Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-06-05

There does not seem to be anybody who
would say that the road is not entitled
to some aid in the way of increased
fares.
Mr.. Hyde, president of the Bath
Chamber of Commerce, wrote: I
have talked with all the directors of
this Chamber, with many prominent
citizens and with the petitioners
which I represented at the recent
hearing regarding the service of this
railroad, and | find that the senti-
rpent is all strongly in favor of grant
ing the increase asked for
Mr.. Hyde emphasized the necessity
for better service, and urged an over
lap in the Bath zones between Hard
ings and Sanfords. No mention of
the overlap request was made in the
testimony or the arguments. We
have, however, studied the map pre-
Sented, are somewhat familiar with
the situation, and think that the Bath
zone may properly he extended to
Hardings instead Of the New Mead
ows Landing. Long overlaps cause
serious inco iVenience to conductors
and Interfere with effective checking
of fares collected We are not con-
Vinced that there is sufficient reason
for extending the intermediate Bruns-
wick Bath lone to Sanfords.
While we are reluctant TO permit
the tuii increase, it was conceded that
nothing less than the higher rate
would provide revenue even for mod
crate improvements after paying fixed
charges, unless some assistance could
be secured from other sources-which
is not apparent. The lesser advance
would leave nothing available for
that purpose, and the situation SO far
a. public service is concerned would
be no better than befOre-probably
worse with the unavoidable increases
in operating and interest demands
ii is useless to adopt a rate which we
know will not do what all of the par
ties insist should be done. 1t is
Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed
l. THAT passenger tariff schedule
NJ p. [. c. No. = issued by the Lew
iston. Augusta 4 Watervilie Street
Railway, May :. 1918, to become eff
fective June 6, 1918. cancelling NJ. p.
L. c. No. be, and the same hereby is
disalioWed and rejected:
,. That aid Lewiston, Augusta
& Watervlle Stree Railway be, and
hereby is permitted to issue and pub
lish, to become effective on one days
notice, its Temporary Schedule of
Passenge: Fares, to be designated NJ.
7. 7. G. Temporary Schedule No. /.
suspending Nj. p. L. c. No. /, which
said Tenn. .Dorary Schedule shall con-
tain the same rates, charges. fares,
rules and regulations published in the
aforesaid schedule NJ. p. L. G. No. 2,
issued May !, 1918. except that it shall
provide for the carriage of school chill
cen at not exceeding one-half of the
full fare am. under conditions and re-
gulations otherwise as now i'll effect.
and further except that it shall pro-
vide communication tickets good be-
tween Lewiston and Mechanic Falls
at twenty-one CID cents per ride and
under conditions and regulations
otherwise as now in effect. and shall
fix the Bath-zone as from Hardings
to Bath.
;. That said Temporary Schedule
No. |, when SO pHblishe and effective
shall continue in effect one year un-
less sooner cancelled by this COM
mission, on hearing after such notice
as il may order, on its own motion or
on petition Of ten or more aggrieVed
persons; or unless further extended
by this Commission Oh application by
said Lewiston, Augusta & WaterVille
Street Railway and publ hearing
thereon; ana the burden of proof shall
be upon this proponent III all said
hearings, by WhOmsOeVer instituted.
4. "That said Lewiston, Augusta e.
WaterVille Street Railway report to
this commission in detail on, or with
in 10 days before. the first days of
September. December and March,
next ensuing, the progress made and
being made by it in the improve
mcnt Of it's service:
5. THAT schedule of Passenger
Fares, Nj. 2. t. G. No. /, and all other
rates, and regulations governing the
carriage of passengers oy said Lew
iston, Augusta d Water"ille Street
Railway now in effect on the rail
road of said Lewiston, Augusta &
Waterville Street Railway stand sus-
pended from and alter the date on
which said temporary schedule sha].
become effective and until the same
shall become non effective in either of
the ways aforesaid, Whereupon said
Schedule A. +. V. G. No. / and other
rates and regulations now in effect
shall again become operative except
as may then be provided by this COM
mission.