Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-10

"A.
Kittery; directors. the same. Approved
July 8.
Public Utilities
The following matters are be1ore the
Maine Public Utilities Commission for
action. among a large amount OF other
business:
St. Croix Gas Light Co.
One of the most important Of the
many cases which it has under con-
sideration is the complaint Of Harold
H. Murchie and other citizens OF Calais
against the st. Croix Gas Light Co..
the principal complaint being the dis
elimination in an unreasonableness OF
the rates charged by the company In
both its electric and gas departments.
A hearing on this complaint was held
in the city Of Calais at which many
citizens appeared and a mass OF testl-
mony was taken OUT. Following this
hearing a valuation of the plant was
made by the accounting and engineer
ing departments, acting independently.
Some idea of the magnitude of this
work will be gained when it is known
the plant date back to 1861.
1t was necessary for the engineering
department to obtain first costs of each
unit making up the present plant, then
to find out what the same unit would
cost at the present time, in order to ar
rive as nearly as possible at the fair
present value. This necessitated cor
respondence with gas and electrical
apparatus manufacturers all over the
United states, and an exhaustive study
Of labor conditions and costs involved
in it's construction, both original and
reproduced. The accountants made
what was virtually an audit of the
company's construction account for the
entire period and of its operating ac-
count for a period Of four years last
past. The completed reports, while
voluminous are such that they may be
readily understood by one not con-
versant with accounting practices.
In cases Of this kind it is the policy
Of the Commission to give both the
complainant and respondent ample OPP
portunity to study the reports, after
which a hearing is called, when both
sides may criticize and argue the dis
puted points. The Commission then
reviews the whole matter and renders
its decision.
Puipwood Case.
The complaint Of the pulp and paper
manufacturers against the Bangor &
Aroostook and Maine Central Railroads
is another very important matter now
before the commission. The COM
n &c III iy,oo bof
railroads for the transportation Of pulp
wood and paper were too high as CON-
pared with the rates charged for the
carriage of other commodities, and es-
pecially that those Of the Bangor &
Aroostook Railroad Disseminated
against mills located outside of it's inn
mediate territory.
A hearing on this matter which ex-
tended four days was held in the Sen
ate chamber at the State House The
compliments were represented by the
counsel and traffic manager Of the
New England Pulp and Paper Traffic
ASSOCIATION, while the railroads were
represented by their respective general
counsel and tariff experts. This hear
Ing was largely attended by the pulp
by the general public. The case was
gone into thoroughly on both sides,
and it is safe to say that those who
followed the testimony closely came
away with knowledge Of traffic, lum-
bering and manufacturing conditions
now existing in the State which could
not otherwise have been obtained ex-
cept after months of careful study
The hearing was suspended to give the
parties an opportunity to file briefs.
after which 1t becomes the duty of the
commission to decide upon the reason
ableness of the rates complained Of.
Van Buren, Lights.
During the fall of 1915, several resi-
dents of Van Buren,, Aroostook county.
were in conference with the commits
sion regarding certain matters con-
Eected with the Van Buren, Light &
POWER Company. AS result Of these
conferences. the commission. acting
under the authority conferred upon it
by Section 46 Of the act, proceeded to
investigate on its own motion the rates,
tolls and charges which said company
makes to its customers for it's service:
whether or not proper and adequate
service is being rendered at reasonable
rates; the value OF the useful property
which said company is using in the
service is being rendered at reasonable
amount and value of it's stocks and
bonds: the rate Of return which said
company is receiving after making all
due allowances.
The company was required to file a
schedule containing true inventory Of
all its property used and useful in its
business. with the original cost and the
estimated per cent present value, as
based on value now. o.. each item stated
after the same: the amounts of money
expended in the construction and az
QUESTION Of property; the several items
of such property which have been
abandoned. destroyed, or become
obsolescent. with the original cost
thereof and the consequent adjust
ments OF capital accounts; the rates
For Camn lie :