Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-15
THE LIGHTING QUESTION.
MessaIonskee Co. Denies That Its
Wires Garry Dangerous Currents.
Schedule Of Rates for Lighting Discussed but
Tabled. Other Business.

The special meeting of the city gov
eminent was held last evening. and
another chapter on the electrical Jues-
ton was written The meeting was
called to consider "A schedule of rates
for that part OF the lighting which is
not covered by the contract Of the
Messalonskec Electric 60. But TINS
matter was pushed out Of the way for
a time to give the MeSs=llonskee 90. an
opportunity To present its side Of the
ease on the high voltage question.
:. s. Brown opened the question by
asking that his company be given an
opportunity to be heard. Geo. Is B"u-
telle, representing the old company.
protested. for the reason that tn" meet
ing had not been called Tor that puf-
pose but that there had been an an
Outstanding that the healing should b."
held later. tn. hearing. however. was
allowed to continue with the under
standing that the WateTVille Fair
field Railway and Light 60. could have
| another hearing. If 1t So d. sired.
Walter $. Wyman OF the Messalons-
kee co. then took the floor 10 present
his side of the case. He began by de-
nying the statement that had been
made by the representatives Of the old
company al the former hearing. H."
said that Bangor had voltage OF $500
| on her light wires. Augusta frequently
| has moo volts. Providence. l.. l.. has
as high as 1000 volts. Nh Wyman
| then proceeded IL refute the statement
made at the previous hearing. He said
| that ne had mad. q careful -xamina-
| ton of the No. ] circuit. so-called. az
| the Watervilie q Fairfield Railway and
| Light Co. and had found that il car
| ried 50 lights. giving a Voltag" OF about
| 200. He said that he had made an eN-
| animation after midnight on the night
| of the first hearing when the current
| OF this circuit is shut on. and found
| this condition existing. He said that
| ne had carefully traced the wires Of
| this circuit. and located the lamps on
it.
| Officer Martin. who has the Main
street beat at night. and who went the
| rounds with MIR. Wyman. was then
called To substantiate Mr.. Wymans
statements He described the condi-
| tons he found, practically as Mr.. Wy
man had.
Mr.. Moro. who is employed by the
| explained how he had traced out cir
cult No. l. and had found 80 lamps at
tached To il.
In closing Mr. Wyman stated that
the statements made by the repres enta-
tives of the Waterville * Fairfield
Hallway and Light 90. must have been
made in utter ignorance or utter fall
sity." He expressed himself as willing
to have any kind of a test applied to
prove the truth of his statements.
Mr.. Brown then announced that this
closed their side of the case.
The schedule of rates was then taken
from the table by the aldermen. The
rates in the schedule We're for the
lighting of the hose houses. city rooms.
liquor agency, electricians room.
Myrtle street and High school build
ings. municipal court room. and city
hall. The rates We're practically the
same as the city is now paying for
these lights.
Mr.. Eaton then asked permission to
speak and explained that the Mesa
lonskee Go. was In the lighting bust
ness and would soon be prepared to en-
ter bid for the city's work He said.
however. that all the street lights were
covered by the MesSalOnskee Cos con-
tract and that they should insist on
their right to furnish currents for
these. He said that there had been a
little hitch in the arrangements but
that it could he easily Strengthened
out.
Mr.. Boutelle explained that the street
lights mentioned in the schedule were
those on the poles of his company. and !
connected with their wires and were
outside of the city system |
Mr.. Eaton explained that the city
government need not fear that their
lights would be cut out. because the old
company had no right TO do this. He
explained the law showing that a