The Portland daily press., 1899-03-06
POLE RIGHTS.
wcstbrook City Fathers and n Cues
ti0n Of Light.


/ turc Is SIN To lie Secured.
An adjourned Meeting of the Wcstbrook
city government was held Saturday owe.
ming at the council chamber. There were
number of citizens present in antlcipa-
tion CT tho settlement of the question Of
granting pole rights to the Cumberland
| Illuminating company and those that re-
Inained during the entire evening were
rewarded by learning Of the favorable de-
oision OF ths aldermen. President 6rny
presided. Mayor Raymond wa, in NJ
tendance. Aldermen Watson and Law
renee were absent The first business
was hearing granted to remonstrants to
the Valentine street. sewer assessments.
The renonstrents were opposed on the
ground that the assessment was too high,
The aldermen went into committee
OF the whole on the question with Alder
man Bailey as chairman. 1t was finally
votsd TO refer the matter to the next city
government. Alderman Burgess moved
that the petition of tho Cumb erland Illu-
minating company for pole rights along
the several streets of the city, be taken
from the table. Alderman Burgess then
moved that the order have its second and
third readings AT this point Alder man
Pomerleau interrupted to ask few ques.
| tons and to make a brief speech. Alder.
man Pomerleau said he did not think
there WAS any need of another pole line
in the city and that Furthermore the city
should not permit 1t as they already had
three years contract for lights with u
local company. Alderman Quinby said
he was not q believer in monopoly, that
he thought all parties bad to meet with
competition at some time or another.
Mr.. Quinby said he thought the city was
getting the benefit of the competition be-
tween the Westbrook and Deering compa-
MES in their Deering business. "If
didn't believe that our lights were as
cheap as they are in Deering,' said MI.
Quinby, 81 should vote in favor of the
new company"
Alderman Pomei leau said that the city
had had the benefit of the competition in
Desring by reduced rates in Westbrook
Mr.. Pomerleau said that when he felt
that Westbrook people were no. satisfied
with their lights and prices he would
look at the matter differently.
| Alderman Bailey presented n petition
signed by n. l.. Woodbury. and 81 others,
residents Of Duck Pond, demonstrating
against the granting of rights 20 the new
company until promises made by the
company had been complied with, and
the lights promised for Bridgton streets
weresput in place. Alderman Bailey said
the Duck Pond residents would withdraw
their petition for 20 lights. He further
said The city was getting tho benefit of
the Deering competition and thought that
the matter should stay where it was.
MIR. Bailey said TINT If the new company
was allowed to come in either one might
| buy the other out and then the controlling
company would have o monopoly and the
| citizens would lie at the mercy of the
| company as to rates. Ee said that he un.
derstood that the Cumberland Illuminat
| ing company had made an attempt to buy
off the WeStbrook company's business.
Alderman McCubrey said that his only
objection was on the ground of having
| more pole lines in the city. If we get the
so lights as promised by the company it
means gift of $500 annually to the city.
Alderman Warren suggested that Man
ager Nnwoomb, representing the West
brook company was present and that he
was prepared to say that even if the
Dsering company should go out of bust
ness the Westbrook company would still
give the Westbrook people the benefit of
low prices. Mr.. Newomb said he had re-
| ceived instructions from the officers of the
company to keep the rates in Westbrook
the same II the Deering company drops
Its prices more we shall do the same in
both localities.
Alderman Burgess said the Westbrook
company had never been liberal unless
forced TO It, "You get no competition I'M
til you make it, said MIR. Burgess. 1--WE
are not at all concerned in Deering. We
want and are bound to have composition
here. Last August we had a hearing and
the Westbrook company was represented
here and the only objection that compa-
ny had to offer was that it would mean
another line of poles in the city. l sug-
gested that the new company was willing
to use the same pole lines. The Westbrook
company would not agree to this. The
moment the new company does not live
up to its agreement it is in the hands of
the aldermen to cut it of. " A Herman
Burgess said that if the new company
was allowed to come in there was new
business enterprise ready to locate here
and assist in the development of the wat
err power.
Alderman Bailey then moved to table
the order. The vote resulted in the defeat
Of the motion. Aldermen Gray, burgess,
Lamb, McCubrey. Ames. London, Haskell
voting no, and Aldermen Quinby Bailey,
Pomerleau and Warren voting yes,
Alderman Burgess then voted that the
order be given its final readipg and pas
sage. The vote resulted favorably as fol-
lows: Yes, Gray, burgess, Lamp. Nc
Cubrcy, Ames and London; no. Qui
Bailey, Pomerleau and Warren.
1t WAS voted that all city reports be
printed.
Alderman Burgess presented the report
IF ha on Sfrppf linrts in which