Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-19
Afternoon Session


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Is. Afternoon Session
At the beginning Of the afternoon
sc. sion Attorney Bassett completed his
cross-examination of Mr.. Sweeney. and
witness was then cross-examined by
Attorney Fisher. In answer to the
question as to when the estimate of the
earnings and expenses of the line was
made up. witness said they were finally
checked up last week and had been IN
the process for the past two months.
He was questioned as to the proper
ton of income that should be credited
tn the Winthrop line from business
originating on other parts Of the line.
In answer to questions by Attorney
Carleton. Mr.. Sweeney stated that he
considers it dangerous to operate the
Inc in it's present condition and that
there is danger of the derailment of car3
by the spreading of rails. He did not
consider that the elimination of the
freight service would go far toward
the elimination of the hazard. He SAID
that when the revenue statement was
made up the matters of the present
patronage. Of the State road to Win
throp, of the use of the automobile and
of the shorter haul by road. were taken
into consideration. The matter of the
increase of industry at Winthrop. of
the State Y. NJ. c. A. camp. etc. were
not taken into consideration. He said
that il would be useless to tell the
court what the material consequences
would be to a country like Winthrop.
East Winthrop. Wayne, Manchester,
ETC. to the schools and to the commune
ties by the discontinuance of the line.
His sole plea was to lay the facts be-
fore the court.
Mr.. Sweeney was then questioned by
Attorney Newell and testified regarding
the increase in cost of operation of the
system. Voluntary increases were made
to employees and an award made by the
War Labor Board further increased the
payroll. until the total increase was
about $4,000.
The matter of the railroads charter
was then taken up.
Remonstrants Testify
The testimony of the remonstrants
to the petition was then begun, the
first witnesses being questioned by City
Solicitor M. E. Sawtelle of Augusta.
Augusta was we'll represented at the
hearing. The members of the Board Of
Trade and the Merchants Association
attended IN a body. Mayor Burleign
Martin was present together with the
members of the citizens committee and
the committee from the city govern.
ment. In attendance. as we'll as in the
discussions, Augusta citizens togeth er
with the people from the towns served
by the Winthrop branch, demonstrated
that they were strongly opposed to the
proposed discontinuance of the VIM
throp branch Of the railway system.
Arthur N. souie
that before the construction Of the
Winthrop branch Of the road, the
summer colony at Hammond's Grove.
Lake Cobbossee, had 10 cottages and
that it now has %, all of which are
occupied this season. The occupants
of II of these cottages are depend
ent on the electric cars for transport
tation. He testified that since the
line from Augusta to Winthrop there
beginning Of the operation of the
has been an increase in suburban
building along Western avenue in
Augusta.
Upon cross denomination by Aesor-
ney Newell. Mr.. Soule testified that
eight of the 25 families now at Ham,
mond's Grove now have automobiles.
II <I,o< 10 S~a@~
families at Hammond's Grove would
not add very much to the material Of
IA miles of road. but said that the
grove colony is just a small part of
the shore Of Lake Cobbossee. The
cottages are occupied in summer,
he said.
Edgar N. Lenfest
The next witness was Edgar M.
Lenfest Of Manchester, formerly Of
the board Of selectmen Of that town,
who testified regarding the increased
valuation Of the property develop
ment there since the beginning Of
the operation of the Winthrop line.
The town of Manchester in 1900,
about two years before the railroad
was put through, had a real estate
NdludIlOl VI S-Uf,oVV, ana IL now mas
a valuation OF $264,0oo. BY the erec-
ton Of cottages within five minutes
walk from the railroad, the sum Of
$4,000 was added to the valuation.
He said that Hammond's Grove is
but small part of the shore Of Cob
bossee. and stated that the town of
Manchester has no other rail con-
nections except the Winthrop line.
He testified upon cross-examination
that no thought that the cottagers
had about the usual number Of autos.
Elmer e. Newhert
Elmer E. Newbert of Augusta
testified that he is in the real estate
business and that he knows of 81
modern dwelling houses constructed
from Sewall street to the Manches-
ter line during the past Is years.
houses having an average value of
about $4,000. And that excepted the
fine suburban home Of w. H. Can
nett on Western avenue. These
houses reached a valuation Of about
$249,ooo and all were within the ra-
dius of the operation Of the Winthrop
line. Upon cross-examination he
stated that there was not much
growth in houses west Of Mr.. Gan.
nett's home.