Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-20

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II. SWeenaY In t. ouur~ ~ hi.
ff1mcmy mid TINT ov3nx n th. in.
s0 ON tn l. A. Z W m pieas-
u "a 01nal riding il n0w cut out
ma M ons rides On thu cars unies.
NJ - oha0ed to. 1T il NOT thu he.f
way to~na~e the railway prohlem "a
gsVe the best service there in asked
Attorney Bassett- Justice Morrill,
thought this was not particularly
pertinent Mr. Sweeney said they
nad txaed every method to regain
patronage On the road.
I would like 10 ask one question. >.
said Judge Maher, Was the neeiec,
az the road due to lack of finance
or error Of Judgment"
You aEe 1usf wasting time irving
TO ind out what SEN, this road into
bankruptcy, saad Judge Morrill,, but
the witness may answer "T. was
wholly lack of money" said Mr..
Sweeney. Judge Mahe- then asked
TWO or three questions which were
excluded.
Attorney Eassett then asked Il the
road from Augusta To WaterviIle
pad and Mr.. Sweeney lepIied t.,a-
ne thought SO although he said the
word pay is a flexible term. y
should say from the tickets presented
here" said Mr.. Basse1t. In reply
10 question by City Solicitor Saw
telle- witness said that the Togus
line helped lot Of school children.
In reply TO question by Attorney
Newell. Mir. Sweeney stated thar
cars On the TogUs line were operated
hourly as long as the income taken
in paid the operating expenses.
Ron. George e. M.cnsnhs~ on Stand
The drsf witness FIR the remun-
stranrs 10 the petition vas Hon.
George T. Macnmher Of Augusta. VINO
has had wide experience in promur-
ING electric railways. He told Of his
early connection with the electric
railways in Augusta and vicinity. He
has since been connected with the
electric railways in various parts Of
the United States. and now oper-
ates one n Austin. Tex. ana also
between Newport and Providence.
he was one Of the promoters of
the first electric road in Augusta
and n that time between 1890 and
l9c1 The average income Of the line
between Augusta and Gardiner was
81. ODD a year and the expenses about
u per cent Of the income Ee stated
that he built the Togus line IN 1901
and that Increased the income from
SSA.aoo up 10 SEC. 1Da. an increase of
Sl-D6a. the operating expenses re-
manning the same. In 1892 the line 70
Winthrop was built and the total in
come Of the system then jumped the
first year from sse 900 to 81, 0po and
IN 1915 the receiprs ran up TO SIDE 4sl
while the operating expense was re-
duced to 81 per cent.
The great trouble with the L, A
& W. is the fact tina, they pay too
much for general salar,en The L.
A & W is paying SCI ono for sala-
ries."
Attorney Newell Immediately
jumped UP and on5ectad 70 Inns uc-
ditionai information and IN this he
was supported by Justice Morrill,
But II is a fact" said Mr.. Macom-
Der. II get il from the report" JUS
Cca Morrill,, however, said the wit
ness had better cnnf1ne his answers
to the direct questions.
NJ AnrnSy7boV 9YaSnH n~n
thing that had damaged the Win
thrup line is the operating of heavy
freight cars over the rails We'll
don't know about this TESTIMONY"
said Mr. Newell "I think perhaps
you are going beyond the limit"
said Justice Morrill, M Macumber
in closing his testimony emphasized
the fac. thar the Winthrop branch
could be operated today unnecessarily.
But Mr.. Newell moved that this be
stricken from the records Mr. Ma
comber further stated that the elm
nation Of freight On the Winthrop
branch would greatly enlarge the
margin Of safety.
Governor Hurley Of National Soldiers
The next witness was Gov. VIII
liam Hurley of the National Soldiers
Home. who stated that the Home
now has = membership Of -Spn. has
IsE employees and so families Of e.n-
pluyes. He laid great stress upon
the fact that the veterans there de-
pend on the line to come 70 Augusta
and neighhpr;ng places and that il
would DO q grea. calamity IL the
road were not operated.
Elmer &. Nessbere
Elmer E Newbert of Augusta ties
tined regarding the new houses put
I'D along the Togus line IN Anguish
during the past few years. especial-
" on Stone street. Eastern avenue.
Middle street. Cedar street. Daven-
purt street and Hospital street. and
he testified about the valuation Of
these fine new dwelling houses. He
spoke of Augustus new grammar
school, the Harrington school. which
is served by the Togus line, and Of
the small settlements berween Au-
gusta and Tocus which depend upon
the branch.
Samuel ~. Tabsy
Samuel II. Tobey, steward ana
treasurer Of the Augusta State hos
vital. testified tina, the INSTITUTION
nov has 1880 inmates ana 10 en-
ployua. He spoke Of the large num-
ber of visitors af the institution an