Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-22
LEGISLATURE HAS !.
NO RIGHT CHANGE
THAT HARBOR LINE

THAT hARbOR Line
That the Maine Legislature has no
more right to pass an act changing the
harbor commissions line in Portland
harbor in order that wharves may be
extended than they have to move Fort
Preble 10 the statement made today By
Former Harbor Commdssionsr Cyrus H
Farley.
Mr.. Farley says that the harbor lines
were established by = commission OF
United States oficials and that sim
liar commission must mako any chang
Is that would enable an extension of
wharves along the Portland water
front.
''The papers inform Us that one Of
the purposes for which the Legislature
has been called in extra session 10 to
pass on a proposition to change the
commissioners line in Portland haf-
bor," said Mr.. Farley. why Is the
Legislature called upon to pass an act
relating to these tines over which It
has no more control than has the Leg
Government lines, laid down by q COM
mission Of United States officers and
we cannot move them any more than
we can move Fort Preble. The usual
and proper course in matter so I'M
portant as this is to call together a
commission as formerly and II change
is found to be desirable or not injurious
to the harbor, the matter goes up to
the secretary of war, who usually ap-
proves what the board Of engineers rec
ommends. for. he Of course has no tech
meal knowledge Of such affairs The
secretary Of war. you see. is the ANAL
supreme authority. That is one part OF
the story.
Now 1t is we'll known that some par
ties here have desired for years to ex-
tend their wharves beyond the present
limits One Of these wharves Is that
Of the Randall & McAllister Co., Of
which the Governor is the virtual head.
The treasurer Of that company, Henry
F.. Merrill. has repeatedly been before
the Board Of Trade and the Chamber of
Commerce urging the extension of the
harbor line to give them more room.
This tho harbor commissioners have al
ways refused to favor because they
would not set their own opinions above
those Of a commission Of the most emf
nent engineers in tho Country. If a
change Is desired and not believed to be
injurious to the harbor why not follow
the usual and proper course? The rea-
son must be that the prospect that way
looks dark.
Legislation An Influence
Though the Maine Legislature has
no authority yet If it should pass an
act favoring this change the Governor
could take it to Washington and going
right over the heads Of the Harbor
Board use his influence direct with the
secretary Of war. What is the safety
of the harbor Of Portland among friends?
Everybody regrets that Portland har-
Dor is so narrow that longer wharvss
cannot be allowed. Several different
commissions have spent months here
making surveys taking soundings, test
ing velocities Of currents, examining the
nature Of the bottom and shore and have
placed the lines just where in the inter-
est Of the safety Of the harbor they
should be. They found a few wharves
too long and they drew their lines across
them. They were impartial and they
worked for the best interests Of the
port. Don't let anyone think that
changing harbor line is a small matter.
THE argument usually put up is
that unless the harbor line is extended
the Grand Trunk will be driven away.
If the Grand Trunk wants longer
wharves they have the best place and
the only place for wharves 1000 feet
long or longer. With the exception of
two small pieces they own the entire
water front from their present location
way round to Turkey bridge. Here is
room for all the long wharves they will
want in the next two or three genera
lions. Wharf owners are looking out
for their interests, we must look out for
ours. The upper harbor is no place for
long wharves and they know it-so do
all Of US. If any change is made in
this line 1t should be in the interest of
the public and not for the benefit Of the
few. We have always been able to get
promptly and without cost to the City
the services Of the ablest men in the
Government service. We can have their
services again on the same terms.
Some people feel so keenly this at
tempt to change the harbor lines in the
manner proposed that some Of them ex-
press their views in language as vigor-
Gus as that used by General Dix in the
famous dispatch he sent to New Orleans.
Interests Everyone
Everyone who feels an interest in
the welfare Of Portland harbor should
be interested now in the effort that Is
being made to change the commits
sioners' line This same proposition has
been coming up from time to time for
many years and every time it has been
refused. but those who can put two and
two together can see that the conditions
just at present are most favorable for
putting it through.
1T is being pushed ostensibly in the
name Of the Grand Trunk, but so far as
we know the Grand Trunk has not asked
for it, though 1T would Of course like to
have II.
1T Is done in the interest Of wharves
to the westward Of the Grand Trunk.
But If the Grand Trunk for which Port
land has done and is still willing to do
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