Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-29
STATE HOUSE.
Hearing on Location of New
RangeIey Railroad.
Closing Session Of National Guard
School Of Instruction.
Large Attendance and Much Interest
at the Two Gatherings.

An event Of much interest at the
Capitol yesterday, was the hearing be-
fore the railroad commissioners the
petition of the Rangeley Railroad Com
pany, for the appoval of the location
of the line which it proposes to build
from Rangeiey TO Oquossoc, a distance
of eight miles. The parties behind
this new company are the same who
own and operate the Phillips & Range
lev Railroad, the Eustis Railroad and
the Madrid branch. Calvin Putnam Of
Danvers Mass, is the leading capital
ist in these companies and Fletcher
Pope. his nephew, is general superin-
tendent and manager of these lines
The proposed road is to be of narrow
gauge construction and its main bust
ness will be the hauling out Of pulp
wood and lumber. There is a vigorous
opposition from existing lines whose
freight traffic would be cut into by the
new railroad.
Mr.. Pope's interests We're represented
at the hearing. by Hon. H. NJ. Heath of
this city, and Harry F. Beedy, Esq, of
Phillips. a dozen or more lawyers
were present representing the oppOs-
ing interests and 80 or 40 we'll known
business men of Phillips. Pennington,
Stratton and Strong, who followed the
hearing with much interest. L. c.
Cornish. Esq. of this city, and F. L.
Timberlake. and his law partner, Mr.
Noble of Phillips. were present in the
interests of the Sandy River Railroad:
Seth NJ. Carter of Lewiston represented
the Maine Central Railroad: Hon. Jo-
seph G. Holman. Frank w. Butler Esq,
Elmer Richards, all of Pennington,
We're present in behalf of various
Franklin county interests: james Nor
lison. Esq. of Phillips in behalf of the
citizens of Phillips who are opposing
the new railroad: A. X. Butler of Show
| hogan in behalf of the various interests
Of the towns which would be endan-
gered by the new railroad and others.
All three of the commissioners,
Messrs. Peaks, Chadbourne and Spot
ford We're present and on account of the
large attendance, the hearing was held
in the room of the judiciary committee
. instead of in the office of the commits
l Sioners. Mr. Pope was the leading
witness of the day, and was before the
committee for several hours explaining
his reasons for wanting the new road,
and undergoing the most searching ex-
aminations by~the attorneys of the op
i posing interests.
The School Of instruction for the
officers of the National Guard closed
it's meetings at l p. NJ. Thursday. after
/ a protracted and exceedingly interest
i ing forenoon session. The prepared
4 papers by the regular army officers
and others had all been disposed of
during the three sessions of Wednes-
day, and the Thursday morning session
i was devoted to an informal discussion
! and general heart to heart talk among
the officers regarding existing COndi-
tons, and the need of changes and i'm
provements. 1t could hardly be called
a convention of kickers. but after the
ball was set to rolling. all the officers
lfelt free to arise and express their Opin-
ions. A score or more of them spoke
with earnestness and emphasis. and not
Ia few of them had fault to find and
Il criticisms to make. This fault-finding
and criticism was not by any means
y directed against Adiutant General
Farnham or his administration of Ma
tiona Guard affairs. but rather
liagainst existing laws and systems with
particular reference to present methods
\ OF inspection and ranking, and the
Z care of company property.
III Before the session adjourned COM
III mittce of three line officers was ap-
Nj uonted to make recommended tons and
Il suggestions to the existing board re
4 gHrding changes in the militia laws
III and regulations. This committee con-
1 sists of Captain Carver OF Auburn, of
II, the First Regiment; captain Nash OF
III Dover of the Second Regiment. and
III lieutenant Scully of the Naval re-
III serves. This committee will receive
II suggestions from all connected with
81 the Guard from the highest to the low
: est in rank. which will be examined
and Sifted before being presented to
the general board, and ii is hoped that
4 much benefit will result from its work.
/ When the final adjournment was made.
l it was the unanimous expression that
the school of instruction had been OF
great benefit to the 80 or more officers
liz attendance and that its good re-
suits will be immediate and lasting
Q throughout the organization. Those
who had previously felt that each reg
iment did better in having a school of
instruction of its own. are now thor
It oughly converted to the idea that Il
Joint school is much more beneficial
st The officers left for their homes on the
Afternoon train. During the afternoon
the board of examination had before
il two candidates for promotion; See
ond-Licut LIE Roi Syphers. lieutenant
elect of Co. Z. of the LIST regiment. and
!, Ouartcrina ster- Sergeant H. w. Way.
D second-lieut. elect of the same cam
: pany.
I The following named new corporations
4 have filed certificates of organization
here:
, Dynamite Torpedo and Gem Company
. organized at Runrford Falls for the pur