Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-28
SIGNIFICANT OF GREAT CHANGE

Led to fields of ripened grain"
SIGNIFICANT OF GREAT CHANGE
There is great significance attach
ing to the hearings that have been
held before the state Utilities Com
mission on the petitions for extern
sive bus lines throughout the State.
The extent Of the proposed service
lends emphasis TO the partially I'M
derstood fact that transportation
facilities are undergoing important
modificat tons. 1t also serves to re-
mind us Of the desirability Of bring
ing this about without serious injury
to the public or to enterprise.
Whether the Commission has power
to regulate this is called in question
by the petitioners, but that aside
there should be regulation from
some source.
It might suit the immediate con-
venience of some Of us If property
were taken from owners and given
to others who might want it, who
might make the plen that SO doing
would better serve the public. LIZ
perience has taught differently and
experience is a most vaiuaose
teacher Of practical truths. We
ave learned, 1t is to be hoped. that
such methods are not good for us.
The public has rights in property
rights; injury to the latter entails
injury to the former in marked
degree. There would be grave in
fury to the best interests Of the
people of this State to cripple their
railroad service. The short-sighted-
ness of this would be especially
faulty were the public unduly to en-
courage it by subsidies. There are
good reasons to believe that pres
emit arrangements unwittingly af-
ford what amounts to subsidy In
that those who are using the high
ways are not in all respects reim-
bursting the public for that use, that
IL they were compelled to do this
the growth Of bus transportation
would be less vigorous.
We ought to be very sure about
that before determining this matter,
before establishing method OF
transportation that would prove
ruinous to methods already in exist
ence. Just how this should be done
is . problem, moreover problem
that insists upon solution sooner or
later, though we do not think the
public will seriously suffer or be in
convenienced IL network of buses
all over the State for carrying pas
sengers now carried by rail is not
established right away. OF course
we can understand how the public
may be told that progress is being
denied them, but telling is not prov
ing.
For one thing In order for buses
to take the place Of transportation
by rail it will be necessary to keep
the roads open throughout the win
ter months. The promoters say
this will be done by the bus COM
panies. We do not know whether
they are to come under bond to do
this, but surely tremendous expense
win be involved in many thorough
fares where it is proposed to have
these lines. Furthermore the public
should understand that their high
ways will be worn out much faster
by winter than by summer use. II
one will observe the hard surfaces of
highways that have been kept open
throughout the winter months he
will see where the wheels, often with
chains, have scarified the hard sur
face, opening it up to moisture and
the consequent disintegration, plain
markings where the wheels have
followed ruts which form, however
well the road be kept open.
All this does not prove that some
highways should not be kept open,
that buses should not serve the
public in process of time, but that
time should not be unduly fastened.
The demand is not sufficient to
warrant 1t. The cost and method Of
reimbursement should be further
considered. The State has not per-
mitted railroad corporation to
parallel and so ruin another road,
although 1t were willing to buy it's
right Of way, lay its rails and pro-
vide for the upkeep. Why should it
permit a railroad to be ruined by a
corporation desiring to parallel it on
the highway, built by the public for
public uses-and often congested by
those normal uses-especialIy If
that concern be not required to
maintain it? Public convenience ia
the only answer that occurs to us
and that, under present conditions,
surely Is inadequate.