The Portland daily press., 1899-12-09
Commissioners Listen to
Testimony.
Boston e. Maine and Other Cor
porations demonstrate.
ESPECIAL TO THE fREssl

ESPECIAL TO THE fRrss.1
Biddeford, December S.-Biddeford had
another inning In the electric railroad
question today. The question Of whether
the people of Limerick need an outlet,
whether 1t shall extend to Centre Water
boro or continue to Biddeford and Saco.
and whether the franchise shall be cap
tured By the "York County railroad" or
the york County Central railroad.
we is tried out. to-day before the Maine rail-
road commissioner, who patiently sat
through six hours Of testimony and de-
bate.
The York County Railroad company.
whose petition was field first, had the
first call at tie hearing. Its interests
were looked out for by ex-Mayor Charles
s. Hamilton and william A. Roberts OF
Biddeford, and ex-Nayor James 0. Brad
bury Of Saco. The York County Central
Railroad company, which desires to build
from Limerick to the Centre WATERFORD
station OF the Portland aud Rochester
railroad, was represented at the hearing
by Hon. U. NJ. Higgins Of Limsrick, and
W. r. Anthoine. Esq, of PORTLAND.
Judge Symonds and Ex-Governor
CIeayes were here In the interests Of the
Boston and Maine, and Hampden Fair
field, ESQ, of Saoo, for the Biddeford
and Saco railorad. Hon. Herbert Heath
of Augusta, was on hand In the interests
Of the Atlantic shore line, in case the
commissioners should have time to de-
vote to the petition Of the competing syn
dictate which seeks to get control OF the
route from Biddeford to Wells.
First Messrs. Hamilton, Roberts and
Bradbury were invited to proceed with
their presen tstion OF evidence on the
question of public nsee,slty.
Asa l.. Kicker Of Biddeford, formerly
Of WATERFORD, who for several terms was
register of deeds Of YORK county, was the
first witness called to give testimony on
the question Of public convenienoe. de
owns a milk farm ON the Goodwin's Mills
road, He said an electric railroad would
be a great convenience to residents along
the line of the proposed road. Much
marketing IL done from Goodwin's Mills
and WATERFORD, Biddeford and Saco being
the trading centre Of the whole section to
lie traversei by the electric road.
Judson Roberts. a storekeeper at Centre
Water boro, said most of the marketing
from his town is done In Biddeford. An
electric road would be great convenisnce
to travel and to shippers Of produce. 10
get to Bid isford BY rail ROW nsoessitates
Q trip to Portland, "a miles, and thence
to Blddeford, 10 miles; the total cost OF
a round trip being $2.25. He was asked
by MIR. Peaks how many stores there are
at Centre WATERFORD station and how
many between there and Biddeford. He
replied that there are only three, two Of
them In his village and one at Goodwin's
Mills. The highway crossing Of the
Portland aud Rochester ct Centre Water
| boro Is at grade. but IL would be an easy
matter to put this electric road under
meath the steam line. In his opinion,
the public would be better accommodated
by building Of road from this village to
Biddeford than to Limerick. He was
uestloned at length In regard to the
crossing of the Portland and Rochester.
and he said he thought an underneath
CT ossing oouli be put In SO as to give
head room OF IA feet.
Chairman Peaks-"The reason why
we have asked these questions is this. In
view of the recent accident at woodfords,
and other narrow escapes OF electric car
accidents at grade crossings, We have
stiffened In our view about the grade
crossings. Wherever 1t Is reasonably pos.
sibis to separate the grades. we intend In
permitting the construction of trolley
| lines to compel them. In crossing steam
lines, to 60 either overhead or underneath.
We followed that course In regard to the
Lewiston, Brunswiok and Bath Railroad
iine."
Allen Garner, of Kezar Falls, one OF
the owners OF the Holland wooden mills
10 Limerick, testified strongly In favor OF
a road. The company has t, have 10 to q
TINS Of freight per week. ''We are ten
mills from nowhere" said Ahe, land We
want to get out"
Capt ]. A. Campbell. proprietor of
the Limerick hotsl, wants to see trolley
line built from Limerick, but he said he
didn't cara whether 1t terminates at Cen
ire WATERFORD or runs to iPortland or Il
Biddeford. 81 shouldn t come to B!dde
ford" said he, 'it there was a road here
l do my trading In other places. But
gte2 those who Grove down from my
town this forenoon, over the frozen
g,ound, would have appreciated an OPP
poItunity to come by electrics. They hat
t. start abou. 8 o'clock. The round trip
age fare from Limerick to Centre Water
boro is ST. 90; from Centre WATERFORD Il
Portland, $l.50."
A. W. Chadbourne. an East Waterbor'
lumber manufacturer. favored the road
1t would BIZ help to ths lumber ship
rers. and a great convsnisnos to market
ing Of produce. II would also bs con
venisnce whom the supreme court 10 II