Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-10-18
Hearing Before the County
Commissioners Opens.
Great Array Of Expert Witnesses
will Testify as to Values.
Firs. Estimate BY Macarthur Of Biddeford Is
S568,500 For Whole Plant.

the years OF l9Oo and 1906 We're brought
before the court Of County Commits
sioners of kennebec county at the
Court house yesterday morning. The
hearing was opened at 1890 o'clock and
il is believed that several days will be
occupied in the presenting of evidence
and opinions of experts by both side.
The full board of county commission
ers consisting of Josiah W. Bassett of
NlnsloW, Herman II. Adams of Bel
grade and Irving r. Bradley of Vienna
occupied the judges bench. In addi-
ton to Hon. II. NJ. Heath and Hon.
0. ID. Baker, counsel for the Edwards
Co. and Joseph Williamson and City
Solicitor Frank L. Dutton for the city,
a number of other lawyers were pres
ent about the court room.
The array of expert witnesses for the
peution!nS corporation was large, in
Guiding Hon. w. d. Penncll, agent
of the Hill manufacturing Co. OF Lew
iston; Robert Macarthur, agent of the
Pepperell and Laconia Mills of Bidde-
ford; Herbert Z. Warmsley, agent Of
the Waumsetta Mills of New Bedford,
Mass; r. w. Eaton. agent of the Cab
.ot Manufacturing Co, of Brunswick;
and f. z. Sheldon mill engineer and
expert on mill reorganization of
Providence, r. 1. Among the interest
ed spectators Were Robert Edwards.
treasurer of the Bates Manufacturing
60. Of Lewiston. and Of the Edwards
Manufacturing Co. Of this city; w. c.
zimmerman of Brookline Mass, q di-
rector of the Edwards Manufacturing
Co; Roscoe +. Penney. Frank l.. Far
linSton and Robert MOrang, the board
OF assessors Of the city CT Augusta.
The most Of the forenoon session
was occupied in opening the case and
in the preliminary examination of f.
F., Sheldon. During the afternoon Rob-
ert Macarthur took the stand to give
expert opinion on the value Of the
property, breaking in on Mr. Sheldon
il order to keep another engagement
Ic finished at the close of the days
proceedings.
The session was opened with a mo-
ti"n made by City Solicitor Dutton, to
dismiss both petitions OH the grounds
that they had been improperly brought
before the county commissioners at
this time. The grounds stated very
similar I" those given in asking for
writ Of prohibition. The motion was
oV"rru'cd by the court ana the city
denying I'll" jurisdiction Of the commits
toner's. the hearing proceeded.
Herbert +. Heath. Esq, opened the
case for the Edwards 60. by tracing
tho history of the industry on the west
side of the daln from the early foY,i-s
I" the prcsr.It. The first witness to
| !" called was T. r. Sheldon of Frovi-
drlcc. Il. |. lie made an examination
| n the Edwards property in the fan
| ~ lHO" ut the request of the company.
! Lists Of the buildings ana all out
| buildings machinery and furnishings
were prepared b% him and his judgment
| ~ tu their values given. Some Of the
| buildings he declared We're not only
uuSUitabl" for modern manufacturing,
but ought to be torn down. He found
| the machinery antiquatcd and poorly
| arranged, though perhaps rs well ar
| ranged as the buildings Woall ALLOW.
| Thc element Of Water-poWcr in
manufacturing was taken up by At
| torncy Baker VII" questioned the Wit
ness as 10 the relative values of power
in 1910 and now. Mr.. Sheldon said
| that whereas the water power Was con-
| sIdcr'd 10 such an extent that The mill
| was built in 1910. nowadays the power
| Is 50 small 4 consideration that it
would net have amy weight 1T all.
Steam power is preferable i'll any
event. since it is much steadicr and
more reliable. To further questioning
Mr.. Sheldon stated that power entered
into the cost of the finished product
| only to tn" extent Of 2i. per cent. In
| locating mill the power is now sell
dom considered The freight facilities
and help are the two great factors.
| While the witness was reading from
his list Of valuations of the Edwards
| Cos. property. the noon recess was
| taken. When court came in at 1.30
o'clock, by agreement Of counsel. Rob-
| crt Macarthur was allowed to take the
| stand. He stated that he began as Il
| bobbin boy ard worked his way up 10
| the suncrintCndency of a mill at the
| age of SO years. At 80 he was dn agent
| and has continued to hold that posi-
| ton i'll various mills for 36 years. He
! described the arrangement Of the Ed
| wards plant and the machinery for its
| operation. expressing considerable sur
| prise that the firm was able TO do bus
| mess with such an equipment. As he
| finished this line of testimony he re-
| marked. II don't mean to question the
| management. it is most excellent. they
have many things to contend with and
| get along the best they can
In closing his direct testimony Mr.
| Macarthur gave the following estimate
Of the value Of the property i'll dis
pUte:
buildings Call inside tn yartn. $l5., ,OD(
| Machinery dnClriing water wn"elsD 81 sos
Steam plant. piping. etc ...-.:... 100
Fire protection pumps, hose hy-
drants. etcl ...............-......... 200
| Shafting and betting ...-............ S.0G
Electric lGhtinS equipment ..-..... 1.ef
| uTl1ShiEsS ...-...........'......... ."',N
| Macarthur stated that he didn't be-
lieve that even these figures could be
obtained if the property should be sold
today.
The witness was subjected to quite
extensive cross-examination by Al or
lrey Williamson. occupying the rest OF
the afternoon.