Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-18

Ian also testified as to the desire for the
roxd in Westbrook and Deering.
Mr.. Shaw said that the busi-
ness men Of Portland desired tbs road and
1t should be built. The road would open
another place for residential property.
Judge Cleaves then read . letter from
Hon. J. +. Baxter and Col. j. M. Adams
10 favor Of the road.
Representative HAYES on behalf OF the
seleclmen of Deering asked that dehnits
time be fixed for the completion OF the
road aud that they be not allowed to lay
double tracks.
Geo +. Libby OF Portland appeared in
behalf of the incorporators OF the Suburban
Railway Co, which covers substantially
the came territory - the Portland and
Westbrook r. r. He said that most Of
the incorporates lived in Deerins on the
line Of the road, aud thAt therefore they
should be given the preference and granted
the charter. Mr. Woodbury. of Portland
also advocated the charter Of the Suburban
railway.
Presid mt Libby of the Senate in oppo-
sition to granting this charter to the Port.
land and Wes,brook company. He said he
was largely interested In the Portland
Street Railway which hAd struggled along
for go many years, and now that it is get
ting on successful basis others come in
aud want to reap the reward. of the Port
land company's labors. For twenty years
their road paid less than two per cent.
and some dropped out of the company. 1t
only remained for those who stat by the
enterprise to put ia their money to a greater
extent. They did so, and after years of
patient and persistent effort another COM
pany comes and asks for charter In their
own territory, a charter far more liberal
than was granted The Portland company
back in 1860. when street railroading was
an experiment. Mr.. Libby commended that
II would not be fair or just 10 the old
company to thus take away what may be
regarded properly as their rights,
+. w. Dana Esq., of Lewiston appeared
| 10 favor of change in the charter of the
Lewiston and Auburn Street railway Co.
allowing the use Of electricity as . motive
power.
Taxation.
| Before the committee on taxation Hon.
| H. M. Hesth spoke regarding the taxation
Of water companies. A. present the prop
| erty of water companies is taxed like any
other property, municipality, except that
| the pipes Of companies furnishing water
free to towns for Ores shall not be taxed
Most companies pay their taxes by furnish
ing the town where they are located with
water under contract. Water companies
organized during the last six years have
uniformly raised the money for building
| by bonds. More than three-quarters Of
these bonds are found in Maine savings
banks. The Gardner. Augusta and Water
vile bonds are for the most part held in
this way. So besides having their property
taxed, TIE bonds held by the banks are sub
iect to the State tax, and thus double
revenue accrues to the State. The cash
tax Of the Wstervile company 10 $1,000,
and other companies are taxed proportion
sicily.
| The committee then took up the subjects
Of general taxation. Hon. Edward Wiggin
Of Pfesqus Isle spoke from the farmers
standpoint. He said that the struggle for
equalization of taxation was only the old
struggle Of labor for its rights In another
form. A gentleman before this committee
had deprecated plying the condition Of the
farmers and said that they were the bore
and sinew Of the land. The farmers did
not ask pity but justice. II 10 time for the
bone and sinew theory to have rest. 1t
has been advanced ever sire. the time
when the bsrous wrested Magma Charter
from King John at Runny mede. Farming
has ceased to be mere drudgsry and the
tillers Of the soil have come upon higher
plane. There IL throughout the land q
feeling Of unrest among the farmers, which
in the Wet has crystalizsd into political
party. We want no political party found
| cd on single idea, but we demand jussic,.
d. W. MeKeen, Esq. of Ffyebuvg. rep
resentiog the State Board Of Agriculture,
said that IL was generally admitted ihs,
taxation should be equal The farmers
want only their rights. They ssk no ex
emp!ioDs or special privileges, but simply
an equitable system Of taxstion. Without
an active, energetic agriculture Of Maine,
all our enterprises must fail.
l.. B. bennett. ESQ, Of Portland. SD
psared - ore Of the tax payers OF Mine
and a Patron Of Husbandry, said ,hst
the empire Of timber in the eat IL
large enough to be carved 20
two states. psid into the slate treasury
last year less than $4,000. The farmer
who owns timber land In 3 town 10 taxed or
. valuation Of ten dollars an acre. He
| pays on hundred acres between ten aud
tvenfy dollars. The same area of land in
the East psys but 22 cents tar. l suggest
that You establish q state board OF assessors
~ matter of fact these timber laads have
no market price. The present income
from those in Maine must be from ~, 00O.-
600 to 80. 900 COO per year, ard 1t Is . poor
acre OF timber Iasd which Is MOI worth SO
| The Maine Central Rsiifosd claim First.
they cannot pay larger tax They paid
| inseress on their bonded indebtedness Of
s4 1852 400; they paid two semi-annusI
| dividends of three per cent. each on their
stock Of SO SOB 800. and bsd Q surplus Of
$50. 126 G5. This vas all done after their
magnificent improvement bills hsd all been
paid e7e9 ,4I9 IL for maintenance OF way
and buildings, and 1885. fIs 81 for m.inte-
nance Of cars, making the grand sum Of
81. 1887. These improvements consisted
OF ID iron bridges, three wooden ones, and,
then the report exnlsaotly says, "the shove
list includes only such spans ~ have been
made entirely new, and in addition TO these
extensive repairs have Been made on many
other bridges Then under the head Of
equipment have been built four locomo-
tiyes. There nave been added l3e cars
including II FIRST class passenger cars. A
large amount Of eide track has been
bsllasted, 24,2i2 rods Of fence built" New
passenger stations 1t FArmingdsls. Ena,
WyuopiIock, SNoaSo lase. Mseo ks,
DRrtes, Dover, Foxeroft. Zealand Jane
lion. New frsigh. houses ., Branss iek,
Gardiner, Bath. Corians, veaxis, Cos,igsn.
Green lake. Massocks. whis~fsld. later.
vale, Dexter, Dover AMI Foxcroft."
They say the road il not worth much
And Lastly that the bond holders have 81
moSisse On It. The mortgage 10 entirely |
Irrelevant. The value Of the road il, I'M. |
nm 20 10 -. AIT
proximasety el8 600, 900. The market price |
Of its bonds and sock prove II Their |
gross income vss - .27o. $50 II, their total |
operating expenses were ~ 8CS II |
lesving net earnings OF st,4il, 5es 40. |
Ard the total operating expenses included |
the 81, VA 535 Of magnificent inpfovenests
shseh hsve already snumenfed. This |
et.4tl 1858 40 absolute net incoms 10 dis
possd ~ follows: rent for Ieased ltnes.
esS4 ,655 70 leaving . net for the road
owned BY the Maine Central Of at.lz Il