Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-07

ihe Auburn, Mechanict Fails Il Tur-
ncr road will be begun early in the
spring and built as far as Mechanic
Falls. The road from Augusta through
Nassaiboro. to Waterville will also be
built in the spring if the necessary
rights Of way can be obtained. A SINH
lar situation obtains in regard to tine
connecting link between Augusta and
Lewiston via Sabattus, tapping the
Augusta line at Gardiner, Winthrop or
ut one of two points near Lake Cobbos-
sceContec.
Mr.. Heath stated that the rails for
those projects are all bought fer spring
delivery, one-thrd in April. one-third
in Nav and One-third in June: the cop
ger bonds, wire, ties and other supplies
are also bought and will be on the
ground as fast Is needed.
Tho idea is to merge the several
roads. a majority Of the stock of which
is owned by the syndicate and to merge
also the roads which the syndicate may
acquire. TO allay any fear that the COM
rany may become an octopus and grab
everything in sight. Mr. Heath eX-
planned that the bill grants no building
rights whatever that are not already
held by the roads to be merged and
that any additional building rights will
have to be obtained through the usual
channels He then took up the bill sec
tion by section.
The clause giving the company the
right to acquire connecting and contin
ung lines had impressed some as being
rather broad and this idea was further
strengthened by sensational article
Of the State. so Mr.. Heath took occa-
sion to call by name the many railway
charters in the State which have exact
" the same provisions for acquiring the
rights and franchises of continuing and
connecting lires. lie stated that 1t was
the belief Of those best versed i'll street
railway affairs that the gradual con-
soldatinn of those lines with each 9th
er was the only way in which I" bring
order out Of chaos and bring about the
best service to THE people. BY Just such
a system OF consolidation it is hoped
to make the building Of a road from
several towns west of Augusta TO that
city and the building of road 10
Rockland, possible. They will certain
" never be built. except as Il part OF Il
system.
The speaker reiterated again ana
again that the bill granted no building
rights and that in the matter OF selling
electricity the syndicate would step on
70 mans toes. as the act especially
provides for proper restrictions.
Hon. G. r. Libby OF Portland entered
the hearing at this point and read a
sensational newspaper article clipped
| from q weekly publication, whose head
| quarters are in the Deerirg district,
| Portland, Ne. The article stated that
| tho syndicate was endeaTorinS to get
| cnrtro! Of all the street railways IN
| Maine and connect them with the lines
fof the states bordering it on the west.
| tnat the Philadelphia capitalists who
acre backing Mr.. Graham were simply
| irving to get complete control and then
/ sell out to foreign corporation, and
| that if the stockholders of the Portland
| companies did not voluntarily sell their
| franchises. then they We're to be frozen
out. With this article as working
| basis and fearful lest the bill would
| create a power that would swallow up
| the Portland Railroad Co. Attorney
| Libby demanded that clause be in
serted in the bill which would prohibit
|
Portland companies or entering that
| territory.
Attorney Heath in reply character
lied the article which had caused the
trouble as = piece Of yellow Journalism.
| too absurd to be seriously considered
! by the committee. and then denied that
| there was truth in any portion of the
article.
| Amos +. Gerald Of Fairfield, who is
| at present building a railway between
| Augusta and WatcrVile on the west
side of the Kenne bee, corrObOrated the
statement of Mr.. Heath that the char
| tcrs If many other Maine railways con-
| tanned clauses permitting consolidation
| with other roads. He stated that he
| knew Of no powers in the bill that had
not been previously granted several
other companies. except that which
| gives the power to soil electricity for
| Lighting purposes. This he declared to
be a now departure, but an unusually
| wise one in many ways, for he already
| knew Of several towns which would
| gladly buy electricity for the purpose
| from the road. if they could do 50.
| John Il. Graham Of Bangor. who is
| the working head Of the syndicate in
| this State. was called upon by Mr..
Heath to give his ideas of the consol-
| idation Of the several roads. Mr.. Ora
ham said that he had found that the
| principle of consolidation had been
very successful, as in Bangor for in
stance where several small corpora
tons were working separately, and
none of them paying dividends. BY
putting them under one head and work
ing the problem out as a unit. the
projects had not only become paying
investments. but the prices of electric
lights had been reduced and the dis
lance which one can ride on q sinGlt
fare had been greatly increased. Mr.
Graham accounted for this by pointing
out that in the summer when the cai
travel WAS heaviest, there was little
call for lights. but in winter when the
electric car travel is light. the demand
for illumination is great, thus one bal
anccS the other
| He went on to say i'll regard To tn'
money that has been and is being spen
on improvements upon the roads ~
| H. tI,., %