The Portland daily press., 1900-11-22
The Scheme of Deering
Electric Light Co.
The Mayor Appoints Bradford
l.. Stevens Policeman.

1nere was specihi meetAnH OA eue
mayor and board OF aldermen held yester-
day afternoon for the purpose Of consid-
ering some petition for the location OF
poles. After much argument and dis
cussion the hearings were both postponed
until four o'clock this afternoon to give
interested parties an opportunity to ap-
pear and remonstrate II they SO desire.
| One Of the petitioners was the Consoli-
dated Electric Light company which
wanted to erect a few poles on Morning
street between Turner and Congress. In
the same petition was request for the
| location of six poles on Winter street bo-
tween Spring and Pine streets. Manager
Raymond OF the company was present
and explained that these six poles were
required to reach the residences of
Messrs. Libby, Kicker. Henley and Coles
worthy and that unless these poles were
allowed these residences could not be
reached by the Consolidated company. 1t
seems that there is already line OF poles
belonging to the Portland Elotric Light
company on the southerly side of this
street and some of the residents on Win
| ter street feel that they are getting too
much of forest to improve the looks OF
this thoroughfare.
Alderman johnson said that he should
oppose the granting Of the petition 30 far
1s 1t pea tains to Winter street because q
Mr.. Austin had told him he objected to
these poles in Winter street. Mr.. Austin
said he was a large taxpayer and thought
he should be given some consideration.
Alderman Thomas said that he had bsen
asked by several Winter street residents
to oppose the granting OF this petition
and until these parties had an opportuni-
ty of explaining their objections to the
location bsing granted he should oppose
the granting of the petition. Alderman
johnson then suggested the postponement
of the hearing until this afternoon. Al
dermen Gerrish and Drisooll said that
they could see no reason for postpone
ment because the hearing had been duly
advertised and II the people who objected
to these poles being erected did not care
enough about the matter to be present at
the hearing to state their objections he
could see no reason for delaying action
on their account. A vote was called for
and Aldermen Moulton, Frye, Thomas
and johnson voted for postponement.
Aldermen Moore and Milliken being alb
sent the hearing was postponed.
Manager Mather representing the Deer
ing Electric Light company then spoke
for his petition which asks that pole
be located at the corner Of Reed street
ana Forest avenue and also 10 poles on
| Riverside street. He explained that the
transformer house where the voltage of
| 10, 010 is changed TO twenty five hundred
was not too far away from the distribut-
ing house and the company wished to get
1t nearer X possible. To do this they
have obtained the right to run pole line
over private property parallel to the NJ.
G. X. X. tracks from a point on River
side street to a point near the junction Of
Read and Forest avenue where new
transformer house is to be built. This
line will cross Stevens Plain avenue near
the Maine Central Junction. II viii
necessitate thirteen poles on Riverside
street to reach this point where the line
on private proparty will begin, distance
of about half mile over which the 10, ,OO0
volts VIII be run in the street ana then 1t
will be carried across private land to the
new transformer house at the corner of
Reed street and Forest avenue. Unless
this was done the company would be
forced to stretch four additional wires
along Forest avenue. They have had
much trouble with the trees on this
street and wish to avoid more trouble If
possible. The plan proposed by them
Will enable them to much improve their
line ana give the city more flexible and
satisfactory service.
Alderman Frye opposed the granting OF
this petition. Hs said 1t would bring
this heavy voltage into the city for half a
mile more than 1t is at present. City
Electrician Cummings said that 1t would
be good thing to have this line go over
private property II heavy voltage was
to be used but he ssdidn't seem to think
much Of the idea anyway. Alderman
Gerrish also spoke against granting the
petition to use such high voltage In the
city's streets and moved that the hearing
be postponed until this afternoon. Alder
man Driscoll did not favor the delay. He
thought 1t would be a good thing to
grant the petition Of the Desring Electric
Light company.
One objection which was raised to the
granting of this petition was that the
proposed line would cross Stevens Plains
avenue with 1000 volts. Mr.. Mather
said that the Westbrook Electric Light
company now crosses Forest avenue with
& coo volts and it seemed to him that
Forest avenue was more travelled upon
than was the other street his company
proposes to GROSS. The hearing was final
~ postponed until this afternoon at tour
4 topriock Alderman DriaoolI Jnhnsnr AND