Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-01
Proponents Heard
In Sl65,OOO Resolve
Far Portland Pier


.ransnortation afforded by the
o,a+o pier at Portland to the people
- Maine from Norway to Rockland,
~ 49, ,nd Calais were set forth by
49, nrononents of the resolve appro-
VAC s165O00 for rebuilding a
pp l; of Franklin wharf and sheds
wore set forth at the nearing "eo-
nesdav before the committee on APP
nronriations and financial ahalfs.
Senator Brewster OF Cumoeflano
conducted the case for the propoh-
ents. -.
",Tbe present Franklin wharf
s.rnrt,,re is from forty to forty-flve
years old. marine worms have eaten
- the niles with hourglass effect
ovid the timbers are in rotten condl-
ton" said Frederic Fay. the state
pier engineer. 1T would take SOU
00o to rebuild the wharf in passabie
condition but to rebuild and give
modern new sheds which would IN
sure additional service of the East
ern steamship Company and addl-
t;onal revenues" he said. He explain
ed that with new drops and a ooupie
runway four boats could be unloadeu
at once.
"Would the provisions for berthlnS
rrov;da for boats of the international
line to PASSPORT" asked Mr.. BreWs-
ter:
Mr. Fav explained that they would
under the complete reconstruction
nan while with the $4,000 eNpendl-
ture no provision would be MADE
far the International line.
"How did YOU arrive at the Slbo.-
600 which you ask" queired Senator
Eaton. the chairman of the commit
tee. :,
my engineers estimates" replied
Mr.. Fav.
"What would he the lifetime OF the
reconstructed sheds?' queired Mr..
Brewster. -,
"They would outlast you and me-
replied the engineer.
The need of the reconstruction was
emphasized by the collapse few
months ago Of portion of the Granu
Trunk sheds and pier, in which 1oo
men narrowly escaped death, SAD
Henry +. Merrill. the chairman OF
the State Pier Commission.
Mr.. Merrill explained the re-
construction of the pier and sheds
At the present time an income OIL
$500 is received from the Eastern
Steamship Company and the Soo,ooo
expenditure would merely put 1t IN
shape so that this income could con-
tinue but with the expenditure OF
Sl65,000 the Eastern Steamship
= Company has agreed to pay ten per
cent on the Investment. or $16,oO0.
The Eastern Steamship Company
las agreed if this wharf and the
sheds are reconstructed to re-estab-
lsh the International service to East
port and st. john and at the same
time put on passenger service from
New York to Portland and day boat
from Portland and Boston," said Mr..
Merrill.
Senator Eaton asked what portion
of the cost of the State Pier site
was included in Franklin Wharf. "it
includes little more than one halt
Of the sS42,00o," replied Mr.. Merrill.
What would happen if you were
unable to repair the pier. what
would the Eastern Steamship Com
pany do?" inquired Senator Nads-
worth OF kcnnebec.
"rhey would probably continue to
occupy the pier until something
happened" Mr. Merrill suggested.
Robert !. Peacock of Lubcc, mem
her of the Governors Council ana
lormer State Senator. told the COM
ni'tee that he was able to ship sar-
Dimes cheaper to the Pacific coast
through Portland and the State Pier
then similar freight could be shipped
70 Michigan by rail. Lubcc and
PASSPORT was much in need OF the
service which had been given before
lhe war by the International line
from Portland and which accommo-
GATED $4,000 people.
hiram R;ctler of Poland Springs
,oid of the advantages of tho day
poat to and from New York to the
sumner tourist business Of Maine.
;such service would give the same
mmlpetus tc tourist travel from New
io'k that did the old Fall River line.
saia he. The added water trans
poEtatlon given by the State Pier
was also needed to afford lower
"Ilght rates on heavy commodities.
~ ~. walter N. Miner, president OF
s"e calais Chamber of Commerce,
ta'G mat the resumption of service
~ ~ Eastport would be of great value
81 W MS section in the development
ddv va. by the sugar beat in
s uumSrv. Calais was but twenty five
n n,r1es from Easport and material be-
os Oils would be brought to all lines
BUSINESS in Calais through the
st,A'emplated service to Eastport and
st. John.
,,, representative William .. Rogers
sn "u William d. Talbot of Rockland
-poNe OF the advantages which would
'oETCRED MANY YEARS by KIDNEYS
Il. have had lsidnnv trn,Ila Cor 1molrf