Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-08
THE OXFORD COUNTY RAILWAY.
HEARING ON ARTICLES OF AssOCIA.
TON BEFORE THE RAILROAD CON-
MIssI0NERs.

A hearing was given at Augusta Wed
ne day, before the board OF railroad COM
mlssi0ners relating to the approval OF
the articles OF association for the Or
ford county railroad.
The proposed road IL described rs run
ming from the Intersection ut grade win
Grand Trunk railway In the town OF
Woodstock, northerly through the town
Of Woodstock. Milton Plantation and the
town of Rumford, thence northeasterly
through the town OF Rumford or Peru to
the Portland and Rumford Falls rail-
way, thence crossing the Androscoggin
River into the town OF Mexico. The ar
ticles OF association also provide for
branch road from the main line northerly
through said Rumford into the town OF
Andover. The length Of the proposed
road Ia about twenty-five miles.
This hearing was not on the merits OF
the case, but simply as TO whether the
articles OF association were 10 due form
and In compliance with the provisions
OF the statute. Hon. Charles +. Little
field OF Rockland appeared for the peti-
TONERS, asking for the approval OF the
articles, and Ex-Governor Cleaves and
Hon. George ID. Bisbee appeared In be-
half of the Portland and Rumford Falls
| railway and the Rumf0rd Falls and
Rangeley Lakes railroad.
1t was claimed by Mr.. Littlefeld that
the articles OF association conformed to
all Of the provisions OF the statute aap-
plicable to articles OF association under
the general law.
Ex-Governor Cleaves and Mr.. Bisbee
argued to the board that the description
OF the proposed location was too indef-
mite and did not conform TO the statute
authorizing the organization OF railroad
corporations under the general law. The
Ex-Governor said that he was not here TO
discuss the question OF necessity or OF
public convenience, that when the proper
time came under the proceedings that
we're proposed here they should have
considerations to urge upon the board,
that they should have some facts TO pre-.
sent In behalf OF the enterprising and
progressive people OF our state, who had
developed the magnificent water power
ut Rumford Falls, who had extended the
line OF railroad into this portion OF Ok
ford County enabling the investment Of
capital la manufacturing and industrial
enterprises; that the present hearing
only involved the question whether the
articles OF association were In conformity
with existing laws.
The Governor claimed that the provi-
sions Of the statute requiring that the
corporators should state In their articles
the places from which and to which the
road Is 10 be constructed and operated,
contemplated, that there should be a
definite starting point and that the road
should terminate at or near fixed To-
cality. II these provisions OF the statute
are waived, the Governor declared that
the board would have no means Of de-
termining the length Of the road under
the statute requirement, which was the
basis on which the capital stock va:
fixed.
The Governor argued that the law
describes the character Of the articles OF
association, that such articles must give
specific information OF what Is desired
by the associates, that the public and all
parties interested were entitled 10 know
before these articles were approved and
the charter lac ued. where IL was intend
ed To construct this proposed road; tina,
under the articles OF association they
proposed 10 cross and connect with the
Portland and Rumford Falls railway anC
the Rumiord Falls Il Rangeley Lakes
railroad and that they were entitled tc
know, with reasonable definiteness
where they proposed to connect or cross
the existing railroads Of these corpora.
tions.
At the close OF the hearing the com
missioners took the case under advise
ment.