The Portland daily press., 1897-02-12
Lawyer Birds Name for Tow Path
Railway Concern.
NORTHERN CUMBERLAND'S PLEA
FOR A RAILROAD.
The Town Meeting Adjourns But the
Leaders Still on the Grounds at Angus
ta-Attorneys for Petitioners and Re-
monstrants Argue Before Committee.
no p esq

ta-Attorneys Tor fetlt1oners ana nSS@
monstrants Argue Before COMMITTEES.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss1
Augusta, Feb. 1.-THE railroad commit
tee hearing on the act to charter the West-
brook, Windham and Harrison railway
was continued this afternoon. The regi-
ment Of witnesses from the region Of Sc
bago Lake has been sent to the rear. but
the generals are here and the fight went
on.
John G. Ecates, the only corporator who
had not previously testified, said that he
and his associates intended in good faith
to build the road If the charter is
granted. He said that a competent engf-
nesr had been over the route after the
people had settled as to about where they
wanted it. Mr.. Soates produced map
and called attention to the proposed loca-
tion.
| When questioned by Gen. Mattooks
Mr.. Scates said that the estimate of the
cost of building the road made by the
Westinghouse company was made with
out profile, and WAS based on what
Judge Tolman and the oorporators could
say about the proposed location.
Mr.. Bird asked Mr.. Scatss if any COM
pany had offered to furnish the capital
for the road, or if any company had been
approached for that purpose, and getting
capital, and he said that no sdch negotia-
tions had been started and that the
petitioners stand Oh their own base.
| In opening for the remonstrants, Judge
Walker said that daily stage was run
ming between Bridgton and Norway. He
said that the Bridgton company proposed
to extend Its line to Harrison, but that
the company might have got the railroad
commissioners to locate the extension a
little sooner on account Of the Westbrook
plan. Judge Walker spoke Of the busi-
ness enterprises of Bridgton, and of the
various attempts to get railroad oon-
nection with the Portland and Ogdens-
hurg previous to the construction of the
Bridgton and Saco River road. He said
that lire had been built by the shortest
route, first because no towns would help;
second SO that Brldgton's traffic could bs
handled as cheaply as possible. He de-
scribed the carly struggles OF the COM
pany and said that after putting the
earnings into Improvements for several
years, the company was prepared to ex-
| tend to Harrison. He thought also that
Harrison ought to take hold and help.
''Cur road has cost as $500, COO. said
Judge Walker, land We canHot stand by
and sec it annihilated. We are running
on the closest Yankee economy:
l int Ia IA q
Offices for the sake of economy. We have
no red tape. The fact that man has
to get up at six o'clock to take train il
Of no sort of objection. We feed the
Maine Central and connect with its
trains. We cannot say what time the
Maine Central trains shall lcave the
mountains"
Judge Walker said he had not been
after petitioners. and he expressed doubt
about the value Of petitions, saying that
he.had heard man say be would sign
petition to hang his wife's mother.
In answer to Mr.. Bird, Judge Walker
said that this company made its appllca-
tion to the railroad com missioners for an
extension to Harrison about December ID
1898, and that the survey was made IN
October but that Longfellow Stevenson
made survey of this proposed extension
when the line now in existence was sur.
veyed.
Gen. Mattocks said that it had not
been argued that the Westinghouse COM
papy would build road over the tow
path Just as cheap as it would along the
highways, and he stated that the great
outpour Of public sentiment was started
in Westbrook. Gen. Mattocks said water
powers would not be developed by run
ming spur tracks to them, but that the
main line must 90 to them. He explained
~, Vi pf ha a
the exception of land $50 feet long and
1900 feet wide at the water powers had
been turned over to the Presumpscot
company.
The canal company was organized with
one party to convey to railroad COM
pany any of it's rights except the water
powers. The company agreed to z eep the
bridges across the canal In repair. Gen.
MaStocks produced a bill from Westbrook
for repairs on one Of the bridges. He
said that the only reason the Presump-