Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-31

the Commonwealth Pier of Boston
wherein the editor lamented the fact
that the improvements that were
called for were a failure. At about
that time Mr.. Cole, a member OF the
Commonwealth Pier Commission, IN
his report for the investigating COM
mittee said that the principal revenue
of this pier was from private sources,
and If it had not been for the war IL
would have been a failure. In the
first place there was a big deficit. L
had the pleasure of meeting man
yesterday in this House from Con-
necticut, and he told me that the pier
at New London was a problem. This
gentleman from Connecticut said
that this expensive pier was built
with the idea of getting the large
steamers engaged in ocean traffic.
! and he also said that the New York
docks were now crowded with
steamers, and that they would
pass by and would not land at
| New London. He further said
/ that the New York system had bought
out the Boston & Albany road for the
reason that they wanted to further
control this traffic which left the
Boston & Albany docks in Boston
without business; that they were idle.
Now ] have a few facts and figures
here relating to the Portland Pier act
which I will read.
| Does Maine need a State pier? This
| is question for the seth Legisla-
ture to pass on.
! 4 i- ltti at iS i'm G
a citizen OF the State of Maine TO give
YOU !, few of the many facts relating
! to this question.
First Portland harbor has been
dredged TO q depth of 81 feet at mean
! low water. The channel by the docks
up to the Portland bridge will accom-
modate any ship that has occasion to
come to Portland.
The Maine Central has coal pockets
adequate for the handling of thousands
of tons of coal day They seem to
have no trouble. They have built their
| docks with their own money and Keep
them ia repair. and they are not ask
| ing for any State pier The A. r.
! Wright people are also heavy handlers
of coal. They handle big ships They
! nave equipment for handling hundreds
! OF tons per day. The Lehigh Valley
toal Company are also heavy handlers
/ of coal in Portland. Their dock is kept
! in good repair and they have equip
hent for handling hundreds of tons
of coal a day. The Pocahontas Coal
Company also has their own docks,
| keep them in good repair and run their
own steamship to carry their coai
! Portland harbor meets every REQUIRE
! inent of these coal companies mention
ed The channel has width and depth
! mat these ships can go in loaded at
/ low tide and have no trouble in dock
! ing. Any of the above companies ere
not asking subsidy from the State.
! The State Pier Act.
~ a special session of the Legisla-
/ turc in 1919 the State Pier act was
! pas sed, also t.le State Pier site Dis
trict act. The purpose of this district
was for the furnishing of a site for
the State pier. This district was COM
posed OF Portland and South Portland
, There also was passed an allowance
I or $4,000 for the locating of the site
/ with four commissioners appointed by
i the Governor and one appointed bv
| the mayor OF Portland. making total
! Of five commits sioners Of the bort of
! Portland.
| Now. the site selected by that COM
! mission are the docks known as Gait
! wharf and The Eastern Steamship
Company's docks formerly used by the
Eastern steamship Company for their
boats which at one time run between
! Portland and New York. Boston.
| Portland and st. John. New Bruins
wick Portland and Rockland. and
! Portland and Hoothbay Harbor These
/ steamship lines have been discontin-
! ued. not because of lack of docking
! facilities, but from the fact that thew
never We're Il paying proposition to
the stockholders. Now these docks
mentioned are for the site of the State
/ pier, Your commission have asked
: the federal government chat they be
! allowed TO extend this state pier 500
! feet further into Portland harbor. This
! will make Portland harbor channel 500
Ieet narrower and across the gateway
! OF the coal pockets mentioned above
Will say on good authority that
piling has been driven rs feet into the
mud at this location. You can readily
see that the bottom is soft
! Now 1t has been stated that. this
I pier extending 500 feet into Portland
! harbor. into water 80 feet deep and into
/ % feet of soft mud can be built for
| Sll5o,oO0 with freight sheds, grain ell
evators. with the latest equipment of
machinery for the quick handling of
! freights; all this is to be built for Al :
100000. We are told that the state
pier of Connecticut located at New
London cost S10.000O00. The state pier
Of, Massachusetts located at Boston
and known as Commonwealth Pier cost
! s9,O00,000. Both Connecticut and
Massachusetts state piers are ac-
knowledged by the citizens of bot1,
| states that they never should have
been built but nevertheless they have
been and the people of both states are
| paying interest on the bonds which
built them. Shall the citizens of Maine
profit by the mistakes OF others?
| Judge Deasy of the supreme court
of Maine has just handed down his
decision in which he says. the State
pier cannot be leased for private uur
poses.
| Further. there is TO be no revenue
be maintained by the people of the
State. | claim that Maine does not
need State Pier.