The Portland daily press., 1898-09-21

Ing double tracks, and so it has been
with every Improvement that has been
attempted The petltionlng company
asks from the city no money but simply
permission to build conduits and set up
poles. They mean to conform to the re-
ouirements and the laws. The company
saws it can save tho citizens OF Portland
money. give them good service and make
money for themselves. If they can't do
this they are the losers, not the city. II
they succeed the citizens are gamers and
the whole oiry is benefited.
''The company intends to accomplish
these things by means of power which is
now going to waste on the upper Pre-
sumpscot. Instead of paying at the rate
of So ton for its power it will get it for
nothing and the citizens of Portland get
the benefit of the saving You may know
a reason why this request of the Port
land Electric Light company cannot be
granted, but 1 can see none. 1t will be
a benefit to Portland, will save money for
the municipality and its citizens and be
making the waters of the Presumpscot
now running to waste light our homes
and run our motors"
Hon. Clarence Hale, who appeared for
the Consolidated Electric Light company.
said he wanted to ask Mr.. George W.
Brown, one of the promoters of the Cum
berland Illuminating company and the
new scheme, a few questions. Mr..
Brown said he was ready to answer any
and all questions, bat Mr.. Fogg, coun-
sci for the pstitioning company, seemed
very much by anchor ice in the winter
because it had a large pond above its
dam. The company is obliged to shut
down one night out of the year for this
cause. There is plenty OF water in the
Presumpsoot, and it is SO saved by the
dam at the foot of Sebago lake that the
flow is regulated to some extent IN dry
weather. Mr.. Newcome gave some facts
as to the transmission Of power from the
plant of his company to Westbrook, dis
tancen of five miles. He estimated the
loss. including everything, at about 40
per cent of the developed power.
Mr.. Hale now asked Mr.. Brown some
| questions.
"Were you member of the Sebago
Power company"
st will refer you to my counsel, Mr..
Fogg," said Mr.. Brown.
"Are you interested in the Cumber-
land Illuminating company"
81 refer you to Mr.. Fogg.
| care you connected with the Presump-
scot Power company"
ST refer you to Mr.. Fogg.''
Mr.. Hale said: 81 shall not ask any
more questions of your witness" ad-
dressing Mr. Fogg, "unlsss your witness
| will answer the questions.
| Asr. Fogg-''We didn't come here to In
yestigate the Consolidated Electric Light
company. We don't care whether it is a
foreign or domestic corporation. This is
not the tribunal to make such an inves-
LEGATION. We are not fighting the Con-
solidated company which has the monopo-
| ly here. We simply petition for certain
privileges and the Consolidated company
mas no right to be represented here, I'M
less it comes as individuals. These mat
tiers are not proper to enter into this
question.
Alderman Mannix-The simple ques-
ton is, shall we give the petitioners per-
mission to erect poles and build con-
duits, Tor shall we deny them this right.
These matters have nothing to d3 with
the question.
The Mayor-I quite agree with the gen
tleman from Ward 2.
Alderman Rounds-But want to know
all about this thing and l shall not vote
on the matter until I am informed.
MIR. Hale then said chat the Consoli-
dated Electric light company appeared
here as remonstrants. For is years it had
been doing it's duty by the city. 1t pays
a tax on 5000, 600 worth Of property, and
it protests against granting rights to a
company coming in here without facts
or evidence to support its claims. Our
company has been giving service as
economically as it can be given. 1t has
been paying only eight years and gives
the city good service. Its stockholders
are good citizens, such men as Mr.. Wes-
colt, Mr.. Milliken and Gov. Cleaves, and
no one knows who the stockholders of the
other company are. There were about a
thousand poles on the streets now and
with the thousand asked for by the new
company there would be very little be-
sides poles on many streets.
Alderman Rounds said heswas there to
get at the facts in the case and would
| like to have MIR. Hale ask Mr.. Brown any
i questions which he thought proper. But
first Mr.. Rounds and other members OF
the board of aldermen questioned Mr..
Brown and obtained the following facts
The Cumberland Illuminating company
has leased certain privileges of the Sc
bago Power company and has now a
plant in the process of completion capable
of developing 750 horse power. The
Presumpscot can furnish 1000 horse pow
er at this point where the plant is located
if need be. The company has full control
of the power privileges on the river. The
estimated loss in transmitting power to
| ic K l;e