The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-16

poles iolnF placed or these straetx and
the board then voted unanimouslv 70
hear what ths remonstrnnts had 10 say
kx.Aldermen Rounds was the flrst ner-
son &c speak in remonstrance. He sa,d
that be was present not to object 70 poles
being put on any street 10 particular. but
to object to poles being erected in any
part Of the city, He said that the strest<
were numbered up with poles already. AT
any man viii go TO the corner Of Fore
and Market streets and see three poles
there within four feet Of one another he
will see what this pole business is coming
10 In Portland. don't sars whether we
have one electric light company or a
dozen. don't believe In putting SO many
poles In our streets. This board should
make these companies put their wires on
one pole instead Of putting three poles 40
near together as these are which / have
mentioned. object to the granting of
this blanket petition which calls for the
erection Of over 500 poles. The petition ers
are not conforming to the law when they
present such petition. They do not in
dictate where the poles are to be placed i.
No m an wants pole. with a big crook
in It perhaps placed in front Of his house.
1t 1t time that some of these wires began
to go under ground"
Alderman johnson said be did not
know what MIR. Rounds meant by a
blanket petition" He said that this
was no blanket petition ne 1t was called.
The location Of the poles were plainly In
Dictated on The map accompanying the
petition which any one could see II they
SO desired.
Mr.. James @. Hamlen was the next
speaker. He said that he appeared to re-
monstrate against poles being placed on
Carleton street where he lived. He said
that this street had recently been greatly
improved by the city and the property
owners there. It 10 not fit TO run poles
and electric wires through. 1t is mar
row street and the poles and wires will
disfignre it and injure the trees and spoil
the appearance of the street. 1t would
also damage the property. To put poles
on this street means 20 plant forest oil
dead trees which will be an eye sore to
all who own propertythe-e. MIR. Hamlen
argued that he believed the time had
come 60 putal wires under ground and
this was just as good time to commence
as any other. Ii Is the modern way OF
handling electric wires and he believed
the city should put its foot down and SCI
that all wires were placed under ground
He said that be believed in the new cleo
tric light company and had been glad to
see 1t come into Portland. He didn't be
lieye the company would show good jndg
ment II 1t should go ahead and antagon
ize the public at this time. The esplanads
which had been put on Carleton street al
some expense to the property owners
would be ruined II poles were placed up
on IL.
Mr.. Il, A. True then took the floor and
said that grass was a beautiful thing, bui
he feared that the way things were going
on here in Portland that grass might be
gin to grow in the streets. We can't al
live ON fine streets, but some of us have go
to live. This new electric light company
means tho establishment here OF any
small industries and means much TO tn
city In the way we have bean living IL
Portland 1t has been the custom to wax,
up in the morning and read In the papel
that some prominent man who couldn'i
make a living here. but had to NOV,
away to make 1t, has died away from
Portland and his obituary Is printed IL
the Portland papers.
At this moment Aid ermhn Smith oh
jected to Mr.. True's speaking as he eyi
IDENTIFY favored the petitioners and wal
not a remonstrant.
The mayor said that the point was vel
taken and Mr.. True sat down.
County Attorney George Libby was the
next speaker, He argued against th,
poles being placed on Carleton street an,
believed that these corporations to whom
franchises are given free of cost by tn,
city should at least be made to put thei
wires under ground. The only thing /
costs these corporations to get franchise
is the payment of their Hobbies at tn
legislature. All are proud of the beauti
full Forest city, but the poles and wires
which are being put in our streets viii
kill the trees unless something is done t,
protect them. At the conclusion of hi
remarks, Mr.. Libby was applauded b,
some of the spectators.
Major Meloher said that he appeared il
behalf Of the remonstrants who lived OF
Pine street. The y objected to these pole
being placed in this street. He said tina
he had favored the petitioning company
coming into Portland, but il 1t were ii
his province to offer a suggestion b
would say that he believed 1t would b
better for the company and for the city T.
have the electric wires placed in under
ground conduits.
MIR. ]. W. Tabor said that he agree,
with Mr.. Hamlen in all that he had sail
and he hoped the wires would all be pu
und er ground
Mr.. Hamlen said that he wanted som
assurance from the aldermen that til
property owners ON Carleton street woui,
not be forced TO run to the aldermen ever
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