Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-01
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
judiciary Committee in Lone But q
Very Busy Friday Session

Very Busy Friday Session
The judiciary Committee was the
! only one to have a hearing on Fri
day afternoon, but the matters
scheduled for that time were impor-
tant enough to draw a crowd equal
almost to that of any mic week day.
! The first was the act to permit the
| Portland Water District to condemn
| and take certain public way on the
shore of Sebagc lake. connecting
a highway Nth the shore landing, at
| Chadbourne's.
| David E. Moulton. trustee Of the
Water District. appeared for the
proponents and explained the situa-
tor, saying that the lower bay Of
Sebago lake has about five miles of
shore line, the rest of the lake hav-
ing over so miles, and the Water
Districts intake was in the lever
i bay The district had for some
years been acquiring the land on the
shores Of lower bay, to protect the
intake and prevent pollution Of the
water for 1000 takers. The Chad
bourne hotel stood at this landing.
1t was last fall burned. The owners
and the district had been unable
previously to agree on price and the
district thought best to put what
money was available into other shore
property. 1t is said that another
hotel will be erected there. The dis
trict thinks it imperative for the
protection of the water takers to Sc
cure this way and property. The
way is a piece of land perhaps 100
feet long and so feet wide. All the
district asks is to be allowed to take
this way and property and stands
ready to pay for the property and
damage to any and all persons by
the closing Of the way.
William H. CULVER Of Portland.
representing the Chadbourne proper
ty, asked several questions, tending
I to show that not having been able to
agree previously on the price, now
that the hotel was burned, the dis
trict was rather taking advantage
and seeking to obtain the property at
their own terms.
Mr.. Moulton asserted that the
= PAoPSit |'iiNAS 49,"
wanted $4,000 the district had Of
fered $500 end the owners had now
said they would sell for $4,000 and
there the matter stopped. Answer
ing Rep Barnes, he said that the dis
trict was willing to pay the value OF
the property and that the valuation
would be when the property was TAX
en- over
Capt Charles NJ Goodrich asked
if the farmers didn't come from all
around for water in a dry season.
Mr.. Moulton didn't think SO. Asked
if ice was not cut near the landing,
he said not for several years. 4-'
Attorney CULVER said that the
property was deprecated so per cent
in value by the closing of the road by
the district and the only way that the
guests of Chadbourne House have Of
getting to the lake conveniently is
by this road. There was never any
claim that there was a contamination
Of water at this point. 1t has never
been claimed that the water Of Sebago
lake is impure and that this water
has caused an epidemic in Portland.
He had doubts anyway whether the
Legislature had jurisdiction in this
matter. The Portland Water Dis
trict is the largest quasi municipal
corporation N the State and its at
t1tude has been too much like the
dividend distributing corporation. 1t
! is clearly unfair to the owner of this
nronerty that the water district take
away the value Of her land by the
closing Of this road. and at the same
time attempt to place a value on the
land after the closing Of the road.
|,h,;rrooo D,1,;os ~ tho ron, m 1T 90