Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-27
WATERv|LLE
WATERNILLE PAR
TIES IN BIG CASES
IN AUBURN COURT

A hearing Is In progress n Auburn. IN
which is involved about $500 claimed
as damages caused by a breach Of con-
tract. The defendants are Ex-Governor
william 7. Ha!nes and brother, Frank
F Haines. and the plaintiff IS the Hart
ford Lumber CO The hearing is before
Justice cakes. Auburn. W. J. Lanigan,
Waterville. and g.. e. Whitney, Boston,
as referees John l. Nelson OF Augusta
IS counsel for the defense and +. Il.
Dyer. Buckaeid, and Waiter L. Gray,
south Paris. for the plaintiff.
The object ot the sur is to recover
the amount that = claimed ny plain
ms 10 have been lost through the al
legged breach of contract. They claim
mat the contract was made with a
denhite undertaking the facts Of
which vary in the varied points Of view.
n. e. Dunbar. manager of the Hart
ford Lumber Co. WAS one Of the prin-
opal witnesses HIS son Ezra Duncan.
also appeared sin NJ has acted as
manager Of the company III the absence
Of his father II e understood that the
Defendants agreed to hire the lumoering
company ID erect their mill on a tract
Of land IN the towns of Nlay:ield and
Moscow, Somerset county.
They uere 10 have employment for
either SIX or seven years. this being one
of the dispute points, and were also to
Re supplied With seven million feet Of
lumber a the mill. for each" year OF
that time II j. claimed that this was
no, furn shed as agreed and that the
frm lost more than $4,000.
The mil is stu on the ste, IN May
field awaiting an adjustment of this
case The MI. was IN oneraton about
four wears. hu. WAS finally shut down.
because OF the alleged shortage Of lum-
her to saw While on the stand, II. c.
Duncan gave a ilil description Of the
plant, lie has been IN the business
more than ~ years and gave his testi-
mony in clear terms.
The mill is A two-st0ry building. The
upper floor is used for the production
~ the long lumber. and the lower floor
for the production Of laths. The mill
was built IN October OF 1872 but opera
tons did not start Until January. Even
then II did not get we'll under way until
June THIS. Mr.. Duncan explained is
common trouble with new mills.
This plant is g by $50 feet. inside the
building. and the platform outside is 60
bv 30 feet. Quilt between two side
tracks There are three boilers, one of
l5n horse power and the other two. 100
each one OF the engines is $50 horse
power one is g. horsepower and there
are smaller on for the different parts
Of the mill. The machinery throughout
Q mill was new at the start, but the
boilers. it is understood. were not. and
gave considerable of trouble until new
ones were installed.
once the mill was running well, Il is
claimed that the average days work
was from 3noo1 to 5000 feet day.
Among the witnesses was Charles L.
Crockett numbering expert from Bos-
ton. and several others. The evidence
being largely regarding the technical
points applying TO the business. there
vac little Of public interest in the case.
other than the general story brought
out in the investigation.
Much OF the examination for the de-
Tense is carried on by Ex-Governor
Hanes and Mr.. Gray is chief examiner
for the plaintiff. The evidence is being
recorded by w. H. Cornforth. formerly
stenographer with Chief Justice Savage.