The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-31
WHAT SHALL THEY PAY.
For the Privilege Of Crossing
TuAey's Bridge.
YARMOUTH AND PORTLAND RAIL-
ROADS WANT TO CROSS.


Portland Railroad Offers $4,000 in Lump
sum while Yarmouth Road Desires to
Pay Toll Its Cars-Both PROPOSE
lions Under Consideration by the City
Government Committee = Interesting
Hearing on the Matter Yesterday At
ternaon.
AT the meeting of the Portland city
government on March Sth proposition
was received from the Portland Railroad
company in regard to the crossing OF
Tukey's bringe. Accompanying this
proposition was en- order, or rather two
orders, granting to the railroad the right
to GROSS the bridge under certain re-
strictions.
The first of these orders was introduced
by Alderman Leighton aud was as fol-
lows:
Ordered, That the offer of the Portland
Railroad company to pay the sum of W.
900 III two annual payments Of SlO, OOo
each towards the cost Of rebuilding
Tukey's bridge including paving be ao-
cepted and that in consideration of said
payment the right ia hereby granted to
said Portland Railroad company to lay
and maintain for its exclusive use ana
not to be used by any other roaa now Or
ganizsd or that may be hereafter or
ganized and consolidated with said road,
a single traDk across said bridge on the
westerly side of the same connecting with
its tracks as now located on either end of
said bridge together with the right to
erect and maintain the poles and eyer
head fixtures on said bridge necessary to
operate said railroad by electricity. Said
tracks to be located and constructed I'M
der the supervision off the commissioner
of public works.
Alderman Kehoe introduced q similar
order TO the above but with the follow
ing addition: "But said Railroad com
pany shall not have the right to lease or
to grant any trackage right over said
tracks to any other company.
After considerable discussion Alderman
Rounds moved that these orders be lai l
on the table and that a committee of
three be appointed TO investigate the
matter. give public hearing on it and
report at the April meeting Of the city
government. When vote was taken on
this motion to lay the orders on the table
the three aldermen voted for the motion.
three against it and the seventh alder
man being absent, Mayor Randall ex-
ercised his privilege of voting, and the
motion of Alderman Rounds was carried.
Yesterday afternoon the committee ap-
pointed by Mayor Randall in accordance
~ of he I'd of MI
consisting of Alderman Pagan, kehos
and Rounds, gave public hearing in
the alderman's chamber. There were
present besides many members of the CITY
government, Hon. Charles +. Libby,
President Wood and Superintendent
Newman of the Portland Railroad, Hon.
Seth l.. Larrabee, Mr. Wheilden Of Boston
and Mr.. Harris of Portland, representing
the Portland and Yarmouth electric road,
Mr.. Payson Tucker and many citizens,
Alderman Pagan, the chairman Of the
&C mmittee, stated that the object
of the hearing was for the purpose of
listening to any and all persona who de
sired to be heard, either in favor of the
city accepting the proposition Of the
Portland Railroad for the right to cross
Tukey's bridge OF those who were OPP
posed to the city S entertaining the offer.
He snid the committee wanted to hear
any persons who desired to speak. The
representatives of the Portland Railroad
company looked at the representatives of
the Yarmouth road and then glanced
around the room, but no one seemed dis
posed to open tho ball. Finally Alder
man Kehoe said that the committee
would be GLAD to hear from Mr.. Whoilden
of Boston, who represented the interests
of the Yarmouth road, what this road
had to offer.
Mr.. Larrabee took the floor after a
minutes conference with Mr.. Wneilden
and said that that gentleman hat not
been aware thai the hearing was for the
purpose of listening to what the Var
mouth road might Lave to offer. The
Portland and Yarmouth road had not
made any application for terms, and had
no proposition to make to the city for
the privilege of crossing Tukey's bridge.
They are willing TO do anything that is
reasonable and fair but they cannot
afford to pay to the City of Portland an
exhorptant toll for the privilege of enter
ing tbs city's gates The road is not
sbls to stand any heavy TOLL nor IS it in
the position to offer big bonus to the
city for the purpose of crossing the
bridge. They consider that their enter
ing the city will be of advantage to the
city, and it is not their place to offer Il
bonus for that which is to benefit the
city.
Alderman Kehoe said that when the
proposition of the Portland Railroad to
pay $50, 600 for the privilege of crossing