Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-09

L thiS pittit dill tIt
which have been shown ana on Sou,
own personal examination, Win W.
water taken from the KenneDec rl'ci
unsatisfactory and will need 1ii.,a'io'
with the present rates reasonable anu
probable that they may be reouIe"
what in your judgment is fair Vaiu'-
ton of this plant as growing eon
Germ to the Augusta Water co!
| Mr.. Heath objected, on the srotiiiu Vi
| the previous ruling on the eXclusioli VI
| expert testimony
| Withdrawing his objection for pur-
pose of cross-examination, MI. heath
asked: what do you understand 'hat
to be, the value of the property as d
growing concern?
| Ans.-It is not yet up to its limit OF
earning power, certainly growing ihofe
valuable, l include all the rlghts' PRIV
ileges and franchises of the company
| Mr.. Heath renewed his obJection OH
the same ground as before stated.
| After discussion by counsel, the court
| ruled that the witness might answer
| the question.
| Mr.. Heath reserved his legal rights on
the point.
| Mir. Goodhue: looked over the Wholc
plant and took all the circumstances
into account and asked myself, what
would you pay and what would you sen
for? Made up my mind that coulu
make money by paying S1oo,ooo ana
putting up IN filtering process. After
| improving plant revenue would III
crease. If L was IL part owner Woulu
consider it worth $530,CO0 to sell.
| -eXamination-Think Sl0OoOO
would put in filtration plant, about w.
0O0 per million gallons. A slow sand Ill
tration plant might possibly cost more.
Could make money at present rates;
| would not raise them.
Didn't prepare any table for this
plant; did for physical plant at Water
vile. ReckOned pipe by mile, accord
| ing to size, on the present price OF pipe
per ton, about $23 to $24 Per ton and
estimated the value at $3G5,OO0. Can't
| give detailed prices per mile, or what
| the wrought iron, perhaps $I50O; ny
| drants each about $45 each; reservoir,
$4,000; pumps and machinery, $4,000;
building, $4,000; don't know how many
services, but can't give price, perhaps
$1,000: rock work, average of whole ST
per cubic yard.
| Have testified in many cases, approx
| imately Il dozen, perhaps more, most
OF them for the companies.
Have bill now before the MasSachu-
sets Legislature on seizure of one of
my plants.
| Consider fire proOfing of building.
Saw building at cotton mill. Consid-
er location good for getting water as to
| cost. AS to location, people served
| would have been better served and
mills been safer. if building was away
from mill. Didn't know when built that
| it could have been located 300 feet UP
| the canal; would have preferred it
| there instead of as fOw.
| Paid last year $34 to $36 per ton; mar
kct baen falling ever since. Demand
] in March, 1903, made orders slow in fill
ing.
When iron is worth $3i per ton, mile
of 12-inch pipe would average costing
| by my experience, about $4,000; H.
inch; $4,000; S-inch, $500; 6-inch,
$3.50 to $4,000. Never laid any 3-inch
wrought iron. Allowed about $500
for the 2-inch pipe here.
| Soil very different at Watervillc,
more sand and allmial. Augusta is Il
harder place to lay pipe. Would cost
more to lay it; estimate it at 10 per
| cent.
| Prices as stated in Waterville tcsti-
mony for pipe as laid was read By
counsel from copy and admitted by
witness, With allowances us to depre-
| citation, 30 per cent. on wrought iron.
| Made up table of values and then al
lowed for depreciation.
| Made my valuation in Augusta with
/ L.
mates.
| Said at Waterviile that 1 formed my
own independent estimate and knew
nothing of others. In substantially ev-
cry case l have made the same state
ment.
Witness stated that he included in
| his estimate of pipe laid per mile. Did
not include gates or hydrants, and
made allowance for rock excavation.
Price of building was guessed at. Took
ME about IL minutes to figure my esti-
mate of plant here.
| Guess at real estate; Jumped it at
S.00o, including actual land ON which
| reservoir stands and land around De-
vine springs. Didn't include rights of
way. Estimated Togus right, $1,000 to
$4,000. Didn't go into Devine water prob
| lem ut ali. too complicated.
1 Doubt that l said at Gardner. Mass,
, that in making estimate for future OF
company must set aside sum to allow
| for the growing old age of the plant.
| Did say something about setting
aside annually something to serve as
sort of an insurance fund. Must pro-
| vide in all kinds of business for the
| future, but not so much i'll Il water
plant as some which wear out faster.
All plants must wear out III type. But
| appreciation will take care of lt-a
growing plant constantly increases
| revenue. The best sinking fund L can
have in n water plant is to put the sur
Plus back into plant. increasing its
service and its revenue.
| Witness. who had apparently been
hearing all questions very clearly, was
! suddenly unable to understand Mr..
/ Heath's question whether most Of his
| trips to Maine had not been in the in
terests of water companies. and the
| commission counsel and spectators
smiled. Mr.. Goodhue was then cX-
cused.
|