Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-03-04
Railroad Bill fought Not to Pass.
SATISFACTORY RESULT OF A LARGELY
ATTENDED HEARING.

work of the Legislature at Augusta was
the hearing Wednesday afternoon on the
bill which would authorize the Oxford
Electric Co. to discontinue the operation
of its railroad. As on some previous oc-
casions when local interests were affected,
q large delegation of citizens descended
upon Augusta, about sixty from South
Paris and Norway being in attendance.
The hearing, which was before the
public utilities committee, was opened
in the room of the public utilities COM
mission, but after the crowd bad wedged
their way 10, the room got so close and
there were so many standing that 1t was
adjourned to the hall Of the house, which
was half filed.
About three hours was taken up with
the hearing, which was closed not much
before supper time. The company, which
asks for the passage of the bill, was rep
resented by Charles NJ. Drummond of
Portland, and the citizens Of the two
towns, who are opposed 10 the bill, were
represented by A. j. Stearns of Norway
and Alton G. Wheeler of South Paris.
Mr.. Drummond presented certain facts
and figures which have most Of them sp-
peared In a previous hearing, showing
that the road has been operated st loss
for the past few years, and that the road
bed is practically worn out and would
require rebuilding II the road were to
be operated. He also argued at some
length that it is legal and proper for q
public service corporation TO be allowed
to discontinue the Improbable portion
Of its business, citing several authorities
in support Of that contention.
The figures presented were prepared
by William Z. Atwood, auditor OF the
Maine Railways Light and Power Co..,
a holding company for the Oxford Elec-
trio Co., and Mr.. Atwood was present
with these figures. Fred Gordon, the
general manager of the Oxford Electric
Co. for the past three years, also testi-
fed regarding the business OF the road
during these three years, and It's present
physical condition. He estims' ed that Ii
would cost $4,000 TO put the road in
good shape to run again, and said that
the money with which to do that is not
in sight.
Mr.. Stearns in opening for the oppo-
nents Of the bill said that be did not care
to 60 into any lengthy discussion of the
legal aspect of the matter. We are ready,
be said, to meet the company in the
courts; we are ready TO meet 1t before
the public utilities commission; but We
do object to the company coming In here
and asking the legislature for special
privileges. Mr.. S.esrns went at some
length into the history of Norway and
Paris Street Railway, the Oxford Light
Co., the Msiue Power Co., the Oxford
n sah Aal
scrambled" into the present corpora
ton, saying that the parent corporation
of them all was the Norway and Paris
Street Railway. He also presented an
abstract Of the reports of the railroad,
showing that in the years 1895 TO 1917
inclusive the road had made net earnings
of about $26, 900 in the total. He also
read from several financial circulars, put
out to assist the sale OF bonds, which
gave highly pleasing statements as to the
prosperity of the company and the ex-
cellent condition of its properties.
As the bearing extended so late, only Q
few of the citizens present were called on
to testify as to the Importance Of the OPP
GRAFTON of the road to the two towns, but
10 view of the number present, lengthy
consideration Of this point seemed un-
necessary.
Il was also brought out that an infor-
NAL suggestion had been made to the
company that the Grand Trunk would
be willing to turn over to the electric |
road Its passenger and express business
between the two towns, and 1t was
strongly impressed upon the committee
BY Mr.. Wheeler in his remarks that new |
business and possible additional sources
of revenue bad been shown to the road.
After the conclusion of the hearing the
committee promptly and unanimously |
voted fought not to pass" 1t Is said
howevey, that bill will be prepared by
the committee which will give some dis |
cretionary powers to the public utilities
commission not now possessed by 1t.