanimously.
THE AIMS HUOSE.
The order relating to the investigation
of the question of removing the aims
house, which passed the upper board at a
previous meeting, passed the council and
Messrs. johnson, Stone and Brice were
appointed on the committee. The Alder
men have not yet been appointed.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE ON
CLAIMS.
The committee on judicial proceed
ings and claims reported adversely on the
following claims:
Linn B. Abbott for $40 damages to a
bicycle alleged to be occasioned by defect