Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-30
AUGUSTA TO TOGUS.
Hearing on Proposed Electric
Road Before Commits sioners.
Solid Citizens of Augusta Snow Press
ing Need of the Line.
Convincing Arguments Why This Public Con.
veniencc Should Be Granted.

CdllOll VI ili tltClIiC Iodtl W lpSdS W III
be given by the rail- Dad commissioners.
yet the promoters are very hopeful and
after the hearing held, yesterday, ex-
pressed their belief that they would
come out on top. 1ha hearing was held
in the Senate chamber at the State
House.
1t was called for 10 o'clock in the
forenoon and at that time the room
was filled with people. Among the peo-
pie present Were several veterans of
the Togus Home who showed their in
terest in the road by asking questions
and doing their best to assist the cOun-
sci for the road.
There were present as those inter-
ested in the road, Amos f. Gerald y.
Il. Paige and 5. y. Nye of Fairfield,
Hon. c. +. Johnson. Waterville, the at
torney for the road, and Thomas J.
Lynch of this city. ON the other hand
President Lewis and other officials of
the Kennebec Central were present in
the interests of their property
\ representative gathering from both
cities. Gardiner and Augusta, was
present ut the hearing. Not only We're
those there who had been delegated to
hn pr, -rut by the board of trade ana
city government, hut in addition there
was d large assembly Of other repre-
sentative men who were attracted
through their desire to see the road
buit The attendance was 50 great
that even the usual seating capacity
was not great enough and it was nee
cssary TO augment it by bringing in
chairs.
Hon. C. F. Johnson of Waterville. as
thu counsel for the Augusta-Togus
road. stated that the petitioners would
withdraw the first petition by which
they ask permission to build the road
into the town of Chelsea.
On the new petition the following
appeared for parties of record: G. F.
Johnson for petitioner; T. J. Lynch
and L. c. Cornish for the Augusta.
Hallowel & Gardiner road; y. NJ.
Spear and \. c. Stilphen for the Ken
nebec Central. Those We're the
only ones who wished to appear in
person as parties Of record. No one
appeared for the Soldiers Home al
though a letter was received by the
commissioners. relative TO the matter.
In it John Marshal Brown expressed no
direct desire to appear as party Of
record Hon. 4. NJ. Spear could sec
grounds by which the letter might be
construed as desiring to appear as a
party Of record ana the name was 50
recorded. The witnesses for the peti-
TONERS were then called in order.
s. A. Nye said: II am one Of the
petitioners and directors. The whole
canital stock. $4,000 has been sub
scribed for" Five per cent. Of the
capital stock has been paid in. | know
but little about the travel to Chelsea.
cross examined, he said: Il am sub
scriber to 2t0 shares. l have paid .
per cent"
when YOU made this subscription.
did YOU understand you are to pay par
value for the stock?' asked Mr.. Still
phen.
Il don't know why not. When we
undertake to build a railroad l don
know why we are not obliged to pay
for it," replied Mr.. Nye.
Samuel W. Lane: Il have lived on
the East side for 80 years, on the street
that leads to Togus. The amount OF
travel from the Kennebec bridge TO
Togus is great. l can see people pass
ing every time I look up. There IS
continued line of travel.
II see many inmates of the IoGuS
tIc,,a .roing TO or from the Home. For
tha last l. wears. we had advocated q
road to Togus | had then spoken 70
,.rv MANY about the necessity for q
ro,d There was from there a conscn-
| sus of npinion that the road ought e
| 1,nI need
ne road. and ir | had the backing
would build with no further authpritS
| than the charter Of the Augusta
UlIIoweIl & Gardiner Road. strangers
often come to me to learn the way to
thn home. I have but two answers
rithcr 10 get team and drive out. oi
% bv the way Of Gardiner. But
say. IL you are in a hurry, go by the
way of Gardiner.
Hon. p. O. Vickery: Il am trustee
of the Insane Hospital. There is a
great deal of travel there. The DIS
tance is III mile. There is no convey
anr. back and forth. The greatest
hardship is to strangers who are
| charged a dollar for the trip to tho
| institution.
IF we want to go to Togus. we have
| f. 90 to Gardiner. cross the bridge
| and take the steam road. That Is 4
long way to go to cover short dis
tame. \ great many people use teams
rf tncr than go that way
q. :. HichbOrn: II have lived here u
wears ana am member of the city
| government. l was president Of the
board If trade | have formed large
acquaintance Of people living outside
| the town. This is the natural trading
CITY for Il large territory. 1t being the
capital ana the county seat there art
| very many people attracted mere
People who come here to DO business
depIorc the lack Of means Of getting il
ana out Of the town. In addition,
great many people from town drive
ont 1, the Soldiers Home. Further, u
is understood that the band concerts q
the Home are public and are 50 ad'
| vcr;fecd. showing that the manager!
Of the Home expect the people there.
John w. Chase: Il have resided
| here 20 years. | am president o
the Granite National Bank.
was at one time mayor. There is
constantly increased travel to the hos
Dital There were d great many visit
| ,rc tn tho hOcpital when | was stew