The Portland daily press., 1897-12-24
ANNEXATION COMMISSION
Vas in Session All Day YesLer-
day.
WORK IS PROGRESSING RAPIDLY
AND SAT- SFACTORILY.

The Report viii Be Ma6e on the Adyisa-
biiity and Terms of Annexation of
Deering to Portland by January First
Afternoon Was Devoted to Discussion
of the Another Meeting to Be
Held Monday
The annexation commission was in
session all Gay yesterday and the work is
progressing rapidly and satisfactorily.
The forenoon was devoted to picking up
the facts about Portland's commission OF
public works, schools and poor depart
ment, while the afternoon was devoted
mainly by the commissioners in arranging
the facts obtained from the heads OF de-
partments Of both cities and getting
them into shape for discussion and solid
work. The commission has gone into the
Investigation in q business like manner
and now has the material facts about the
condition Of both Deering and Portland
pretty well in hand. There We're present
yesterday forenoon when the session was
commenced. Prof. Chapman of Bowdoin,
ex.Msyer Newall Of Lewiston, Hon. Geo.
NJ. Seiders of Portland and Representa-
rase Myron Moore CT Deering. Hon. A.
M, Smear Of Gardiner the fifth commits
siouer was absent. Very few people out
side of the gentlemen requested to appear
before the commission were in attendance
at the forenoon session while in the after-
noon the proceedings were not public.
George IL. Fernald, commissioner OF
public works of Portland, was the first
heard. He seid that Portland has 56 miles
OF streets. not including the island
streets Deering has SIS miles Of streets.
About seven miles of these streets are
paved with cobble CT macadam. 1t costs
from Sc. coo to ST., 900 mile to macadam
street.
Portland has so miles of brick side
walks. The city is well provided with
sidewalks, and pays one half the total ex-
panse of sidewalk building. A brick
sidewalk costs 1.40 cents foot. a con-
siderable amount of cement sidewalk has
also been builb.
MIR. Fernald said that Portland has as
we'll equipped street department az
any place In the country. The city has
seven bridges. Two of these are new;
and the city maintains two bridges in
Deerin r.one at PridC's and one in Stroud
water.
The annual expense on highways is
from SIS, 600 to $50, O0o year. Portland
will have considerable paving to do in
the future. Tukey's bridge will cost
Portland when it is completed in the
neighborhood of $500, 00O This amount
will all be paid this year with the excep-
ton of $50, 600. 1t has all been paid By
taxation.
The streets OF Deerirlg wouldn't require
a great outlay to tx up in case of annex
alton, with the exception of the main
thoroughfares. Forest avenue is to be
macadamized before annexation. Port
land streets require great deal of atten-
ton, owing to the hills and the fact that
a few streets are obliged to care for a
great deal of the traffic.
In regard to the sewers, Mr.. Fernald
said Portland is now making connections
with some of the Deering sewers, and
vice versa. Our sewer system has grown
up without any plan. Plans are now he-
ing made Tor an intercepting sewer
around Back Bay similar to the Intercept
ing sewers already constructed on Com
mercial street. This gives fewer outlets
and improves the city's health. Portland
has a. miles Of sewers, which take care
OF many more miles of Streets No read
1ustment Of sewers would be nece. q .ly in
case OF annexation. Portiand's intercept
lng sewer on Back Bay, which is now in
process Of construction, is designed to
eventually accommodate the Deering
sewage. Half c miles of this intercept
ing sewer has bean built, beginning at
the east end. 1t is the policy of the city
to complete this sewer in sections. Mr..
FeEnald said he did not think surface
water should be taken care of in the sew
ers. The surface draining and the sew
erage proper should be separa se systems.
Portland continues the old plan of both
sgstems combined, but it would be far
better If tkey were separate.
Pcrtland's sewer system is so perfected
that it win only be necessary to main
tain the present sewers and build the few
now sewers as they are required. The
intercepting sewer around Back Bay is