Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-03
LIVELY HEARINGS
Held Before the Board Of Rail-
road Commissioners.
Petition for Articles Of Association
Of Oxford Central.
Eminent Counsel Heard on Both Sides Other
Railroad Hearings.

1t was the day for the regular month.
~ meeting of the board of RAILROAD
commissioners, Wednesday, and tn,
members We're all present Hon. ]. B
Peaks, Hon. B. F. Chadbourne, ans
Hon. Frederick Danforth. Severa
hearings were appointed, but nons
proved, as was anticipated, so interest
ing as the hearing on the petition TO,
articles of association of the Oxford
county Railroad. Eminent counsel was
arrayed against eminent counsel, AM
eloquence against eloquence.
There were many present, including
Hon. Waldo Pettingill of Rumford
Falls; Stephen c. Perry. Esq, of Port
land; J. H. Martin OF Rumford Falls;
o. B. Poor and r. L. Melcher of An
dover; George A. Virgin of Hanover;
George A. Redlon of West Paris;
Daniel H. Emery of Portland; James
Mitchell of Calais; and A. A. Strout OF
Portland
The proposed road is described
running from the intersection at grade
with the Grand Trunk Railway in the
town of Woodstock. northerly through
the town of Woodstock, Milton Planta-
ticn and the town of Rumford, thence
northeasterly through the town Of Peru
to the Portland & Rumford Falls Rail
way, thence crossing the Androscoggin
river into the town of Mexico. The
articles of association also provide for
a branchroad from the main line north
erly through said Rumford into the
town of Andover. The length of the
proposed road is about % miles.
The hearing, Wednesday, was not on
the merits of the case. but simply as to
whether the articles of association were
in due form and in compliance With the
provisions Of the statute. Hon. Charles
e. Littlefield of Rockland. appeared for
the petitioners, asking for the approval
of the articles, and Ex-Governor
Cleaves and Hon. George D. Bisbee APP
peared in behalf of the Portland and
Rumford Falls Railway and the Rum
ford Falls &, Rangeley Lake Railroad.
1t was claimed by Mr.. Littlefield that
the articles of association conformed 10
all of the provisions of the statute ap-
plicable to articles of association under
the general law.
Governor Cleaves and Mr.. Bisbee
argued to the board that the descrlp-
zion of the proposed location was too
indefinite and did not conform to the
statute authorizing the organization OF
railroad corporations under the general
law. The Governor said that he
was not there to discuss the question OF
necessity or of public convenience, that
when the proper time came under the
Proceedings that We're proposed there
they should have some considerations
to urge upon the board; that they
should have some facts to present in
behalf of the enterprising and progress
sive people of our State, who had de-
welcomed the magnificent water power at
Rumford Falls; who had extended the
line of railroad into this portion OF OK
ford county, enabling the investment
of CAPITAL in manufacturing and indus
trial enterprises; and that the present
hearing only involved the question
whether the articles Of association Were
in conformity with existing laws.
The Governor claimed that the
provisions Of the statute requiring that
the corporators should state in their
articles 1.-The places from which and to
which the road is to be constructed ana
operated" contemplated that there
should be a definite starting point ana
that the road should terminate at or
near a fixed locality. If these proVls-
ions of the statute are waived
Governor Cleaves declared that the
hoard would have no means OF deter
mining the length of the road under
the statute requirement. which was the
basis on which the capital stock was
fixed.
He argued that the law describes the
character of the articles of association
that such articles must give speclllc
inflammation of what is desired by the
associates that the public and all
rarties interested were entitled TO
know. before these articles were ap-
,roved and the charter issued. where
it was intended to construct this pro-
posed road; that under the articles OF
association they proposed to cross and
connect with the Portland d Rum1ord
Falls Railway and the Rumford FANS
e. Rangeley Lake Railroad, anu that
they were entitled to know, with fea-