The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-31
WANT TROLLEYS.
Plea Of ScaTbOrO and
GOrham People.
Hearing Before Legisla-
tive Committee.
Men From Both Places Set Forth
Towns Needs.
General Academy Law
Drafted.
The w. C. T. U. Asks for WO-
mans Suffrage.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l ]

Augusta, January 30.-While the clut
women discussed women club questions
In Representatives. hall, and otheI
women argued in favor OF woman'i
suffrage, in the room OF the judiciary
committee this afternoon, the Ssrate
chamber was crowded to the doors by the
men folks, anxious to hsar what was to
be said for and against the propositions
10 permit the Portland railway to extend
It's electric line from westbrook to Cor
ham and from Portland to Saco. A largs
delegation OF Gorham citizens was present
and among others in attendance were
Hon. Charles f. Libby, VIM. X. Wood.
E. A. Newman, Ammi Whitney, Hon.
WilIIsm @. Davis of thu Portland com-
pany, Hon. Joseph W. Symonds. Hon.
Henry d. CIeaves, Hon. George Z. Wes-
cott, Hon. A. L. MouIton.
Mr.. Libby opened the case for the Port
land road, reviewing briefly the history
of the company which since It's organiza-
tion in 1850, has had the checkered career
common TO Maine railroads For many
years It pAi1 no dividends but gentlemen
interested in 1t had faith in its future
and rebuilt it until 1t Is now one of the
best properties OF the kind In New Eng
land. 1t is owned BY Portland people
who are proud of its good service to the
psoI lie. The tendency Of the times ID
to place two railroads of a region under
one management and this has been illus
trated by the history of the Portland
.A..A pfUa n rOuoh
out the city of Portland, has built to
Westbrook and has acquired the Cape
Elizabeth, Yarmouth ana Wlndham
roads. With the aid of large map which
was hung on the wall, MIR. Libby ex-
planned for the benefit OF the committee
the Portland railroad system. MIR. Libby
then referred to the fact that the Port
land road now controls the Biddeford and
Saco sy stem which they have greatly i'm
proved.
In 1895, said Mr.. Libby, the people of
Gorham asked us to build line to that
town and while We did not think that
the financial aspect OF the question was
in all ways satisfactory one we thought
the request was q reasonable one. Our
charters did not give us the right to dothat
and as the legislature was not In session
the directors OF the Portland road organ
ICED the Portland Extension company to
build the snort piece or road required.
They anticipated no opposition.
How the opposition which was not ex-
pected developed and how the case has
since been In the courts, MIR. Libby told
to the committee substantially as the
story has been told number of times In
the PRESS. So for nearly Five years,
added MIR. Libby, we have been trying to
build this little piece OF road to accom-
modate the citizens of Gorham, who feel
that they are OF the sufficient size and
Importance to be granted the same rights
as are given to other growing communi-
ties. But the situation Is changed now
and by tbs acquisition of the windham
road we have a line for several miles over
which we must build should we be allowed
to build under the rights we sought to
obtain from the court. We want, also. to
make the Mindham road a part OF our
system SO that thers shall b no changing
cars and so that the power may be sup
piled from q central station In an
economical manner. The union of thess
roads and the extension to Gorham would
give large number of people, living in
a wide area, the advantages of one rail
way system with It's transfer s from one
part of tine system to another.
Mr.. Libby then took up the question of
the extension to Saeo and pointed out on
the map the route which 1t is pronosed to
follow. The proposed line would be eleven
miles in length with branch OF two
miles to Old Orchard. 1t is = peculiar
fact that a large part OF the town of
Scarhoro is without facilities for trans-
portation ana odd az 1t may seem it will