Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-12
THE OAKLAND ELECTRIC ROAD.
Much Interest in the Hearing for L.
cation Shown by Citizens.

The hearing before the railroad COM
missioners on the petition of the Water
vile & Oakland Electric Road which was
held. yesterday, proved to be interesting
and consumed a good part of the day. 1t
was the original intention to hold the
hearing at the Elmwood, but there were
| so many that wished to hear that it was
adjourned to the rooms of the city coun-
| Gil in the City building and forenoon
and afternoon session held there.
Commissioners Joseph Il. Peaks, B. F.
Chadbourne and Parker Spofford were
present. The interests of the Maine Cen
trail were cared for by Seth Al. Carter of
Lewiston, and cX Governor IL. b. CleaVes
of Portland. W. T. Haines appeared for
the Maine Water Co. II; NJ. Heath of Au
gusta, the counsel for the Electric Road
conducted its side of the case. Then
there was a good attendance of those in
| terested in the road either as witnesses
or spectators.
Mr.. Heath in opening briefly stated the
position of the petitioners, covering
ground that is familiar here in Water
vile. The only objection made by the
| Maine Water Co through Mr.. Haines
was to having the road pass directly owe"
its pipes on account Of the danger from
electrolysis. MIR. Heath claimed that if
the tracks did go over the pipes it would
not increase the danger from this source.
but they would not here nor in Oakland
John II. Burleigh, the engineer for the
company. testified as to the grade, curves
luiiu StIltIdl tDliSiI do plbpDSGd Ipl
the road. The electric road will not have
to cross the Maine Central tracks but
probably will those of the narrow guage
The latter does not object to this, but the
matter OF Il grade crossing came up fc-
considerable discussion.
"A. +. Gerald, one of the principal pro-
motors of the road, explained some of the
advantages and conVenenceS that might
| be expected from it. Others were also
called for the same purpose, including
| business men of both Waterville and
Oakland ldany points in favor of the
road were brought out in this way. The
advantage to Oakland was given promi-
nence. The town is now enjoying quite 0
boom and the road will help this along by
making it more desirable place of resi-
dence. and this will in turn attract in
dustries. The great advantage of the road
1 to the young people who wish to attend
| the schools or college here are also men
| toned as the present arrangement of
/ trains on the Maine Central is not con
| vcnient for this while the electric road
| would be just the thing. Then the road
| would open up much land suitable fol
building lots all along the line and i'll
| Oakland
The amount of pleasure at a small ex-
pense that the road will afford was given
considerable prominence. For Oakland
people 1t will allow them to attend all thc
entertainments held in Waterville at a
much less expense than at present whcr
they are obliged to make the trip by team
| for any attraction in the evening.
| in Waterviile and vicinity it will afford
| a convenient outing place and this alone
has come to be considered of great i'm
portance and as a strong argument in ia
vor of any electric road. The commits
sioners themselves recognized 1t in re-
cent opinion and Mr.. Heath gave 1t much
prominence in his argument for the pc
| titiOners. The business men of Oakland
claimed that it would increase their bust
ness; the real estate owners claimed IL
would increase the value of their proper
| ty: other business men claimed that 1t
would build up the industries of the town
and improve the class of labor employed
| In stating the position of the Maine
| Central in Directing to the road, Mr.
| Carter said that there were two princi-
| pal points: That much of the business
of electric roads came through passengers
| and that the convenience of the public IN
general rather than locally should be con-
sidered. He believed that much of the
traffic OF the road would pe from termi
nus to terminus. especially as 1t did no;
follow the highway. This work was done
by the Maine Central. and while it might
not reduce to any material extent the
revenue of the road 1t might effect the
train service for the general public in d
far reaching way. He believed that the
convenience of the people of the State
should be considered.
1 Mr.. Heath in his argument replied that
he would let the case stand on history
In almost every instance the electric roac
had proved to be a feeder for the steam
road He cited case after case where
electric roads have been built parallel L
steam roads in the State and he claimed
that in each case they had proved feeders
for the steam road.
He placed much stress on the fact tina,
the road would afford n convenient am
comparatively inexpensive outing place
for the laboring class of Waterville ant
vicinity.
He said that If. some day. corporation
should ask for location for a railroad
. parallel with the present steam road thai
should be powerful enough to cripple
them and render them incapable of per
!, forming the public duties to which the,