The Portland daily press., 1897-07-19
THE HARRISON ELECTRICS
Interviews With Leading West.
brook Citizens.
THEY BELIEVE In THE CITY
LOANING ITS CREDIT.

LOANING ITS CREDIT.
City Asked to Loan Its Credit for $40 900
Think the Road will Increase West
brooks Business Interests,
In the city of Westbrook the all absorb
ing topic of interest at this time is,
whether or not the city shall loan its
credit to the Westbrook, Windham &
Harrison Electric Railway company in
the furtherance of their project.
The PRESS Saturday asked some OF
the leading citizens and tax payers in ref
erence to the matter. Some of them have
given it serious consideration while Others
do not wish to say much in reference to
the city's interest in the matter.
The bulk of the testimony, both among
the heavy tax payers and others so far as
visited, seems to be that railway is need
ed in the territory through which the
proposed road will run. and that it would
both directly and indirectly be benefit
to the city.
G. M. Waterhouse, is interested
largely in the company, and defined the
position of the incorporators at length.
MR.. WATEROUSE SAID:
'sTo my mind this is one of the greatest
enterprises that has been inaugurated
during the past ten years for the develop
ment of Cumberland county or, in par
ticular, the whole central portion of the
county. Westbrook being the terminus
it practically brings to the city $1,000 peo-
relations with the whole central and
northern portions of the county.
Something surely has got to be done
to revive our business and do not be-
lieve the city can afford to let this oppor-
tunity pass. The towns along the route
of the Oxford Central which is to build
from Norway toward Harrison have al
ready granted aid to that road and if by
any means the Westbrook, Windham &
Harrison road should not be built they
will extend into the territory farther
south and carry the business which
way and Lewiston.
9'For the past six months the incorpo-
rators have worked necessarily against
the most powerful odds for the success Of
this road, believing that it will be of ines
| Unable value to Westbrook, and now fee
that they should have the support of al
enterprising citizens of the city.
''By the way, there never has been g
share of stock issued, the incorporators
bearing all the expense themselves which
can assure you has been no small sum.
According to the charter, stock held
cipal officers and is forever non -assessable
and of course the city will share like all
| the other stockholders in the profits.
"The towns on the upper end have al
ready loaned their credit to the extent Of
about $50, 600 to be expended in their re
spective localities. I surely believe West
brook is as enterprising as the towns
further north.
'tThe road will give employment te
our idle labor and put into circulation 6
large amount of money. Twenty thous
and dollars is about one-half of one pei
cent of our valuation, but do not believe
it will ever cost the city a cent ant
furthermore may be direct source of in
come in much the same way as watel
works would be owned in part by til,
city.
Those suppose who want the road
will 70 10 81, IL
vote no, at the election soon to be held"
MR.. LEMUEL LANE,
treasurer of the Haskell Silk compan,
said:
81 believe that a road through the ter
ritory proposed is great necessity. L
will be great help to the people ant
merchants of the towns through which
the road contemplates passing. In bust
ness way, the trade of the northern par
of Cumberland county would then center
in Westbrook and Portland and it would
remain with the merchants of Westbrool
as to how much of the trading was done
in this city. We have every facility fol
doing bust ness cheaply and can sell good
at as low figure as anywhere and it is
question with our merchants as too how
much of the trade centers here. I believe
that the road is bound to come and as al
individual would be in favor-of seeing tn,
road built by a local company. If it il
not built by them, outsiders will step il
and push line through to completion.
| believe the men interested in the loca
company are men of integrity and meal
to do what they say they will do, there
fore they should have the encouragement
of the people"
MR.. E. J. HASKELL,
superintendent of the Haskell Silk mill
was next seen, but being busiy engaged
could not give the time to an extended In
terview. He said: 'sI am thorough be
lever in tho rrO,,ocad wood ND ~, N