The Portland daily press., 1897-10-22
Hearing On Proposed Line Before
Commissioners.
YEOMEN INTERESTED TURN OUT
In VAST MULTITUDES.
Line Proposes to Connect Rumford Falls
With the Grand Trunk at Bryant's
Pond-Location Opposed by Portland
and Rumford Falls Road.
ESPECIAL TO THE rREss.J

ESPECIAL TO THE PREsS.1
Rumford Falls, October 21.-The bat le
is on. This morning the hearing began
before the railroad commissioners on the
question of the approval of the location
OF the steam railway which it Is proposed
to build from Bryant's Pond on the
Grand Trunk to Rumford Falls,
distance OF about 90 miles, with branch
of about ten miles to the town of Andover
lying to the north of the proposed main
line. The hearing is in progress In a hall
known as The Wigwam, a large, one
storied frame structure. So great is the
interest in the project that the hall was
crowded. many being obliged to stand.
1t is largely battle between the Rum
ford Falls Paper company, represented
by Daniel F. Emery, Esq of Portland,
and Garrett Schenck on the one side and
the Portland and Rumford Falls railway
of which Hugh Chisholm, Esq, of Port
land, is the president, on the other. The
paper company is interested in the new
road because it will help them to get the
lumber which they use in the making
of their product, but more than that the
line would pass through number OF
communities whose prosperity is de-
pendent upon the numbering industry and
the visits of tourists during the summer
and fall. The people who were at the
hearing today came from many miles
around. All the towns along the proposed
line are represented and they are all In
Co. =
ings at which they voted to have their
selectmen or representative citizens appear
to urge the approval of the location of the
new line. The parties in interest are
represented by able counsel The exami-
nation of the witnesses for the petitioners
was conducted today by ex-Attorney GEN
eral Littlefield of Rockland and for the
remonstrants appeared Hon. Henry B.
Cleaves and Hon. George d. Bisbee. Gov.
Cleaves and Mr.. Bisbee in their cross ex.
animation aimed to show that the lumber
regions were accessible now through the
streams ana rivers and the Rangeiey
Lakes railway and that passenger service
was amply supplied by the Portland and
Kurnford Falls line. Questions designed
to show this were asked of all the wit
nesses in favor of the new line. The
petitioners witnesses were numerous, and
they gave their reasons clearly for favor
ing the project. There is no doubt that
they believe the road would be Of great
benefit to the towns through which it
would pass. Popular interest in the pro-
ceedings was shown by the remark of a
man who said in reply to statement
that the hall was cold. 'sWait until they
get at 1t. You won't need any stove
then"
Both Mr.. Emery and Mr.. Chisholm
were in attendance today.
Commissioner Danforth does not act on
the case owing to previous relations he
has had with the Portland and Rumford
Falls railroad. This was explained at
the beginning and Mr.. Littleield said
that while the petitioners knew how Mr..
Danforth felt in regard to the matter,
they were entirely willing that he should
act, having perfect confidence n his in
tegrity and impartiality. Sill, II Mr..
Danforth felt that 1t would not be proper
for him to do so, the petitioners would
not insist upon it and were willing to
submit their case to the other two COM
missioners.
Mr.. Littlefisld did not make q formal
opening, merely stating that the petition.
ers would submit reasons why they be.
lieyed the location should be approved as
business proposition of advantage to the
towns through which the proposed road
village of Rumford Falls.
Then Mr.. Littlefeld presented petitions
bearing the names of several hundred
citizens of Rumford Falls, the towns
along the new road and other munioipali-