Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-11
Kennebunkport and Wells. The pump
ing station is now located in kenne-

bunk The town OF kennepunk WISHES
this LEGISLATURE to give it the right
10 take, not the entire system, but
the half of the system, to take from
the middle of the system what there
is and leave the struggling ends TO
those gentlemen who saw mt TO invest
their money in promoting this enter
prise and have worked upon 1t for IS
years or more.
The total income of this system, in
round numbers, is s40,.W, and from
the town of Kennebunk. including the
Boston G. Maine Railroad station,
there comes almost $4,000 Of that
money. There are 20 miles of pipe, and
the Capitalization of the company at
Inc rate Of $4,000 a mile would be low
compared with the expense Of other
companies. 1t is claimed by these peo-
ole that they have grievance IN that
81 water takes n West kennepunk
out Of q total number Of takers of
some 400 or 400, l believe, who claim
that they do not get proper FIRE SER
vice. although this company mas OF
fered and still stands ready and Will
ing 20 give them what IS called an
electric booster pump, of exactly the
same style and pattern as those used
in the cities of Boston and New York
at the present time. Further than that.
if a small portion of the towns OF
kennebunk or West kennebunk, oo-
iect to the service given by this COM
pany, there was a law passed here two
years ago which was confirmed by
the people Of Maine. the Public IT'LL
tiles Act, under the terms or which
they could so to the Public Utilities
Commission and get their rights; and
the judiciary committee during this
presen. session Of the Legislature have
rot in many instanceS-and | think I
am correct in saying that in every
instance OF this sort where il was a
proper matter for the Public Utilities
Commission to act upon, we have re-
ferred the parties who came TO us to
the Public Utilities Commission. If
We did not 90 that. We might as we'll
abolish the Public Utilities Commits
sion, because we would be taking from
them the very thing for which they
were created.
kennebunk, if l understand correct
~. has 965 water takers: and the bal
ance Of the territory served by this
company consists Of some 400 water
takers; there are IN all 1854 takers.
So that you will see that out OF this
compact territory they wish to take
almost, but not quite. one-half. Now
then, how does that leave this COM
pany if that should be done? And
mean in regard 10 the financial end
OF the proposition. The expense of OPP
Grating the plant would be practically
the same for kennebunk and this
corporation would lose one-third of
their income, and one-half of their
let income.
Now Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen,
after a thorough consideration of the
evidence produced, and after listening
TO remonstrances from the town of
kennebunk, including the three select
men Of that town and a great number
of the citizens of that town. includ-
ing a large number of business men
after listening to the circumstances
from the town of Wells from Bidde-
ford Pool, Ogunquit and kennebunk-
port, and they were practically all
against il, we decided that if the town
of kennebunk had any grievances in
regard TO their water pressure-an nd
that was all as far as l as a member of
the committee could determine that
they had shown-they had their right
to go to the Public Utilities Commits
sion where, if they had any griev-
ance. it would be speedily rectified;
and ! trust, Mr.. Speaker and gentle
men, that report A reporting ought
TO pass will not be accepted.
T J,r1>I J@U>JI~T n
Speaker l wish TO say word in the
interests of thte water takers of my
own town of Wells. You know that
on all these questions in all commune
ties there generally is difference Of
opinion; but representing the water
takers of old Wells. about one third of
the entire takers of the Mousam Water
Company, every one of them is unani-
mously opposed to the division of the
Mousam Water Company. l. myself.
have had little experience in this di-
rection. Years ago, before the Mousam
Water Company was formed, / was a
member Of a company trying to sup
ply our end of the town with water
and you may know that we found it
uphill and rocky and could not do
it. The Mousam Water Company came
to our rescue, though of course not be-
cause of their love for us: they came
because they thought they were going
70 make q dollar out of il, and they
have supplied us with good water. l
have little hotel there, and | use
this water entirely on the table. and
almost every hotel there does the same
Every taker in Wells. every taker in
kennebunkport, and large part of the
takers. l understand in Kennebunk it
self. are opposed TO this bill as brought
i'll by my brother from kennebunk
tMr. WaterhouSel. ] do not believe
you want to vote against the wishes
of a large majority of the water TAX
ers of the Mousam Water Company 1
do not think it is necessary for me to
say another word.
Mr.. LOMBARD Of Old Orchard:
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen, 1 am not
going to make any extended remarks
upon this matter. 1 represent in this
House the town of kennebunkport
which is interested in this matter. |
am very sorry TO oppose the gentle
man from Kennebunk, Mr.. Water
house, for whom l have the greatest
respect. The line of this company
reaches from Kennebunk to kenne-
bunkport. and following along the