Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-10

vote TO cOntract IQr the muntclpdi llgnt-
ing, including the present number OF
street lights together with ten addi-,
tional incandescent lights to be located
by the town and the lighting of Mem
orial hall and the school building with
Geo. w. Patterson for the sum of 800
per year for a term of five years. also
to see if the town will vote to instruct
the selectmen to grant said Geo. Pat
terson pole location to perform the
above contract, or to take any other
action under this article
H. L. Hunton, Esq, acted as Mr..
Patterson's attorney and said in sub
stance:
That Oakland has water power good
but undeveloped which was controlled
by the Messalonskee Electric Co. That
the Massachusetts Company was not a
company of local men or local capital
Mr.. Patterson offered. he said to fur
nish 10 more incandescent lights than
the Messalonskee Company was fur
nishing, to light the school house and
Memorial hall for the sum Of $500 per
year for five years, a price much low
er than the present rate. Mr.. Hunton
had been one of a committee which
had tried to hire 500-horsepower Of
electricity or water power right. Both
were refused by the Massachusetts
Company On the other hand Mr..
Patterson agreed to furnish power for
industrial purposes for 10 hours per
day and in the quantity demanded by
Oakland's industry.
In closing Mr.. Hunton said that it
was impossible for Oakland to advance
n-t Il. he ~
the control of the Messalonskee.
Mr Eaton then addressed the meet
irg on behalf of the Massachusetts
Electric Co. He said that the present
company purchased the old Oakland
electric rlsnt seven years ago, they
paid for il $500 and its actual worth
at that time WIS $250o. The company
had immediately borrowed $500 to be-
gin improvements on the system. a
policy which the company has contin-
ued to pursue 10 the present time
The plant had originally cost Oakland
S1u0U, The property now stands the
company, said Mr.. Eaton, outside OF
taxation ana interest. over $4,000. e
referring 10 NJ Huntons statement
that hia company would neither sell
electric power rr water power for an
Oaklond industry, Mr.. Eaton said that
the keyes Fibre Co. came to us with
4 proposition 10 contract for 100 horse
power ut $50 per horsepower and the
McSs;s lorSkec co. was to develop 500
HORSEPOWER. The Fibre Co. was In it's
turn To build n $4,000 plant. Mr.. Eaton
said that this electric plant could not
he constructed for less than $150,00O.
which would mean for the Messalon.
skee Co. return of $4,000 per year on
$4,000. The development OF this pow
or at Rice rips was an utter impo5si-
biiity for the company.
We have. however, developed the
power at the cascade" said Mr..
Eaton. land were aided in that by the
Dunn Edge Tool Co. Of this place. More
than three times as much electricity Is
produced by this power than was pro-
duced seven years ago.
Give or six years ago the Wooden
Co. had come t. the company with q
proposition to hire 50 horsepower at
s15 per horsepower. This was below
the cost of production. but had been
done rs the company felt that the
building of the mill would benefit the
town. which it has indeed proved.
THE concern for which Mr.. Patter-
son is active as manager had used eve
cry means at its command to- crush
the Messalonskcc concern. Mr. Eaton.
from the reports Of the bank examiners
and railroad commissioners. showed
that The company represented by Mr..
Patterson had been defaultins the in
terest of their bonds and that the de-
ficit on the funded debit and annual
deficit was constantly increasing. Mr..
Eaton said that his company could
not compete at the rates offered by
Mr.. Patterson's concern unless they
were to default their own interest, and.
added Mr. Eaton. eve don't propose
to do business that way"
After the conclusion Of his remarks
Mr.. Eaton said he would try to an
sWer any questions and remained for
some time explaining certain phases
Of the business.
George w. Field moved that the ar
ticle he passed over. This was carried
without opposition.
Under Article IL the sum of s750 was
raised for lighting purposes and the
seiectmen were instructed to close the
contract with the Massachusetts Eiec-
trio Co.
1t vas also voted to erect a building
to be used as a tool house and lookup.