Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-31

State of Maine. In Board of Rail-
road Commissioners. -'
Two questions are involved here:
First, are the articles of association
in accordance with the provisions of
the statute?
Second, does public convenience re-
quire the building of the proposed
electric railway named in the articles
of association?
We find that the articles of associa-
ton are in accordance with the stat
ute, and we hereby approve the same.
The question here presented, as to
whether public convenience requires
the building of this electric railway, is
difficult one to decide.
The contention of counsel opposed to
the granting of this charter is that it
would not be the best policy for the
State to grant Il charter over that
portion of the line where another cor
poration has vested rights and inter-
eSts, and where the amount of traffic
is too small to profitably employ the
capital which would be used in the
construction and operation of two
lines of railroad.
This is certainly an important con-
sideration, and one which we have had
| under discussion in several instances
before. In the recent matter of the
Augusta Il Togus Railroad Company
the commissioners used this language:
These matters should all be guarded
by a strong and fearless determine
| top to do no harm to vested rights,
| and to see to it that existing interests
3fall not needlessly >r recklessly be
t6tlowed to suffer. OF course no fixed
PIE can be laid down, ny which the
RHnurd of Railroad Commissioners can
Ne absolutely governed. We must in
each case look at conditions as they
exist. and as they may aris, These
4 conflicting interests make it oten dH-
4 ficllt to decide these questions sntsz :,
II ly satisfactory to parties intehstef.
Y butwe cannot escape the performance
iof tuties imposed by the Legislature.
andin the performance of those duties
we can only give to matters q din
I, lgeR consideration and our best judg-
\ meht."
! We can neither add to nor take from
| anything as to our purpose indicated
4 in the above declaration.
!; Persons who have neither interest
4 nor responsibility in these matters no
doubt find it very easy to decide either
for or against franchise of this kind
Such persons are apt to reason, if they
reason at all, from ad captandum
statements, and decide important
matters from premises which seem
best fitted to their preconceived no
tons But we must endeavor to ar
rive at conclusion which shall best
subserve the interests of the State
which we represent. and give to all
parties interested, the rights to which
they are entitled.
In accordance with the considera-
tions above referred to. if the charter
here asked for was only from Augusta
to Winthrop and Monmouth we should
unhesitatinSly grant it.
If the charter was only from Win
throp to Sabattus we should unhes-
tatingly deny it.
The towns OF Winthrop and Mon
mouth lying in the western portion Of
Kennebec county. have no communica-
ton by railroad with Augusta. the shire
town of the county, and the capital
of the State, except by crcuitous
route by way Of Waterville, or Lewis
ton and Brunswick.
of these thriving towns as shown upon
the map of Maine. is sufficient arSu-
mcnt in favor of an electric railroad
system between the east and west
sections Of Kcnnebec county. If we
need to mention other considerations
we have only to say that it is the
policy of the State to invite the peo-
pie of other states to spend their time
/ tf.p.
! in the State of Maine.
With this in view large sums of
money are appropriated to stock our
! lakes and rivers with fish and protect
our game interests 50 as to invite this
summer travel to our State.
| It is Il policy which seems to have
almost, if not quite, the unanimous
support of our citizens and taxpayers.
| With this also in view. the steam rail
| roads OF our State are giving Il Splen-
did train service. and the one absorb
! ing interest of our legislato seems to
| be to do everything to Increase the in
| tcrest above referred to: and in this
| desire Of the people of Maine to open
I'M the beauties of our State. which are
as yet only partially realized, the
Rai!roa, Commissioners are in COM
| plete sympathy. Along the line of this
proposed railroad are some of the most
charming lakes in Maine. Upon the
/ shores of some of them improvements
| have already been made, and thou
sands of people visit the beautiful
! Maranacook every season. Upon other
lakes along this route is an opportuni-
u for other improvements.
| We can conceive of no reason, there
fore. why we should hesitate iii say
| ing that public convenience requires q
street railway from the towns of Mon
mouth and Winthrop to the city of Au-
| GUsta.
From the town of Monmouth to
| Sabattus the country is sparsely set
/ tied. There could not possibly be any
call FOR an electric railroad over this
Dart of the route. if this was alien"
/ considered.
The Maine Central Railroad is oper-
atinr its line from Winthrop to Lewis
ton and Brunswick. and it claims by
it's attorneys that this proposed line
would be in direct competition with the
! latter road.
| In riding over the route from Mon
/ moth to Sabattus the commissioners
/ raw but very little which seemed TO
coil fo1. an electric railway.