Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-04-20
Our Electric Mercer.

A hearing OF unusual interest Was To
GENTLY held ct the Office OF the Public
Utilities Commission In Augusta, ct
which the Central Maine Power Co. pre-
sented It's petition for authority to pur-
chase certain public utilities, including
the Knox County Electric Co., the An
droscoggin Electric Co. and the Oxford
Electric Co. Harvey D. Eaton OF Water
VILE, president of the Central Maine
Power Co., conducted the case, with
Treasurer aud General Manager Walter
Is. Wyman presenting the facts and John
r. Vaughan OF Boston, who made the
valuation Of the properties, ~ . witness.
Former Governor VIM. T. Cobb Of Rock
land, president of some of the corpora
tions In question, and Fred D.. Gordon,
president of the Androscoggin Electric
Co., were also present a. interested par
ties.
Mr.. Wyman went over the situation
of the service given by the Central Maine
Power Co., telling of its development
and growth and explaining In detail
how, with the requirement Of these
properties, 1t could operate and serve
the communities moro cheaply. he
stated that only by such requirements
and cancellations was 1t possible for
the Central Maine to continue to operate
at Its present rates-as 1t will be POSI-
BILE, with its great amount OF generated
power to switch It on from afar and
serve the sections that might be short
of power.
The plan is to connect its present sys-
tenn with the acquired properties at
Gardiner, the connection having already
been made with the Knox County Sec
ton. It will add Q uniformity and relia-
bility of current to the sections now de-
prived Of such and much better serve q
great section and thousands of people,
who are unable otherwise to secure the
necessary power, resulting in great
advantage.
Governor Cobb said that as president
OF these corporations he was interested
in the sale and also was much interested
In the development of electricity in
Maine, which will be not only helpful to
the industrial interests but eventually Q
great benefit to the social welfare OF the
state.
he considered Mr.. Wyman's ability
to distribute the electric current ell over
this great system one of the greatest
things In the great things of Maine.
And this sale Is going to accomplish
what we have all hoped and believe 10
going to be done in electrical work In
this state.
The question of course enters as to
state or individual operation of the
water powers, but he thought that the
greatest good would come from the cor.
poration handling Ii, instead of the state.
"For instance" he said, with the
Oxford Electric Co., we have had much
complaint as to the company's inability
to give what was wanted and much Of
the complaint was we'll grounded. There
is no water power in that whole section
worth developing and the company has
and which in time will force the com.
pany into bankruptcy. That was the
cause of the compsny's developments at
Deer Rips, but sm confident that Mr..
Wyman's company can do 1t better and
cheaper. The steam plant had been
taxed to Its limit since last September
and the company is furnishing every bit
of current 1t could, but not what Is
needed"
So he thought, that if the people
would be fair in their attitude and judy
ment, this sale would be the first step
in a safe, sane and sound policy Of devel.
oping the water powers 10 Maine for the
benefit of the people. This was not
based on bis own conclusion, because he
personally believed in private ownership,
but he believed this to be q first class
good proposition for the people as .
whole,