Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-26

The Public Utilities commission
Tuesday morning gave hearing on
the petition of the municipal officers
Of the city of Augusta for the removal
OK the double track Of the Lewiston,
Augusta & Waterville Street Railway
on Water street, Augusta and its re-
placement by a single track. Mayor
Willis E. Swift and City Solicitor
Melvin w. Sawtelle represented the
city and John E. Nelson Of Augusta
the railroad company.
| 1t developed that many of the per-
sens who. had signed the petition to
!, the municipal officers for the double
tracks removal had changed their
minds and practically no one favored
il. the new schedule Of running cars,
hich went into effect Sept. rs, having
been large factor in that change.
Mayor Swift stated that the NUM-
cipal officers had no opinion in the
matter and simply acted as a vehicle
f, ir placing the complaint or petition
before the commission, as required to
so do by law.
Nathan Weston was In favor of re-
tanning the double track, under proper
restrictions of running cars, and not
changing the tracks to Commercial
street, because all business should be
held to the business street and section.
| Howard MacFarlane had circulated
the petition but said he now changed
I his mind regarding the matter Four
car track ruts in the winter on Water
street was a great inconvenience, but
he was willing to put up with it for
the sake Of the ADVANTAGES
Charles E. Downing, Arthur n.
Scue, D. w. Adams and Harry A.
Goodrich. J. Henry Sturgis and V. E.
Trouant all business men on Water
street. and George H. Bangs agreed
with Mr.. Weston in favor of retaining
the double track and thought that re-
striction or regulation of traffic, with
the new running schedule of the cars
would make conditions entirely salts
factory to most people
superintendent G. w. Bowie of Lew
iston explained the operation of this
new running schedule and stated that
he thought it would remove all objec-
tions to the double track, which was
certainly needed to care for the crowds
that would be in the city on extraor-
binary occasions, like celebrations,
circuses, soldiers gatherings, etc.
He said there would be, outside Of
such occasions, no passing Of cars on
Water street, except in the case of the
Togus and Winthrop cars, which
would only drop and receive passen-
gers and proceed. Other cars would
pass at the Car Barn siding. The
service would thus be vastly improved
He had found that cars arriving in
Watervile waited there 20 minutes
before starting the return trip. This
vas divided by giving 10 minutes each
way for the trip between Gardiner
and Augusta, thus slowing the speed
but giving more time in which to
handle the greatly increased traffic of
the past few years. Mr. Bowie re-
marked here that of course extra cars
for special purposes might have to
cross on Water street, but they would
be few.
| He thought that freight and express
car service would not interfere with
Water street. The cars are run on
dlspatchers' orders wholly and could
badly be changed from present plan.
because the goods hauled had to be
taken and delivered when the workmen
at the various commercial and manu-
featuring plants were on duty. The
passenger car change would so relieve
congestion, that he thought the freight
cars would not seriously interfere. He
believed that the double track on
Water street was a mutual convenience
and the public would do their best to
improve the service and to remedy any
defects.