The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-02
ASKING FOR PRIVILEGES.
Sebago Power Company Want Ger
tain Rights in Deering.
HEARING ON THE MATTER BEFORE
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

| a0I ana PortlaD q Cheaper L'SniS ana ROVER
| Some Opposition to, the Granting OF
| Privileges Observation-Disclosures Re
| serve Their Decision.
The meeting of the Deering city govern
ment for the purpose of granting hear
| ing to the Sebago Power company OF
their petition to erect poles and wire.
through certain streets of the city for the
transmission of light and power into
Portland was held last evening. Mayor
Davis presided, and the full board Of
aldermen was present.
Hon. Clarence Hale appeared in opposi
ton to the petition on behalf of the N. E
Superintendent Stanford and the
electrician of the company, Mr.. Farnham.
Mr.. 6. W. Brown representing the
Sebago Power company was the first tc
speak. Mr.. Brown alluded to the fact
that largely signed petitions had been
secured asking for right for the pro.
posed company, through the streets OF
Deering. He said, the people know that
If we have more power in Portland and
vicinity, that eventually the natural re-
sources will double and we shall prosper
and will see more building going on, and
other enterprises started. We should also
be able to have cheaper power and lights.
! Mr.. Hale then asked to hear from other
parties on the matter and at Mr.. Brown s
suggestion, Mr.. j. FL. Hutchins of the
board of assessors was called.
| Mr.. Hutchins said: | have long been
| interested in the contemplated movement.
believe as a city that we should do
everything possible to increase the light
ing or power competition. 1t is the duty
of the board of aldermen to know that
the new company have obtained rights to
enable them to give cheaper Ipower in
Deering. All companies are subject to
competition, and am informed that if
the Power company is granted the privi-
leges asked that they will be enabled to
establish competition that will mean
cheaper lights and power for the entire
community.
| MIR. Hale then resumed his arguments
and said that the granting of the privi-
| leges asked for would bother the telephone
company owing to the high voltage to be
used. Mr.. Hale then asked Mr.. Brown
about the voltage to be used at points
where the wires of the telephone company
and the proposed wires of the lighting
company would cross.
| Mr.. Brown in reply said that it was the
| intention to use the same voltage that
the S. D. Warren company do from Smelt
| Hill. He said. "We shall use as rule 10,
600 volts but at the point where we would
come near the telephone lines we should
use but 1000 VOLTS
Mr.. Hale asked: care you to run 10,
600 volts in through Forest avenue?''
Mr.. Brown said not unless it should
come somewhere near Deering bridge.
Several questions were then asked by
Mr.. Hale relative to the way that wires
were to be protected and was assured that
the necessary precautions would be used.
The question was then asked how many
wires were to be used, Mr.. Brown reply
ing that probably from four to six.
City Solicitor Matthews then took the
| floor and announced that he wished to
ask few questions, not in any spirit of
hostility to the new company, but to en-
able the board of aldermen to decide on
matters that were not plain to them.
Mr.. Matthews asked relative to the for
nation of the new company regarding it's
incorporation, the amount of capital sub
scribed and the names of the incorpora-
1000
pany had purchased the rights, etc., of
the Jesse Peterson company, and was told
that they had not, but that they have
options on the Indurated Fibr company,
and the Golf and Plummer properties.
Mr.. Matthews then asked If the new
company actually owned any Of the
properties mentioned, or if they had come
into possession of the Marsh Bros. light
ing plant of Deering.
Mr.. Brown replied that they did not as
yet own the properties, but they had
bargained for, and on the 18th of the
would be bought.
Mr. Matthews asked what the company
proposed to offer the city of Deering.
Mr.. Brown replied s'cheaper lights
Mr.. Matthews asked if the company had
the right to do business in Deering.
Mr. Brown answered that they had pur-
chased the Marsh property to make an
outlet for the supply of cheaper lights and
power in Deering.
Mr.. Matthews asked if the Company
had rights to locate in Westbrook and
Portland
Mr.. Brown replied that they had not.
''We are to generate our power and deliver
1t at the Portland line where it will be
distributed in that city by the Portland
Electric company" said he.
Mr.. Hale then resumed and called on
Mr.. Stanford of the Telephone company
to make statement, which he did, but
for the testimony of an electrical expert
as to the effects of using wires to transmit
such high voltage as proposed, he called
upon Mr.. I. Fl. Farnham of the company
| MIR. Farnham stated that their is more
danger from alternating currents rather