Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-13
To Fill Up Car Track in Water Strest-coM
pany Apparently Reeonci'ed.

The cars which came into town over the
EIec.ric Railroad track Friday afternoon
found progress beyond the postotiice i'm
possible.
Members of the street and fire depart
ments we're in high feather judging from
the alacrity with which the snow was plowed
from the sides of Water street into the car
track and the agility which certain of tie
hosemen displayed in wetting down the
snow as fast as it was plowed into the mid
die of the street.
1t was very evident if the company pro-
ceeded to run its cars up street the sal. and
pickax brigade would precede them.
Friiay forenoon the mayor gave orders to
the street commissioner to fill up the car
track. In speaking of the matter to a
JOURNAL reporter who called upon him, the
mayor said he had received many COM
plants on account of the unsafe condition
of Water street. Indeed, he be liaved a
lawsuit was pending on account of one of
the many tip-overs which had occurred
within the past few weeks. 1t appears that
d. II. Thing of Mt. Vernon claims dam
ages for injuries said to have been received
from tipping over in the street. The mayor
said that he had talked with the officials of
the company concerning the unsafe condi-
ton of Water street. Nothing had been
done and much complaint was being made.
He considered the city ordinance relating
to the matter perfectly plain, and called the
JOURNALS attention to the following clause
in the ordinance:
"This grant is made upon the
condition that said company in re-
moving snow and ice from its road shall so
remove the same as to render the entire
width of the street safe and convenient for
public travel"
There was no intimation in the mayors
conversation that he apprehended any oppo-
sition on the part of the company. Indeed,
at the suggestion that perhaps the company
would be glad to have the city assume the
responsibility of closing the street, he ex-
presses the opinion that it would be better
for the company that the cars should stop at
the postofiice rather than to incur the e1-
pense of keeping the road open to Bond
street.
Later the reporter called at the office OF
Mr.. Macomber and Mr.. Haynes, but both
gentlemen were out of town. The general
opini IN seemed to be that the company
would not make any objection to the road
through the street being closed.
man pretty well acquainted with the
matter said that, although the snow had
been dumped into the track and wet down,
he thought the city, which hid assumed the
responsibility of keeping the street in first
class condition, would have job after
few warm days. He said there was salt
about the rails which would be pretty sure
to eat away the snow and make matters
quite bad
Some say that the fact that the company
took the responsibility of filling the State
street track had something to do with the
decision of the mayor in ordering the filling
of the Water street track. Water street
people who live back of State street and
above Western avenue had no use for the
electric cars in passing to and from their
homes after State street was filed, and it is
believed by many that stopping the cars in
front of the postotfice will afford all the
necessary convenience for people passing
between this city and Hallowell and Card
ner.