The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-14
THAT ELECTRIC LIGHT QUESTION
Portland, October 10, 1898.

THAT ELECTRIC LIGHT QUESTION.
Portland, October 10, 1898.
To the Editor Of the Press:
| Due to the fact that certain statements
have been made indicating that infornla-
ton the public Is entitled to know all
about has been withheld, wish to hsre
announce that a most thorough and
searching examination has been made
and every question that bore on the SUBJ
ject that would affect the city's inter.
ests an iota has been fully answered. The
only questions that specific replies have
not been made to were those which the emil
nent counsel employed decided should
not be answered as they were strictly
private matters and in no way affected
the oity's interests on the question of
an underground conduit system or the
erection Of poles. 1t makes no difference
whether the company has a dollar in its
treasury the granting of rights would
amount to nothing In the way of harm to
the city If the company was unable to
perform, but great good would result if
they did carry out the enterprise and the
city would make a great saving in It's
street lighting and the residents would
| further profit in lower cost lights and
power. Hon. G.. f. Libby appeared before
| the committee and answered every quss-
ton propounded. He showed the COM
mittee that all of the money to complete
the plant and lines to the limits of Port
land had been pledged and the work of
installation and erecting role lines was
practically completed. He showed the con.
nections ofthe Sebago Power company with
the Cumberland Illuminating company,
the Deering Electric Light company and
the Portland Electric Light company, and
how their interests were all interviewer
one with the other. The same, for in
stance, as ir the case with the 5tandish
Water cor pa ~, that supplies Deering
and Cape -4lIzabeth, and the Portland
Water company The statement In regard
to the action of the Westbrook .city
government was evidently gathered from
a report that could have been cleared up
If had had an opportunity to answer
when before the committee. The Vest
brook city government imposed . require
ment that bond should be filed or 9TH
er satisfactory security protecting the city
| against damages and furnishing 30 %
Q. p. lights at Pride's Corner and Duck
Pond. While W thought this rather hard
at first we made special arrangements to
comply securing transformers which, by
the way, were ordered about month ago
and have just arrived at the Portland &
Rochester railroad station. We have only
waited the city's action as Regards the
question of q bond or an employers liza
bhity insurance covering the public. The
oxder was passed, and at ray request to
the Mayor. he with Street Commissioner
Skiilings and Alderman Pomerleau went
over the entire ground, approved the To-
cations, and the Mayor wrote me his ac-
ceptance according to the order. 1t seems,
however that I was in the wrong for not
having required written order signed by
tho aldermen also, but have since
found this has never been required before
this year and happened TO be the one
first hit, butX do not mind that SO much
as long as all other companies have to
be put under the same restrictions. Now
let the vote be taken granting the Pc
tition on the following conditions: First.
that bond for $40 600 guaranteeing the
underground conduit system and p ole
lines covering the most important street
where people want lights and power and
for street lights SO that the new company
can enter into a contract with the city
October 81. 1899, and in case the company
are not abs to carry out this contract by
that date, providing 1t is executed Au
gust /, 1899, then they shall forfeit the
full sum of the bond to the city or they
shall deposit a sum In cash of $40, 00C,
subject to the order of the treasurer of
the city of Portland as forfeiture to be
paid the city October 81, 1899, II the com.
plete underground conduit system has not
been constructed on or before that date.
The company shall also agree to estab-
lish a steam power plant sufficient to
cover the demands of the city for Its street
lights and public buildings. That the
company will guarantee by said bond
above mentioned to save the city sum
exceeding $4,000 year for the same
number of lights and OF equal quality
that has been furnished by the CONSOLE
dated Electric Light company the past
year, basing this estimate on the prices
actually paid for the psriod of one year
ending July l, 1898. 1t is also to be re-
qrired and boud above named shall be
understood to cover the cost of current for
light and power that the proportion
saved to the citizens shall bs Rs large or
larger than that saved by the city for it's
street. lights and public buildings and
that affidavits shall be furnished proving
that this condition has been complied
with. Only one word more to shut OF
an untruthful rumor regarding foods
at Great Falls dam. When the great
fjood was three years ago which caused
80 much damage at Westbrook nothing
was known of it at Great Falls. There
is no such thing as food at Great Falls. |
Yours truly,