The Portland daily press., 1899-04-26

con ntry than was right here at tne Sfe-
sun ipscot. Only Niagara and Wiunabaeo
lake in theNoPthsast are better than ABfRB
power Of this river. The river nAS1SSf
q, NU horse power, only half or wnidh has
been developed. He spoke with much
enthusiasm on the benefits that might Be
derived by this city If the Presumpscot
Powar is utilized He dwelt with much
force npon the fine location Of the plant
and the ease with which Portland could
be made into a city of many small in
dustr1es. He said it is not d war against
the ezd sting company. but step on the
road of progress to grant this Portland
Electr1o Light oompany's petition. A few
years ago this local company had a report
by specialist in which it was stated to
them til at they had no fear of competition
| from tho Presumpcot river. Since then
the company has thrown away enough
machinery to bring this power to Port
| land as the petitioning company proposes
to do. This existing company here in
tends to utilize water to develop its
power 1t is only the question of few
years when this change viii be made.
TT seems to me that the whole thing
was foreshadowed in yesterdays papers,"
said Mr. Jordan. ''They are not going to
use steam long. They are going to use
water. -
At thisspoint Alderman Smith said the
hearing had been much prolonged and he
suggested it be postponed until week
from Wednesday.
At this point Mr.. Josiah H. Drummond
asked permission to speak which he did
at some laagth and with considerable
warmth He said that he appeared as a
rsmonstrant against this petition being
granted. He had noting to do with either
| company and cared little about either of
them. but he wished to speak as a citizen.
| He lives ON the corner OF Green and Cum
berland streets, and he objected to these
poles being placed ON Green street. One
line of poles Is already placed there and
that is enough. be made no objsction-to
the placing of the first line of poles In
this street, but they had dam aged his
property a good deal and ruined the trees.
"You have no right Mr.. Mayor and
gentlemen to grant this petition. You
have sworn to support the constitution OF
this state and i tell you you have no
right to vote away these rights. The con-
stitution says that you cannot take pub
lie property for private purposes unless
the exigencies Of the service demand q.
Neither can you take private property for
public purposes unless ID is necessary.
object to the granting Of this petition on
these grounds Tho city Of Portland and
the public docs mos own the strsets the
streets are owned ~ the private to-
dividuAls who own TO the middle Of thea
streets and you can't taRe these streets
for any such purpose as this. I Was viii.
ing to suffer on account Of the trst hne
but shall not stand and see the second
line put up here without protest b
order that a lot of men may make monsUA
Mr. Fogg-Have you the same objection
to other streets being used Tor the poie
lines.
Mr.. Drummond-Yes have
Mr.. Jordan-Then you believe nsA
monopoly.
Mr.. Drummond-Ah, there Ii the point
| 1t is not q monopoly, this electric li0n1
company because you can go to the leeae
laturs and get its rates cut down or take
its charter away If. it does not do bunnSS
properly. You may laugh at this, but IL
lis true. If their rates are wrong they aan
soon be changed ty the Legislature.
| At this point the hearing adjourned
until a week from Wednesday.
DEERYNG HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
| PARTS.
| At the Deering High school, Principal
Marvin has announced the Following
commencement parts: Valedictory,
Misses Austin and Clifford; salutatory,