Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-12

and men coming and going in employ
ment. Mr.. Newelrs comment in regard
to the company building houses for the
help at Pejepscot was, that's a good
thing"
Judge w. H. Newell of Lewiston in
his opening showed that the distance
from Lewiston to Bath is 2S2S miles.
The old rate was IA cents a mile the
new rate 3-4 cents. Whether the stock
is watered or not the company must
have enough revenue to keep it rum
ming This can be ascertained by get
ting at the reasonable valuation of the
road That they had no figures or the
original cost Of the road. That there
must be an allowance for depreciation
and paying the fixed charges. Mr..
Newell brought out that the first fare
limit at Pleasant street is center for
that community. At Crowleys where
It has been suggested to have rhe
first fare limit, there is no store but
a Grange hall. The fact of their hav-
ing city water as referred to in the
first hearing Judge Newell said is be-
cause they have several good polti-
clans down that way.
iaytons Corner is another natural
place for a limit. Mr. Newell said that
Lisbon Factory is a good sized village,
but "the people, if they work at all,
work in the cotton mill there"
The first lap limit is at Bethen street.
Lisbon Falls to accommodate the whole
village to the paper mill at Little River
stream. At the Cotton place seemed a
good place for a limit because the
people who live nearby would have to
get on the cars there or else walk to
Pejepscot. Another lap limit is from
Walkers Corner in Topsham to th,t
Medical building in Brunswick Judge
Newell said the road does not pay Sc
under the old fare rate.
G. W. Bowie, general superintendent
of the road, Said he has worked for this
company for 20 years commencing as a
conductor. He helped locate the new
limits and thinks they are reasonable He
referred to the transfer zones, that the
road is hard one with hard grades
and sharp curves. He described the
roads that bring traffic to the places
where limits were established He said
the people living near the town farm
and Webster road in Lisbon are accom-
modated we'll with the limit at Gay
tons as at Peppermint corner. That the
road has put on extra cars at rush hours.
and just but that the road cannot live
on S5 cents.
Because Mr. Potter is deaf the cross
examination was conducted by r. w
Crockett. Esq. He insisted that the
burden of the proof that the road is not
paying is on the defendants. He ques-
toned Mr.. Bowie about cost OF the road
who said he knew nothing about it. Mr.
Crockett brought out that with the in
creased traffic now especially at rush
hours that the increase will amount to
more than the 1870 but to 1ooTe Mr.
Bowie admitted that the limits were
laid out with regard to mileage and dis.
tances than to the amount of traffic at
any point Mr.. Bowie admitted that the
rate has been increased from five to Ia
cents in some cases making an increase
Of 209o.
Asked II he thought that the conduc-
tors had taken Nancy by knocking
down said mot a whole lot" Asked
If he heard the testimony given at the
previous hearing and if the men who
gave it were trustworthy. he said he
would trust any of them" That some
men had been discharged since that hear
ing to which Mr.. Crockett added then
the witnesses must have been right"
Mr.. Crockett asked IL a six cent fare
would not be better than the present
increase Mr.. Bowie said it would make
things very much mixed up. Said he
knew the Bay State and other roads are
charging six cent fares
Asked if the new proof registers. in
use in Lewiston were proving satisfac-
tory and answered yes. That the COM
pany is receiving more money than be-
fore from conductors rs there any wav
to beat these?' asked Mr. Crockett. We
are investigating that now. said Mr..
Bowie. He said It Is a fsirer way for
the passengers than the old registers.
The hearing was suspended until after