The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-03
STANDARD CLOTHING CO., nn4a AZ St
THE HARBOR LINES,
Commissioner Farley Talks Entertain
ingly of Them.
The Powers Exercised by the General GOV
ernment Are Making Changes.

7 he Powers Exercised by the General Gov
eminent Are Making Changes.
With the improvements in contempla-
ton in our harbor and the increases in
foreign traffic everything relating to the
harbor lines is of interest, and especially
the following conversation of a PRESS
reporter with Harbor Commissioner
Cyrus Farley
Q.-It has been intimated that the
United States government would mo-
allow the application of the Grand Trunk
for the extension of their wharf to &C
through. Can you give US the grounds
for the objection?
Al don't know that there will be OBJ
lection. Within few years the govern
ment has passed some rather strict laws
to prevent encroachment ON it's naviga
BILE waters. 1t has taken away state
and municipal control over such waters
and has shut down on legislative privi-
leges to build wharves and bridges.
Q.-Then the legislature doesn't exer
else this privilege now.
40, yes it does. 1t keeps right on
just the same.
Citizen these permits by the legisla-
ture have no force?
Al uuli SCC pllelp CICy ltbfS GACclju
get man into trouble.
Q.-How does the law affect our harbor!
A.-As ! understand the law it takes
away for the present our control over
Back Cove and the upper part of Fore
river, because there are no harbor lines
in these sections, but does not touch our
authority in the front harbor, where
lines have been established many years
Major Hoxie may think differently, I
hor 10 bod xxrifh hin, Init I nh II
for him.
Q.-Why is not the law relating to the
front harbor as clear as it is for Back
Cove.
A.-For this reason: The law of 1850
provides that harbor lines shall be estab-
lished when necessary and these lines
shall be approved by the Secretary of War
before any wharf shall be erected. The
lines in our front harbor, though never
formally approved by the Secretary of
War, has been recognized by the War De-
partlnent for more than forty years. They
were established by United States off
GERS and the War Department furnished
one-third of the commission. The other
members of the commission were from
the navy and the coast survey. But that
part of the line in front OF the Grand
Trunk wharyes was changed and re-es-
tablshed by Major Hoxie's predecessor,
Gen. Thorn. 1t seems to mo that what
is done by United States engineer must
have the approval of the Secretary of
War.
Q.-Does Major Hoxie find any fault
with the location of our harbor lines?
A.-Not at all. But he thinks these
lines should be formally recognized by
the Secretary of War SO as to make our
authority clear and unmistakable and
he suggests that this be done when the
new lines are established in Back Cove
Q.-Then harbor lines art to be estab-
lished in Back Cove?
Ave have had some correspondence
On the subject and it will probably be
done as soon as Major Hoxie's duties will
allow him to get at it.
Citizen you can't say positively what
Major Hoxie's course will be with regard
to the extension of the Grand Trunk
wharf
A.-No, 1 can't; he's of age, you can
ask him, or wait and see.