The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-23
is THE ROAD NEEDED !?
Continued from First Page.


the building Of a connection with the
Maine Central and definite contract as
to freight. Since then Rumford Falls has
been made billing point by the Maine
Central and Grand Trunk. The roadbed
and bridges have been rebuilt, heavier
rails laid and the equipment and train
service vastly improved.
In connection with the proposed use Of
the terminal facilities here by the Fro
posed road, Mr.. Pettengill described he
expensive work necessary to provide the
present facilities 1t has been the endeavor
to provide the industries here with suit
able facilities in the way of sidings, etc.
There are five miles of track in the yard
here. An extension has been made from
Canton to Chisholm's Mills in the
town of Jay, q distance of ten miles. At
the time tho extension was built, prac-
tical contract was made that the road
should have the business of the large
mill erected by the Otis Falls Pulp COM
pany at Riley's. The company now has
six engines in use each day. 1t has eleven
engines in order to tie sure that it has
motive power enough. 1t runs two pas
senger and two freight trains each way
daily. During the development of Rum
ford Falls an effort was made to get a
railroad to Bryant's Pond. Early efforts
also described.
Mr.. PETIT ngill described the route Of
the proposed line. He said that into the
country through which the new road
would run the Portland and Rumford
Falls sent only 1876 tons of freight last
year. AS to the lumber lands in the
region penetrated by the Rangeley Lakes
road and into which the new line would
extend, Mr. Pettengill tes6ified at great
length. Mr.. Pettengill described areas
including two thousand million feet of
timber which could be made available by
the Rangeley Lakes road and Its proposed
extensions.
Whatever business the new road has
will be diverted from the present road
In Mr.. Pettengills opinion the new road
will be an injury to the town. Mr..
Pettengill said the cost of transporting
paper from Otis Halls to the West was
forty cents ton more than from Rum
ford Falls
Mr.. Littleileld asked what was estimated
to be the net profits of the operation otsthe
Otis Falls branch. Mr.. Bisbee objected
and Mr.. Littlt field addressed the commits
sioners on the point. He said that 1t had
been urged that If the new road was built
1t would divert business from the old. 1t
seemed to Mr.. Littlefeld competent to
show, if possible, that the Portland and
RuEford Falls road would be able to
take care of itself. For this reason he
wanted to put in the testimony about the
Otis Falls branch. If the attorneys of
the road were willing to eliminate this
question of damage to the business of the
Portland and Rumford Falls and discuss
his matter merely on the ground of pub
lie convenience, well and good, but they
must not play fast and loose with this
matter.
Gov. Cleaves replied. He said that there
was no intention to play fast and loose,
but he denied that this matter Was Fart
of the ISSUE The remonstrants were here
to meet the arguments of the petitioners
that public convenience and necessity re-
quired the building of the new line
Mr.. Littlefield made a vigorous re-
joiner. He said that this question Of
damage to the business of the Portland
and Rumford Falls was in the case and
he had no doubt that it would be urged
in argument that the new enter prise
Jeopareized the cid No corporation had
q right TO expect more than fair return
on the actual investment. If it could be
shown that the railroad was getting ex-
traordinary and exorbitant returns on the
money actually invested that il seemed to
Mr. Lit6ieileld was a proper matter for
consideration.
= The commissioners excluded the ques-
tlon. MIR. Peaks said that as these hear.
1ng5 were not confined to court rules, the
counsel had been allowed to perain bulate
about Rumford Falls pretty much as they
pleased, but the commissioners had decided
not to go eighteen miles down the line.
He would state that the question as to the
finances of the road would have little In
Huence. The commissioners would devote
themselves mainly to the question as to
che capacity of the present road to do the
business and The public need of the new
line.
hO EGpJIb VI UlIO IOtu WIS
offered and Mr.. Littlefeld asked series
of questions subject TO the same objection
and ruling.
Litt!efieId-"T report shows that
$3.50, 090 Of stock was paid in"
Cleaves-''I object.
Peals-" The report shows it,
LittleGeld-"W Well it shows it in rather
peculiar way. I want to ask this ques-
ton. The facts do not appear clearly
from the report. The report shows that
$3.50 500 vas paid in out of total capital
ization of q million. 1t does not appear
why he extra capital was issued want
to ask him if that was not issued as
stock dividend to the stockholders. I
state to the commissioners that the report
does not show with sufficient clearness
how this stock was issued -
Peaks-''It shows that four per cent
was paid on q million. Can'tsyou argue
from that?'
Littlefeld-'T report does not show
why that $3.50, COO was issued. I under
stand it was issued as stock dividend J"
At the suggestion of Mr.. Peaks the
question was asked and Gov. Cleaves OBJ
jected. That ended the matter.
r. G. Bradford, traffic manager of the
Rumford Falls road presented compare