Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-12-18
Maintain Service
Continued from Page Cnel

interest between the prosperity OF
LeEistou- and OF the road
Mr.. Sweeney. who recently was ap-
pointed general manager, will remain
in active direction Of the road as
junior receiver, while Judge Newell
will give of his energy and time to
assisting and directing. All will be
under the supervision OF the court.
1.-The road is in the hands of Al
mighty God and the people" said
Judge Newell in his characteristic
way of putting things. with Tie
backing of the people, and luck as
regards the weather the thing may
pull through" s--
Judge Newell made the point that
the road will be operated and service 4
will be maintained. Cars will be on
time" he said. He sketched the pub
lie attitude toward the road, an atti-
tude that is generally habitual to-
ward any public utility. He went in
to the matter of increased operating
expenses. material. wages, the lack
of material and finally the reduction
Of revenue because people just didnt
ride.
A trolley road was in the same pos.-
ton, it was Suggested, as any manufac-
turer or merchant who has something
to sell.
The road sells rides. When the stand
ard price for rides throughout the coun-
try was five cents. the L., a. & w. sold
them for that price. Then everything
that entered into producing the rides
went up, and finally the price was ne
fixr.. ia
cents.
Then riders became fewer. Revenue
was reduced. But all the while the cost
of operating SCARED. Finally the point
was reached where the TWO ends were
drifting farther and farth.y away from
one another.
The whole question nov depends on
whether the road can contirue-wheth-
er the public will back it to the limit
and savesit.
If money is borrowed and receivers
certificates issued, it must be paid out
of earnings; and not only will the court
have to be convinced that this is pos
sible, but the people who have money
for investment are just as keen to know
conditions.
IneTC must De a JOIIiHS VI liitci-
ests,'' said Mr.. Sweeney. There
| mustn't be boycott of the road be-
cause it costs two cents more to ride
than formerly ! know of people who
have refused to patroniZe the road whea
it was humanly possible to do anything
else.
II know our service hasn't been good.
There have been complaints that were
! justifiable; but we have got to ask, in
spirit of fair play, that the public for
, give the road some of its unavoidable
imparments of service.
"The operation of the Lewiston, Au-
gusta ( Waterville Street Railway IN
its many towns and cities, and particu-
/ larly in Lewiston and Auburn. is vital
to the growth Of the community and to
| its industries.
There are no two ways about 1t. The
! suspension of service or the breaking
up of the system would be public ca
! lamity, and it all rests with the public.
The public, when it knows and under
! stands, is fair and never fails to give
! a helping hand; and here is Just the
place and condition where to save its
street car system it must look facts in
the face.
'The possibility Of suspending SER
vice must be considered. It's not idle
| talk at all We will continue for the
present under the directs tion of the
court. We will do everything within
| our power to give the best service
| that is in ourselves and tho road
The Chamber of Commerce heard
=, i
hands of receivers at its meeting
Monday night. 1t was the first news,
Justice Morrill, having appointed
Judge Newell and General Manager
Sweeney at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
Mr.. Sweeney told the Chamber the
story, and committee from the
Chamber will meet the receivers in an
endeavor to assist them in carrying
out the program of obtaining public
confidence and backing.
1t was reported at the meeting that
the Portland Lewiston Interurban
was ready to purchase the l.. A. &:
W., but this rumor was emphatically
and sharply denied Tuesday morning
by General Manager Gordon.
The good roads committee of the
lewiston Chamber of Commerce has
been appointed by President Ray
monu to represent the Chamber in n
| conference with the receivers Of the
J.. A. & w. Street Railway. The COM
mttee, which will attend the State
automobile meeting in Portland We'd
nesday, will meet the last of the week,
make an appointment with the re-
ceivers, and offer their assistance
| Harry s. Coombs is chairman of
this committee, which is made up Of
George W. Raymond, Wallace IT,
White, James f. Coburn, NJ. J.
Googin. d. J. Callahan and Dr. Wal