The Portland daily press., 1901-01-01
Broad Gauge VS.. Narrow Gauge
To thn Edltor Of the DRESS:

To the Editor of the PRESS:
There are places where the narrow
gauge railroad is in use and without
doubt to as good purpose as the broad
gauge, for there Is a time and place for
all things, but 1t would not do for Port
land. Then there are broad gauge men
and narrow gauge men, but the latter are
surely not needed in PORTLAND for there
seems 20 be too many of that kind al
ready, and that accounts without doubt
for the lack OF ent rprise and go-ahead
which are SO oonspicuously absent. Why,
If Portland had had as liberal a proper
tion of broad Raugsd citizens as the little
city OF Bath on the Keunebec, 1t would
have lang since passed the l00, 90 popula-
tion marx and Increased It's valuation ten
fold. How do we account for the rapid
development of western cities which are
so rroyerbially enterpriEing. IL is with
out exception, the broad gauge plan upon
which they ara constructed and managed
that accounts for tn air wonderful success.
They have made 1t a rule TO welcome
every enterprise and scheme that tended
to promote the best interests OF th5 oom-
munIty; broad gauge through and
through. Take for instance, the tele-
phone; they know what the Bell Tele-
phons company 1s by experience and
when new company offers inducements
that viii lie beneficial to the city and Its
citizens, the city government receives
that new company in a broad gauge
fashion with open arms This Is sub
Stimulated by ths remarkable hsadway of
independent telephone companies In the
West. But look, for one moment, at the
outrageous action Of the present city gov
srDment In lighting against the Dirlgo
telephone com paDy, and as many believe,
because some members had grudge
against its manager, but II this was so
ana they had been broad gauge, they
neysr would have allowed a personal
matt9r to int arfere with their vo5e, when
the interest of the oity was at stake.
LOOK up the history OF the Cumberland
Illuminating company, aud the Portland
Electric Light company, how they sought
admission and were fought t-oth ana
nail, two years in the MestbFook city
governments, two years In the Deering
city governments and TWO years in tbs
Portland city governments and what did
they fight against but their city's best In.
terests every time, ana were only forced
into allowing the rights that they were
entitled to by an indignant and disguised
people Why, they would grant the COM
panies that had bled their city and Its
citizens, any and every favor thsy would
ask. The city OF Portland and its citizens
are now saving more than $4,000 year
in spite OF the opposition of these enemies
OF ths city's best interests and could
probably save one-haif OF this amount
more by allowing competition in the tele-
phone, and not for this year only, but
next, ana next, and next, and as the use
OF electricity increases as 1t Will, this
saving will continue to increase until IL
amounts to probably more than $1OO. 200 a
year and no one will deny 1t. What we
need now is broad gauge city govern
10 nfr hnr snf yarskr
for corporate interests when they are OPP
posed TO the interests Of the city. The
10Th century Is ended, and we now begin
the first hour, OF the first month OF the
first year, of the firs5 decade OF the goth
century, and that too, with the index
finger OF time pointing at prosperity on
every band, and why shall we not be
broad gauge enough to accept 1t with
open arms and add our efforts one and all,
TO the promotion of Portland's Drosperi-
ty. Portland has been under ring
rule" long enough. There are "rings'' and
rings, and 1t iR a wonder that the
death knell ring" has not got in It a
'rlng," which it will do unless we come
to our SENSES and start a ring which
will drown out every other +" ring" that
is not the true ''rlng' for Portland's
wealth abroad 20 build up othsr commu-
mites, keep L at home and build up
Portland. Then we shall see Ii the
"Canadian Pacific" has Its terminus In
Portland, and whether the Boston and
Maine continues to make Portland way
station, ana whether Portland has dry
dock and grain elevators built OF steel
and steel ship building plant, and man
ufaoturing plants too, and we Will see II
European steamship iinss Will not make
Portland their port OF entry instead OF
Boston and New York on account of the
- n
the reduced distance OF nearly one thou
sand miles on the round trio. I. Q. from
New York, which would mean a saving
of millions and millions of dollars to the
owners annually which Is an item that
cannot be overlooked or ignored.
Yours truly,
III. v. p.
Portland. January lat. lg0l.