Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-18

\ The case Of the railroad was con-
Quoted by Judge William H. Newell
its attorney and one Of it's receiv-
ers: and the Turner remonstrants
were called and examined by Tas-
Gus Atwood. Esq. Attorney General
Sturgis of Maine was present, but
up to noon adjournment had said
nothing: he is to argue this after
ton Of jurisdiction-for. contrary to
certain published statements. there
exists a very fine legal question as
to whether jurisdiction rests with the
supreme court or with the public util-
tiles commission.
Representatives Of the chambers Of
commerce were not represented by
legal counsel-and, as stated. they
took no part in the, proceedings. But
their presence was signifcant-as
was the presence Of the very con-
siderable delegation of Turner peo-
pie who filled the seats in the back
ground. The foreground-the seats
reserved for jurors at the regular
court terms-were taken by the lum-
bermen and shippers.
| OF course it was an important
hearing: but those who anticipated
! any spice or human interest must
| have been disappointed. 1t was very
dry. purely technical. and at times
! filled with enough legal distinctions
to make a Philadelphia lawyers head
swim. From the maze of technicali-
ties and figures, however, one fact
did stand out with vivid human in
-
guarded yet explicit statement that
the Turner branch has so deteriorat-
ed that it is actually unsafe, and
an accident may occur at any time.
To put it in condition where the trav-
cling public will be properly safe
guarded-where it will be in a con-
dition adequate for going concern"
will cost in excess of $4,000: and
the receivers Of the road haven't the
remotest idea. where any such sum
is coming from.
Judge Newell
Judge Newell, who opened the case
for the road. began by giving brief
history Of the line under discussion
the line extending from Lake Grove
to Turner-whioh was chartered and
built by an independent concern,
later being purchased by the L.. A.
& w. and absorbed into its sys-
tenn.
He went on to say that the L., A. &
w. now appears before the court in
the position of a bankrupt. Its stock
is worthless: it has no borrowing ca :
pacity: its bonds are seriously de-
preciated. The question Of whether
or not the Turner line is to continue
is purely one of dollars and cents
a simple business proposition.
This Turner line does not pay its
operating expenses. So far as all in
dications go. it never will pay them.
Must a bankrupt system. therefore,
be forced to maintain it in operation ?
Is it just or equitable to require Of a
system which pays no interest on its
stock. and has no borrowing capac-
! ity, that it divert from certain Of it's
lines that might be made to pay
sums sufficient to maintain in oper-
alton line that doesn't and never
will? This, he held, would be plac-
ing an unwarranted burden upon a
system already fighting with its back
to the WALL
Columns Of Figures
Then General Manager Sweeney
took the stand and was on it for two
hours. He had made, he said, an es-
innate of the Turner lines receipts
and expenditures for the current cal
endar year, basing this estimate upon
tie actual 1919 receipts to June and
the records Of prior years.
First. the estimated receipts Those
from passengers over the Turner line
proper. or from Turner to Lake
Grove. $500: those received by 9TH
err parts of the system by those COM
ing in over the Turner line. $4,000:
freight earnings, $1,000; miscella-
neous. including revenue from mail.
$500. Total. $4,000.
Expenses:
Upkeep. including tracks, buildings
and overhead" $500; maintenance
Of equipment. s2700; power, $500:
transportation Gncluding wages),
5000; traffic, 5000: general. $4,000.
Expenses. therefore. s2s, 500 thus Civ
ing an operating deficit Of $500. Add
taxes OF $50. and the total deficit. on
running expenses alone, becomes
500.
He explained. in detail. Just how
he got these figures and how the
money is expended. Then he went on
to something that probably impress
ed those present as more significant
for 5000 isn't large sum in rela-
ton to the financial transactions of
so big a system. even though that
system be an admitted bankrupt.
What ne said was that the Turner
line. today. isn't in a condition to
be operated as going concern"
should be: it should Immediately be
reconstructed. if it is to be run in ac-
cordance with any decent standard Of
transportation.
is there danger?" he was asked
WELL" guardedly but significant
~. I'VE do manage to get over the
tracks somehow. but there is NO
very considerable element of safety"
The cost of putting the road in
suitable condition he estimated as
follows:
1900 ties q $40 :. ssoso m
Rail fastenings I Ooo oo
oanast' 4ooo yds. % $50 :. 100000
Cu'verts =. ...... 100000
Sarhouse repairs .. 10000
rack Iaoor .. 100000
nepa!rs 10 battery go. .. $4,000
oo"o'ns 80. ......... .. 100000