The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-16

their property. He said that the erection
Of poles could be stopped Il the citizens
wanted TO stop It.
The remonstrants having presented
their arguments and no more showing a
disposition 10 speak, Mr.. Foqg in behalf
Of the petitionine company again took
the floor and argued for the granting Of
the petition. Mr.. Eoeg said that 1t would
certainly be much better II all the wires
could be put under ground and some day
they undoubtedly would be put under
ground. But to do this would req uire the
outlay of large amount Of money. The
old company has not put It's wires under
ground and why should the new company
be forced to do 30. The new company In
asking that this petition be granted asks
for no special privilege hut simply asks
Tor what 1t is entitled to. 1t asks for no
monopoly but wishes to.be treated simply
az the other company is treated. The pub
lie endorsed the action of the aldermen In
giving the new company permission to
enter Portland, and Portland is the better
for 1t. The new oompanyE has been fair
and above board In all its dealings with
the city and will continue to be 90 and
win aiways.be rsady:to meet the city half
way In anything that 1t may suggest.
| Alderman Lamson--'.If the petition IL
granted do you intend to erect all these
poles this year or will you wait until
next year or the year after to put them
upf''
Mr.. Togg said that he did not know
law - Hatt ~.
but he thought 1t would DO within few
months.
The hearing was then closed and Alder
man smith. took.ths floor to speak.
He saidi ~ was opposed to this com.
pany coming into Portland In the first
place because distrusted them. / was
the member Of committee which in
quired into the condition of the company
last year and made up my mind then
that II the permission was granted the
now company II would sell out to the ex-
listing company as SOM as 1t had any
thing to sell. The results have torne out
what said and feared. Within three
weeks this new company has made an
offer to the Consolidated company to sell
out and have named price for whicn
they would sell out. They are even now
negotiating with the large stockholders
Of the Consolidated company with the
purpose IL view. and have peen in con-
ference with them for this purpose within
three weeks. That was why the work ct
the head Of Green street was temporarily
suspended. The new company wants 20
force the old company into buying them
out. IL means another consolidation. In
the end the city OF Portland win have TO
pay for this by giving much more for
their municipal and other lights than
they are now paying In my opinion
you'll pay more for your street lights
next year as a result of what you hays
done. The reason voted against the new
company's entrance into Portland was to
keep the price Of lights down, The new
company will shortly sell out, 1 believe
for $500, 900 or $780, 600 and the citizens of
Portland will In the end pay the bill.
Alderman Johnson-"I am not at all
nervous about the new company's selling
out. They have filed bond with the city
which protects them from this sort Of
thing. Under the conditions of the bond
they can't sell out or consolidate with
any other company.
Alderman Smith-"The bond is no
good at all. 1t don't hinder them from
selling out II you hadn't been In such a
rush to push this. bond through the alder
man the other night you would have dis.
covered that what say is true"
Alderman Jonnson-..I would like to
have the records read and see whether
am right or not when say the new com :
pany can't sell out or consolidate"
The city clerk then read the bond filed
with the city by the Portland Electric
Light company which states that If the
company sells out consolidates, or
raises it's prices above the prices. ad.
yertised by IL at the time OF Its
petition for entrance to the city
the bond Of $40, 600 shall be forfeited.
Il Alderman Smith-"I can prove my
statement about their Offering to sell GU,
II necessary
Alderman Dow-"This matter of grant.
ing the location Of poles Ia very import.
ant matter. 1t has opened up question
regarding the advisability of putting all
wires in underground conduits which j
consider to be very Important. Perhaps
We can arrange to give pole location on
some streets and conduit permits on othe,
streets. The readiness with which the
counsel for tho nsw company withdrew
the petitions regarding Pine and Carletou
streets would lead one to believe that Il
might be possible TO get the new company
to consider the advisibility OF putting nm.
dersround conduits on some other streets.
Ilmove that the petition be laid on the
table for the time being"
u 10 was so voted with only one dissent.
ing voice
OTHER MATTERS. ~
G. ". 4. Godiug petitioned for pole
rights ON Cotton street and Island ave,
nue., Peaks island where the COMMITTEES
on lighting had ordered electric lights te