The Portland daily press., 1899-01-19
THAT REJECTED BOND.
10 the Editor Of the Press:

- WV 1890
The statements contained in the West
brook news items In regard to the bond
to be furnished 10y the Cumberland Illu-
minating Co. have simply stated one side
of the case and In all fairness to the Cum
berland Illuminating Company will
give few statements that are facts and
cannot be gsinsaid or controversial. The
City Government Of Westbrook granted
pole rights to this company undsr certain
conditions, among them that the city
should be furnished free lights 10 the ex-
tent Of 80. 20 candle power for the privi-
lege. This meant at s2l. s5 each, the
price the Wrstbrook company were fur
nishing, $645 q year for the privilege.
But this was not all, bond must be fur
nished and all of this Notwithstanding
500 OF the best citizens Of Westbrook
signed petitions addressed to the city gov
eminent asking 1t to grant the company
the permission and nearly every person
ON that particu lar road signed them. 1t
has been said that 1t was on condition
that lights would be furnished free
through that street. but this was false rs
no such promise was every considered and
until IL was imposed by the city govern
ment was never contemplated.
The next city government came in and
1t was confidently hoped and expected
that more liberal policy would be adopt
ed but this proved vain hope. Practi
oaly the same conditions were required.
| Thirty lights must be furnished free aud
the cost OF Installing those lights would
| be at least 5000 to the company. Then a
bond must be- furnished. The kind of u
| bond that would protect the city was dis
cussed and 1t was decided that an insur-
ance that would protect the city against
loss by injury TO any person. was the most
desirable Consequently such policy
was secured at cost OF Sls7 year. This
| was held about a month and then advice
was given through the papers mot Off
| cially) that 1t was unsatisfactory. We
then tried TO lind out what would be sat
| isfactory and found that policy direct TO
the city which was no better In any sense
than the first (which protected the general
puhlio) would satisfy. This WAS obtained
| at an expense of $3.50 more and after
weeks OF delay was returned as unsatis-
factory. The next thing was that they
must have bond and 1t took weeks TO
find out what they wanted for bond.
vi
ed what form would be satisfactory. The
| bond WAS made IN exact accord with the
| form made up by him, but this was also
found to DO unsatisfactory. II has cost
| the company s33. for protective insurance
and when tho 80 lights have been In
| stalled which will be done as soon as we
can lind out where they are to he placed,
a gratuity amounting to what costs the
company including the interest on the
cost of said lamps and wiring and lights
at what he city paid for them last year
| more than $1,000 year for the privilege
OF setting i75 poles along a country road,
and the Cum uerland Illuminating Com
pany has charter that Is so broad that II
allows going into the streets OF the cities
| of DeerinR, Mesthrook and Cape Eliza
betn, digging them up and laying gas
pipes or setting poles and any city or town
refusing IL such rights would lay itself
| liable to anuuliing charter that has been
made by a law of the state. This is very
| vel. known and is very good reason
why that threat Is not carried ont TO cut
down the poles.
There is only one thing more that
wish TO touch upon here and that is, Has
| town or city right TO abridRe the
rights and privileges of one company and
show Partially TO another Should the
| Mestbrook Electric Light Company re-
| ceive the same treatment with its miles
upon miles of pole lines in Mestbrook IL
would be obliged to furnish the entire
city its lighting free. The above Is IA
| simple, plain statement OF facts and Is
worthy of the careful consideration of all
thinking and fair minded citizens.
Yours very truly.
GEO. W. BROWN,
Pres. and Mgr. Cumberland 1llumi-