The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-11
That Unjust Law.
TO the Editor Of the Press:

hundreds of Portland people want to
know about. This is an opportunity for
Portland representatives to the legisla-
ture to show their interest in the well
fare OF their city. They have been petit
Toned by the most influential people OF
this city to repeal that unjust legislation
that slipped through the last legislature
| almost unobseryed even by the Speaker
of the House who is now our governor,
and has since recommended its repeal.
The people of this city and sew
eral other cities are interested in
such action. and some of them have sent
In large petitions for its repeal. Now.
what is to be our answer from those peo-
pie whom we have sent to represent us
and secure the enactment of laws that
will make our burdens lighter. Here
is party with water power 1000 II.
T. minimum that can be depended up
on IL months in year. and this party
offers to put this into Portland and sell
1T for an average of 500 per IL. +. for
"a hours service covering term of one
year, or sell the entire power, delivered
at Portland for $40 per Fl. F., but to the
disoredit of our last legislature our PEG.
pie cannot accept either proposition, but
must plod on as they have been doing
and pay grasping monopoly their ex-
hor bitant rates, or do as best they can.
We observed In statement brought out
at the hearing at Augusta before the
Judiciary committee Friday last that the
Portland Electric Light company fur
nished power for $62. SO per Il. P. am
user Of power and have never been able
to get any such rate and am told that 1t
is no use for me to talk. No better rate
than six cents per morse power per hour
will be made. This is 60 cents per day
and 313 working days year would be
$3.50 for a single horse power. and
it would seem to me- that some expiana-
tion should be given why am charged
such an outrageous price while Others
get the lower rate, but the fact is. no
one gets any such rate as $62. 30 year
per H. P, at LEAST none can be found
who does, and if hundred dollars had
been added it would have fallen short
of actual meter rate as we have found
by enquiry. Now, this Mr.. Peterson's
scheme for furnishing power and
lights to Portland, is just the thing
to bring about new ere and reign OF
prosperity to Portland never before
dreamed of. 1t means cheap power to
hundreds of small manufacturers now In
Portland and as many more to come. 1t
means the building up OF Deering ana
Cape Elizabeth 1t means wealth to
every other enterprise with one excep-
ton, and that is the Elotric Light COM
pany. But what can they say? They
can buy this power Of Mr.. Peterson as
whole at $40 per H. p. and cell it to our
citizens at $50 per cent advance or $50
horse power and make splendid thing
thing for themselves. and for the city
as we'll; but no, this is not their idea.
They would rather let ninety hundredths
of the residences go in darkness and the
stores light by gas, which is about what
they are now doing, Judging from in
dications on Congress and Middle streets.
But Mr.. Peterson is not the only person
who wants to bring power into Portland.
There are ten thousand of horse power
within Is miles of Portland that if devel-
oped and brought to this point would in
crease our population hundred per cent
in i've years and double our valuation.
1t is Portlani's greatest opportunity and
throws every thing in the shape of de-
yeiopments in all of Portland's past his
tory into the shade. Talk of harbor
dredging, $500. 600 dry docks, elevators,
| COZ ia
Baxter = blocks and Back Fay improve
ments, they are too insignificant to men
tion compared with it. One hundred
thousand dollars can be saved to the
users of power in Portland alone on just
what Mr.. Peterson offers. Six hundred
H. P. in motors at 6 cents per II. P. per
hour would amount to SIP, $50. Six
year, Mr.. Feterson's offer, $40, 000;a1 differ
ence, $S2.6 One thousand 81. 2. at
cents per H. 2. per hour, SlS7, 800; 1000
H, p. at $50 per Ii. P, Peterson offer,
S. Q, 900; difference, S137, Su0.
Mr.. Peterson will furnish 1000 H.. P. But
suppose the Portland Electrical compa-
nv would furnish 1000 II. r. at 500 a
wear. and this would bring their present
meter rates down nearly one half; it
would be 500, 600, while Peterson's rates
at $50 II. P. would be $50, 900; sa We to
city yearly $4,000, and this Is for "a
hours service, while the Portland COM
pany is for only 10 hours service each
day.
But WHY is ii the Portland Electrical
company are unable TO make lower rates?
The reasons ara very apparent by their
own statements before the city govern
ment last summer. The cost of plant
and depreciation hare been enor-
nous, as was shown at thai time, and in
addition there is bonded debt of $780,.
OOO, which does not invite new capital. Tons
of copper wire dangling i'll mid-air that
has cost mint of money could be made
doubly effective by change TO higher
voltage. Mr.. Peterson or any new COM
pany could cover thi entire city inolud
ing setting new poles, wires and every
thing complete for one half the cost of
the present lines, and just this saving
In interest account would be fair
little income for the city of Portland.
But taking the saving that would be
effected in lighting and power to the
city and to individuals, a clear 500, 600
can be gained, and the Portland city gov
eminent and the Board of Trade, if they
have any pluck, should give this scheme
their hearty endorsement and back up
ifs ontAfiyeS in ranaalfDQ such