Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-14
Dire Straits Of the l., A. & ".
Report Public Utilities Commission That All Income Has
Been Expended in Betermen of Equipment and Service
but That the Entire Net Income for Best Four Months
Would Not Pay Expenses Of One Good Snow Storm

. The Public Utilities Commission,
after recent hearing On The service
Of the Lewiston, Augusta / water
Vile street Railway in this vicinity.
ordered d report from the railroad as
to The result Of the granted Increase
in fare. - cents The commission
now makes public tina; report, say
ing:
The entire net income ri the Lew
iston. Augusta ( hatersil;e street
Railway for the four best months OF
: the year Will not pay The expenses Of
ore good snow storm, as shown BY
details accompanying its report just
fled with ire Public Utilities Com
mission in compliance with the order
IN the 7-cen. rae case. The report is
as follows:
The Report
lettering ~ your decree dated
June Z. 1918. on The schedule OF pas
scnger farcs for THIS company and
Paragraph I Of the order requiring
report % YOU Of our progress under
the new rates IF fare allowed We beg
20 advise tfat the anticipated in
. creases in passenger receipts from the
higher fare we're not realized. the in
come IN ihr othe. hand showing q
decrease as compared U9tn the cor
responding months Of 1917. Not
WithstandInE this poor showing, We
proceeded with the utmost diligence
/ in the rehabilitation Of the physical
property OF the company. and al
though considerably Handicapped BY
the 81 or1a9e Of labor, particularly
competent mechanics, We feel tha.
we have affected a substantial better
ment, particularly in the car equip
ment.
We are enclosing condensed COM
parative operating statements tor the
months Of June. July. August and
September, 1918, which will give you
comprehensive view Of CUR opera
tons, and show in which directions
| the funds which We had ayaila bic
=! have been expended We Reg to call
your attention particularly TO the
items Of maintenance Of way and
maintenance of equipment II was
found necessary TO grant wage in
creases Of about II per cent for
trackmen and about % per cent for
shopmen over and above those grant
ed May J, 1918, in order to hold the
forces together; but, with due allow
ance for these, the increase in the
total amount spent indicates the
greater amount Of work accomplished
in the face Of most adverse conditions
in our effort to keep faith with the
commission and the public whom we
serve.
Although the order OF the com
mission permitted the payment of the
preferred stock dividend, we have felt
that the needs of the property were
paramount, and in view Of the
necessity for large out!ays in main
tenance and operation, this dividend
has not been paid.
Inder our circumstances, as re-
vealed by the statements enclosed,
the securing OF new money, in the
ordinary way. Tor capital expendi-
lures is obviously impossible, but on
account of the interest of the United
States Shipping Board Emergency
Fleet Corporation in the electric rail
way transportation facilities in and
around Bath, Me-, we were able 10
arrange for a loan from the Fleet
Corporation aggregating $4,000 at
an interest rate Of per cent. per
annum. TO be expended in improving
these facilities. The manner in
which this money is to be expended is
set forth in contract with the Fleet
Corporation, dated July Is, 1918, and
provides Tor the purchase OF six
double truck passenger cars. one
double truck sncwplow. the better
ment Of power in this section through
increasing the transmission voltage
between Lewiston and Brunswick
from 10000 to $4,000 volts. installing
additional railway feeders between
Brunswick and Bath. and in Bath.
tree trimming. to reduce interruption
hazard, and rebonding rails. the in
stallation Of a new turnout between
Brunswick and Bath. and rebuilding
the Bath cnr-house. Orders Tor
equipment and materials necessary To
carry out this work were placed and
the line work staxt6d 1mmediAtsly