The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-05
SURPRISE PARTY.
Contin ued from First Page.

which the drive around MunJoy anords
our citizens and summer visitors is liapie
to be shut off by unsightly structures.
Such an encrOachment upon "haO an
90 long been considered a public privilege
wouldFarouse our citizens to seDseioI
neglect which they would not pc HEeiy
to forget. Realizing the necessity, anu
and use the word advisedly. OF CON
troll of this property SO as to avert a uaH-
ger which regard as imminent, some
time ago entered into negotiations WIN
the abutters upon the driveway, and now
report to You the result.
Three years ago l opened eorrespoh-
dence with the Grand Trunk Halfway
Company, having in view the acquisition
of their land adjoining Fort Allen Park.
After several meetings with the manager
of the road felt that l had this project
nearly accomplished, when an official
change disappointed my hopes. when
encouraged to begin again, and | have
no doubt that at an early day the city
by an exchange of certain rights can
acquire this property. Adjoining 1T to
the north lies the land of the Prebls heirs.
which I succeeded in purchasing few
months ago. I then began at the ex-
treme end of the promenade on Washing.
ton street, and by the liberal action of
the Portland e. Rochester Railroad
Company the enJi1e frontage = on the
promenade for distance of about 1910
feet has been acquired. To the south OF
this lies the land of the Gerry heirs. 1t
took considerable time to reach the
parties controlling this property, but
was finally referred to Mr.. Stewart OF
Baltimore, who came to Portland at my
request to confer with me on the sub
ject, and am happy to state that the nu.
merous heirs of that property have placed
their interests in his hands, andsI have
letter from them offering to deco 1t to
Portland for q specified sum. With q
little more effort am satisfied that all
the abutting land on the Eastern Prone
all future danger Of loss OF this beaut1-
full outlook on the bay, the jewel in
Portland's crown of beauty, will be re-
moved.
The question naturally arises, how to
connect our two promenades and park
s, stem together. The acquisition made
by exchange with the Brown heirs Of
the slope of the Western Promenade and
territory at its base will afford pleas
ant drivesor parkway along and down the
slope and through B street, which can
be adorned with esplanades to the park
way now under course of construction
onsP cortland street and through Deer
ing's Oaks.
And here let roe express the hope, that
Uu0 OEuCE AOU lug u ~ IL oAfo osS~~ -
the purchase of the Deering lot near the
foot of New high street, which Will COM
plete the improvement of behring's Oaks,
may be taken up and passed. in concur
renee.
From behring's Oaks, up New High
and Cumberland street, which can De
adorned with esplapades at small cost to
the city, as the AUDITORS will without
doubt be glad to pay a portion of the ex-
pense, an attractive connection can be
made with the Eastern Promenade and
Turkeys bridge, and when the boulevard
around Back Bay is completed, return
to behring's Oaks. With this. system
of Improvements completed Portland will
POSSESS several miles of drives unsur.
the country.
In the purchase from the Portland &
Rochester Railroad Company, portion
of the unsightly bluff on the westerly
side of Washington street WAS acquired,
which with the high lard on the other
side, can bs graded and adorned with
trees and shrubbery. making another
attractive entrance to the city.
( The plan I have outlined / believe
should receive the earnest support OF
every citizen of Portland. 1t is not sec
tional, but embraces tho entire citr.
was somewhat surprised when l began
on the Western Promenade to find citi-
zens in some other parts OF the city not
only Indifferent, bat in some cases OPP
posed, to further improvements which
were remote from where they resided.
also found the same indifference and
opposition when I began on the East
ern Promenade from some who resided
at the opposite end Of the city and ! was
reminded of an anecdote of Portland
gentleman who met at Young's hotel in
Boston q friend, who had been absent
L., ~sA H. Thn
Portland gentleman upon being asked
where he lived, replied somewhat absent
mindedly: Gin Ward IL And then,
noticing the puzzled expression in his
friends face, corrected himself by say
ing: 81 should have said in Portland"
I hope the time will come when ward
lines will be abolished aud men will no
longer be able to say thst they live in
Ward or or 7, but in Portland, which
is honor enough.
Portland must not be behind those
wide. aw AXE cities, Bangor and Lewiston.
whose enterprises the people of Maine
admire: but her progressive men must
come to the front, where they are nesd-
ed, and replace those who hang back,
and az every suggestion Of improvement
exclaim, we have gone along SO far well
enough for the last century, and need
nothing better. Portland has no use
for such men, for they impede her pros
perity.
And here gentlemen, let me say lest
what have.already said may exotic ap-
prehension in your minds that the plan
OF Improvements l have laid before you
will involve the city in an expense which
will.increass the present rate OF taxation,
that would not advocate anything
which would do this. The outlay to ac-
oomplish. all that i would advise can be
distributed over number of years, with
out undnly burdening our taxpayers.
7 believe that the plan of improy enents
to which your attention has been. called
will. il completed be benefit to the
entire city, and that il is altogether
practicable; nor do 1 doubt that it will
bring to Portland rich return for all
that it costs. / therefore commend it
not only 10 your careful consideration,
but also to the consideration of our citi-
zens.
At the conclusion of Mayor Baxter's
message he was applauded generously
and for some moments. Alderman Mo
Donald's order instructing Portland's
representatives to the Legislature to use all
honorable means to secure the annexa-