Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-07-15
HiTCH,NG PLACE AND MARKET.
Public Meeting Favors the Gilman Lot
for Those Purposes.

The committee appointed to consider the
matter of a hitchins place and mark ct
held a public meeting in the city govern
ment rooms, last evening, for the purpose
of giving everyone who desired chance
to express an opinion on the matter. Tha
matter was started or brought to notice
by the placing of a hitching rail along
the south side of the City Hall park on
Common street. This had been used for
years as hitching place for horses and
has caused no end OF objection on ac-
count of the dirt, smell, etc. Before the
new City building was constructed this
objection never took a decided form. but
since then ii has most emphatlcally.
Nearly every business man on the street
objected. but as some place for hitch
ing horses had to be provided until some
thing definite could be done the rail was
pue up and has just been completd..
There was a large attendance at the
meeting and a very representative one.
E. c. Wardwell, chairman of the commit
tee, presided, and Dr.. Hill, who has taken
a great interest in the matter from the
start, was the first to speak. He pre-
sented two plans of places that might be
used for this purpose, one that is known
as the Gilman bog on Charles street and
the other belonging to the Burleigh heirs
just north OF the oid City hall on Front
street. The former piece contains about
0.000 square feet and it is thought would
accommodate about 100 teams. Dana T..
lease it to the city for term of five or
10 years al n rental OF $75 per year and the
taxes, and with the option to purchase at
the end or during the periods mentioned
The Burleigh lot contains about 1000
square feet. Those controlling this Offer
to lease il to the city for term of five
years for $50 per year. but viii not sell
under any consideration.
Some work will be necessary to put the
Gilman piece in condition for the purpose
for which ii would be used but it was
thought that this would not cost over
more than $50 1t has been made dump
ing place for some time and it is believed
to fill it up and make solid ground the
only cost being for the labor of leveling
ii off and for coat of gravel to make
it smooth and neat.
The vacant lot in front of the Lock
wood mills was also mentioned but not
considered seriously. as it was not be
ieved that it could be purchased or leas
ed for the purpose and the matter finally
narrowed down to- the two propositions.
The question of a market place was
brought up during the discussion and it
seemed to be the general opinion taht
something of this kind should be pro-
vided, either in connection with hitch
ing place or separately. But it was
thought that the Gilman piece would be
amply large for both.
c. f. Matthews strongly objected to
/
ing place when two places could be OBJ
tanned so cheaply. DR.. f. l.. Jones con-
sidered it the duty of the city to the mer-
chants to provide some suitable hitchinr
place for teams Frank Redinston
brought up the question Of market n;
wei as hitching place and strongly ad-
vocated something Of this kind.
DIR. +. &. Thayer would be glad to see
The hitchins on Common street discontin-
ued as he considered it a nuisance lie
preferred the Burieigh piece as it was
more central. He thought that the place
provided should be large enough for tht
maximum number Of teams. He, too.
considered the market place as of great
Importance.
Hon. w. r. Hainos characterized TIL.
Common street hitcning place as a nlthy.
sinking place, with its flies ana accumu-
lating dirt. He should like to see a con
crete street made all around the park
one that could be washed when necessary
and Kept clean all the time. Mcadarn
would not do it could not be swept or
washe d, and paving had much the same
objections. What he considered best was
good cement concrete. He described thu
market places he had seen in Albany and
Buffalo and believed that Waterville
should have something similar in proper
ton TO its size. He mentioned the fact
that in one of the last talks with the late
Reuben Foster that he (Mr. FOSTER dc
clared that the city needed hitching ana
market place.
L. fitzpatrick strongly objected to the
present hitching place on Common street
and was strongly in favor of the city
buying piece Of land for the purpose
rather than leasing ii.
Mr. Haines, in order TO get the sense
Of the meeting, moved that the city gov
ernment be requested to lease of the Bur
leigh heirs the piece Of land described ana
remove the rail from Common street. put
ting 1t up there. This motion was put
ana lost.
II. l.. Emery spoke strongly in favor of
the Gilman piece. This was centrally 10
Gated. surrounded by high buildings ana
thus well protected. back from the noise
and confusion or the street and out OF
everyonc's way. 1t was a piece Of land
that is growing in value every day and
at the terms stated nc considered it
good investment for anyone.
After the first motion was lost another
was made that the city government be
requested to make arrangements with Mr.
Foster for leasing the land on the terms
stated and rising vote was taken. near
ly everyone in the house standing 1t was
plain from this that the majority was in
favor Of the Gilman piece. 1t WIS also
plain from the expressions Of opinion in
the meeting that the htchng place on
Common street is very Objectionable 70
the majority of the business men on the
street. while the same majority is strong
~ in favor of providing a good hitching
place and market place for those coming
into the city to trade or sell produce.
New it's up TO the city government.