Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-10

MecsllonSkce, and showed how ne hau
acaui-cd the different privileges ne
now owns and had established the
storage system in the stream SO that
the water could be used to the best
advantage of all concerned. He hau
found that he had power in oakiahu
sufficient for running an electric piaht
large enough to supply the town WI"
good lights and that he had no othcr
purpose for il. He could cstabiish inc
plant and use power that would othcr-
wise be wasted in supplying the towh
with electricity at a low rate. 1hIs
was his reason for petitioninG Tor
location OF poles.
Mr. John~On then went on to make Il
proposition including rates for lighting.
As these were quoted there were sew
craI suppressed Whistles Of astonish-
mcnt in the crowd. If they were not
rcCk bottom prices they were very near
it. Thus Mr. Spaulding was Wiling I"
agree to furnish the town with all the
Fights now in use for streets and pub
iic buildings for a period Of 1--WE years
at 500 u year. Eight 16-candlc power
incandesccnt lights would be FURNISH
cd in residences for 81 per month ana
other prices in proportion. In additioh
t. these very low rates FOR Hghtine
those who so desired could have their
houses wired and pay the cost IN IN
stallmcnts covering the term Of iive
wears If a contract for this was made
Thus if the cost of wiring house
should be SO. this sum would be dlVid-
ed into CO monthly installmcnts and ad-
ded to the regular lighting bill. II was
a regular bargain sale of lcctlicity.
| The consideration for the low rates
was TO he the granting of the location
OF the poles. The rates were really too
cheap To inspire much confidence. But
| everything WAS fair and above board
| in the proposition and almost any sort
! q. II guarantee would be made as a to-
| ken of good faith.
When Mr.. johnson had finished Mr..
| Heath. who represented the other side
Of the ease. took the floor. He briefly
! but carefully and clearly reviewed the
law. There had been q tangle over the
notices at the beginning OF the hear
| inc. The constable who was In make
| the returns had gone fishing and could
not be found. This left matters in the
! ali AT the very beginning but I'll tan
| gle was Strengthened out. Mr.. Heath
| proceeded. however, to attack the petit
| ton in more scrious manner. He ex-
| planned how the pole law" Of the
! State happened to be and how he had
| taken part in framing II. He ciaim-
cd that the petition had not complied
! with the requirements cf the statutes
and wac therefore void
| The petition asked for a general 10
cation of poles on certain streets az the
| town. tho intention being To- later OBJ
| tain more specific locations If the first
| petition was cons idcred faVorably. Mr..
| Heath claimed that this was not ac-
| cnrdiuE to statute. He said that the
exact location of the poles was the
| first thing To bc obtained \ survey
| should I've made of the town and the
precise location Of clCh pole should 10
marked on a plan. This plan should
| then be attached to Il petit n and
! placed where every land owner could
| have chance to examine IL. \ hear
| ing could then he granted by the Sc
| lcctueu and every land owner could
appear and give reasons FOR changing
| the location Of any pole marked in the
| plan. He said that this was the gem
rally accepted custom and the one fol-
lowed by the several larger companies
! He claimed that the hearing could not
| he divided into two parts. the first on
| the general location in certain streets
and the second on the exact location
NJ the poles on the streets, but that the
exact location must come first and
alone. When this was granted the per
son or partnership would have a right
to go ahead and set the poles subject
always to changes ordered by the Sc
lcctmcn or city officers.
This. he said had not been done with
| the petition at hand and it WAS there
fore void. and he asked that the case
he dismissed. An interesting discus
sion followed between Mr.. Heath and
Mr. Johnson. The latter chung to his
position and started a laugh by de-
ciarnE that II petition should be
made out according to MI Heath's
plan and posted in two public and con
spicuous places in the town. one of
them being the post office. it would be
covered inside and out To this Mr..
Heath replied that he had made out a
petition according to his plan for the
whole city of Augusta and that it had
NV ''N'i'u Hi'it ItItI tIlitt the Dcti-
ton under discussion. lie then explain
ed how il could be done with a plan.
The result Of tho discussion was the
dismissa! of the petition with the I'M
Outstanding, however. that another
made on Mr.. Hcath'S plan could be ex-
p""ted. MIR. Heath stated that If this
was done his clients would have no
good ground for Directing.
A new petition will therefore proba-
by be made and another hearing on
the question hold. 1t has been stated
by some who have Interested them
selves in the matter that Oakland citi-
zcns as 4 rule are hostile to the move
for another lighting company and do
not want to see the location of the
poles granted. There is of course a fac
ton that wishes to have a try at the
reduced rates and to allow the new
company to have n chance to do bus
iGcSs. At any rate there are more tam
giles ahead that will be interesting.