Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-25
/. RAILWAY HEARING.
Continued from Page One.)

these two roads. L wouldn't want to
say let men come in here and invest
their money and make n failure OF it
or not. That would be a mistake.
Il think it is quite plain. | think it
would be 4 mistake to approach
Augusta in two practically parallel
lines. At any event the termanae are
the same. l can see where there would
be some travel for a mile or two out
side Of each city. but you can't have
railroad in every mans door-yard.
Il think that the people of Winslow
and of Vassalboro would care a
snap whether the road is built up from
augusta or not. 1 think that if the
Gerald road is built into Vassalboro
from Waterville it would serve the peo-
pie and / dom. think that the people
would care whether they rode on this
road or the one Mr.. Heath represents.
/ don't believe it will pay to build two
roads. If you divide it up it would be
failure 9nd if a failure, q disaster"
+. j. Lawrence, a member of the
syndicate owning the Waterville and
Oakland Street Railway and president
of the road. was the next to take the
stand. In answer to questions he stated
build the Oakland road to Augusta. it
being a part of the original plan and
Influenced the building and location of
the car barn. He said that it was his
part to finance the project and he had
completed those arrangements
At this point, Mr. Johnson stated
that he could have had Il large num-
Der Of people from Oakland and Sidney
IN in fay IF "A tLys,
way, but he would confne his wit
nesses to a few from Oakland.
The first was j. Il. Reardon, presi-
dent of the Oakland Board Of Trade
He said that he was present at the
hearing Tuesday and that he believed
that every argument in favor of the
east side route, could be used with even
greater force in favor of the west side
The argument of the greatest good to
the greatest number would apply sure
ly to the district on the west side for
at Oakland is the terminus of the SOM
erSct Railway and the Augusta Water
Vile x Oakland Street Railway wOuld
give a connection Of 50 minutes with
Augusta.
Tho speaker spoke Of the isolation Of
Sidney and the great good it would do
the farmers of that town. He also
pointed out the summer resorts at Bel
grade Lakes and MeSSalonSkee Lake
both Of which would be served by the
west route. He also plead for protec-
lection for local capital already invest
ed.
Mr.. Gerald again took the stand at
this point, for the purpose of stating
some things which be had omitted
when he was on that stand before.
lone of the most important things in
connection with our road, I omitted.
1t is a part of our present system,
which Is incomplete without this con-
nection with Augusta. We thought it
would add $4,000 income to our pres
ent Investment. | think you will all
understand that. 1t will make n
great difference to have our road haul
them all" He then showed map on
which was drawn both roads. showing
the difference in the two locations, the
length and contour of the roads. The
attorneys and Engineer Jones gath
cred about the desk while Mr.. Gerald
explained it.
John w. Butterfield of Washington.
D. c., then took the stand. He said i:
II don't come here as an opponent Of
either road but to protect the land
which has been in my family for thre"
generations. As this Augusta ana
WatCrville route is laid out, it passes
through the land and through n pie -
of splendid hard wood timber. It is
not laid out SO because the highway
route is impossible or impractical BILE,
but in order to swing the road to China
Lake. 1t is only two or three hun
dred feet farther by the highway" He
argued that If the road kept to the
highway the distance to the pond
would be but 700 or 500 feet: that IN
run it through his land would be
against private rights and against
public policy.
The commissioners called John A.
Jones of Lewiston. an engineer, AMI
asked him a number of questions as to
the location. He and Mr. Buttprneid
discussed the plans in detail for the
benefit Of the commissioners.
George f. Macomber of Augusta was
recalled by Attorney Heath and was
again questioned as to the conver5a-
ton b.tween he and Mr.. Gerald rs |"
whether the road on the east side
would be built. He stated that the
only time that he talked with Mr..
Gerald, except personally when they
met on trains or otherwise by chance.
was at the directors meeting when tn"
matter of entering into an agreement
for trackage rights in Augusta. At
that meeting there was no CONVERSE
ton as to whether they would build
by the Vassalboro route. That letter,
he said, was written to Mr.. Gerald at
New York. at his request, that il might
be used TO aid in financing his road.
"There never was" he concluded, ANY
assurance. either on the part of me or
my associates. that the road on the
east side would rot be granted. Com
ing across the bridge after the meeting
of the city government at Augusta, Mr..
Lynch told him distinctly that We re-
served the right to build on the east
side. They got into Il little war Of
words on the matter and Mr.. Heath
Strengthened the matter out. |. per-
sonally. was not asked in regard to
the matter by Mr.. Gerald. or l GER
tainly would have conveyed to him the