The Republican journal., 1919-10-02

Mrs. Allan M. Howes is assisting in

Mrs Allan M. Howes is assisting in
the Luce Music Store during the forenoon
hours.
The seniors of the Belfast High school
will give reception to their teachers at
Odd Fellows Hall, Friday evening from
8 to TO- Carter's orchestra will furnish
music. Punch and fancy cakes will be
served. Remarks will be made by May
or Clement w. Wescott, Charles S. Bick-
ford of the school committee, Supt. Rod
erick, Miss Ka therine C. Quimby of the
music department, Principal Foster and
others. The musical numbers will in
clude piano solo by Sub master Webb.
THE GAS CONFERENCE. There were
about 1875 people at the gas conference in
the armory last Tuesday evening. Mayor
&. w. Wescott conducted the side of the
citizens and Mr.. Walter S. Wyman of
Augusta, treasurer of the Penobscot Bay
Electric Co., for the owners of the gas
plant. 1t was very friendly conference
and both sides know more of the general
situation than they did. Mayor Wescott
stated the conditions, the inconvenience
to result if the gas was turned off On Dec.
list. There are some $50 gas users and
about IS had agreed to make the change
to electricity on a $3.50 basis, but that
many of them, including those present,
did not wish to make the change. The
fact tnat the company were running the
business at loss also had bearing on
the case. He urged that the conference
be friendly. Mr.. Wyman said it would
cost the company from $780, 900 to 500, 600
to put the plant in good condition and
even then there was no assurance that
1T could be on paying basis, or even
break even. He read the loss by months
and gave the totals of the last three
years loss as follows: 1917, So, TAG; 1918,
ST, 008; and for months of 1919, S2,875
He would gladly wei ,ome any suggestion
for the benefit of all concerned or the
company would turn the plant over to
any one man or company of men who
would run it, and at the end of the trial
turn the plant back to its owners. Mr.
Arthur Richie explained fully the dis
satisfaction the citizens felt in the sltua-
ton and said he had interviewed at least
50 OF them and that petition of that
number was ready to be sent to the Public
Utilities Commission for decision. He
said that all the changes proposed were
not on $3.50 basis Mr. Wyman called
on Mr.. Patterson their representative
who had this matter in charge and he
said that the propositions were all on
that basis. Mr.. Richie called for the
statements of the company previous to
1917, but they were not available He
said that if an equal amount of energy
had been used in soliciting gas subscrib-
eTs there would be many secured, and
cited several streets where the pipes are
not run. MIR. Wyman explained the cost
of extension an said it was not feasible.
Others who spoke of the need of the use
of gas for cooking, heating and power
were: James H. Howes, S. A. Parker, DR..
w. L. West, DR., O. S. Vickery, Rev. A.
E. Wilson, DR.. E. A. Wilson, Charles R.
Coombs (who owns gas plant of his own
because the company is not putting pipes
on Northport avenue), Morris L. Slugg,
George z. DoaK, DR.. Eugene D. Tapley.
DR.. Tapley said it was an imposition to
the people to discontinue the gas service.
Mr.. Richie spoke again in regard TO the
work of both gas and electrical apph
ances Both Mayor Wescott and MI
Wyman favored a committee to meet
members of the company for further
conference, and both spoke again in de-
fence of their respective sides of the case.
The committee will be appointed by the
city government to settle the matter or
refer to the Public Utilities Commission.