The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-01
MONEY TO BURN.

Editor of the News:
The Deering citysgovernment turn down
the home company, refusing to give the
lighting contract to the Deering Electric
Light company, notwithstanding they
can make saving of 5000 over what
any other will do the lighting for This
is a most unaccountable proceeding and
tax payers want to know the reason
why. But for this competition $4,000 more
would have to be paid this year, so it Is
proposed to "kill the goose that laid the
golden egg" and forever prevent any
more such competition. The plan Is to
kill competition for three years at least,
then the bird would be dead for good
sure. Twenty-three thousand dollars
worth of machinery and material have
already been purchased. Three carloads
of water wheels alone are now at White
Rock station, the nearest shipping point
to Great Falls, and Mr.. Maberry is busy
hauling them to destination. Two 200
k. W. general electric generators OF the
latest improved type are contracted for
and every possible effort is being made
to work them along to completion. These
machines weigh 2S tons or IA tons each.
The material, wire, poles and insulators
have been ordered forward and three car
loads of poles will arrive next week. One
carload is expected at Newhall station
M. C. railroad, Monday or Tuesday. The
contractors for the pole lines, l.. L
Fletcher company, will begin work dig
TnaSdqu
next. The flume is already in condition
to receive the wheels and a large force
of men are at work setting them and
building tue pen stock. The lumber for
the power house is on the ground and
every day makes great changes. People
who have been made skeptical by the
over Jealous work of those who prefer
to give this business of lighting to for
eign company should 60 to Great Falls
and see for themselves just what Is being
done. The previous meeting Of the city
government left 1t to be understood that
the Deering company (made up Of 80
Deering citizens,) should furnish bond
and they would have the contract. This
was secured and delivered to the chair
man of lights committee, but he refused
to entertain or consider it in any way
and returned it. Two members Of the
committee on lights were ignored alto
gether and one man took the entire con-
troll. The Deering company has further
offered to put up collateral security to the
amount of 81. $50, FORGETTING it to the city
in case of failure to deliver the current
October /, and this taken with the fact
that more than 900 worth of ma
chinery and material has been purchased
should be sufficient to satisfy all reason
able demand. The above information
has been obtained from Geo. W. Brown,
treasurer and manager of the company,
and from other reliable sources that are
unquestionabls. The fight against this
company has been most bitter, even to
the extent that Deering alderman OPP
posed to the home company has tried to
influence an alderman Of Westbrook
against giving the company pole rights
through the northerly part of Wcstbrook
from Duck Pond to Riverton. most re-
markable proceeding. Other things that
have been done against the company are
too bad for publication.
Anti Ann L.
Deering, July 20, 1898.
-Deering News, July 30, 1888.