Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-20

EFT MaXcy of Augusta, representing
the Waterville, Fairfield &c Oakland
Railroad; C. M. Henderson of Far
mington, appearing for George l..
Grant Of Pennington: and Charles
B. Carter of Lewiston. representing
the White Line Bus Company,
Thompson e Dufresne, proprietorS.
Attorney Sanborn stated that the
Waterville Motor Company has been
engaged in business in the State for
the past 10 years, having first estab-
| lished a general automobile business
in Watervile with branches estab-
lished at Augusta, Skowhegan and
Pennington. The company seeks the
right to connect by automobile route
the four places where 1t has eStab-
lished it's automobile business. Buss-
es would leave Augusta, Pennington
md Skowhegan three times day,
the cars meeting at a central point
81 Belgrade Depot. The rate would
he approximately five cents per mile
With a minimum charge of % cents.
The company proposes to start in
With seven passenger Studebaker
cars.
"Over most Of the course Of travel
we cannot see why we are directly in
competition with anybody and we
cannot see WHY ubCeSSIly totS HUI
exist for opening up the line" as
serted Attorney Sanborn.
J. J. Hennings of Waterville, treas
urer of the Waterville Motor Com
pany, testified that his automobile
company deals in the Studebaker au-
tomobiles and keeps about 40 people
in employ. Heretofore the company
has not operated bus lines, but has
carried on an automobile delivery
business. He said that under the
present arrangement a mail stage
leaves Augusta early in the morning
COR Pennington, and that between
augusta and Waterville over the
proposed route there is no motor
convenience. The competition would
be the electric line between Oakland
and Waterville where the fare Is IA
cents. Between Waterville and Show
hogan there Is the Maine Central
Railroad and the electric car line to
Shawmut. The Waterville Motor
company proposes no direct service
| between Skowhegan and Pennington,
! the cars meeting at common point
at Belgrade Depot.
1t Is planned to use three seven
passenger Studebaker automobiles
and to carry property damage and
|
Hennings asserted.
Attorney Carter pointed out that
whereas the fare over most of the
proposed route was set at five cents
per mile by the petitioning company,
the rate between Waterville and Au-
gusta was dropped to four cents per
mile. Mr.. Hennings said that one
reason for this was to meet compe-
tition.
Attorney Carter said he would like
to see the Public Utilities Commits
sion work out fair minimum charge
per mile for all auto buses engaged
in service on designated routes.
Mr.. Sweeney appearing for the An
;lroscoggin & Kennebec street rail-
way declared that there are now
! several adequate transportation SER
vices between Augusta and Water
VILE and that speaking for the rail-
way he represented the receipts We're
| hardly sufficient to Justify its opera
ton.
what method do You pursue to
see that fares paid to operators are
paid to the railroad" inquired At
torney George c. Wing, Jr., of Au-
burn.
"Checking," replied Mr.. Sweeney
ITO what extent?" inquired At
! torney Wing.
| II would say checkers are riding
on the system % per cent of the
time" responded the witness.
Attorney Henderson of Farming
| ton declared that George L. Grant
Of Pennington. whom he represents.