Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-13

Little understood sidelights on the
contributions of Watts and Fulton
to steam railroad transportation; the
energy that drove John A. Poor of
Bangor, by means of relays of horses
from Portland to Montreal over the
drlfted roads through the mountains
IN time to persuade the Board OF
trade to make Portland in place oil
Boston the terminus of the Atlantic
q st. Lawrence, afterwards the
Grand Trunk Ry., high lights in the
development of telephony and elec-
tr1city went to the making of a
graphic picture of a century of de-
velopment in this country in general
and in Maine in particular. The
picture was most Interestingly drawn
by Chairman Charles e. Quincy OF
the Maine Public Utilities Commits.
ST., addressing All Souls Chapter
Unitarian Laymen's League, Monday
evening. In comparison with this
wonderful record of DEVELOPMENT his
prediction that farms in the future
would, with electrical appliances, be
run with three shifts of employees
whose hours of labor, advantages
omobiles-would. be com.
parable with those of the city en-
ployes, did not seem incredible.
Mr.. Gurney's subject: Develop
ment of Early Railroads in Maine
was admirably treated with a wealth
of interesting detail from the record
incidents and adventuring in the
building of our present railroad sys-
tenn from the disconnected lines
that We're first laid down, through
the war of the Guages"-these
roads had different guages and each
was trying to outstrip the other, un-
til, for the good of the public, the
roads themselves and for all con.
cerned. they became merged and
Systematized.
In his reference to telephony Mr.
Quincy spoke of the attitude of the
commission in this State toward tel
ephoHe rates and remarked that this
body fixed upon lower rates than
were obtained by any other state
with the possible exception of New
Hampshire.
He said it was the commissioner
duty to hold the scales in equipoise
1t is not alone money by which Tie
value of service is to be measured
The public must be protected, like
wise that portion of the public in.
vesting in the public utilities. We
say we must have the railroads but
merely saying so will not insure this
he remarked in connection with the
commissions decisions respecting
certain of the proposed bus lines tc
parallel the railroads.
Speaking of electrical development
he indicated confidence in the re-
port that an incandescent lamp ha(
been perfected that would require
SO little of electrical energy as tC
emphasize the need of extending the
uses of electricity in other ways. To.
day the Central Maine Power Co
has developed a greater proportion
of strictly rural lines than any On.
concern east of the Mississippi. None
may now measure the possibilities
for use of electrical power. But al.
ready we know that waterpower.
alone will not furnish what is need.
ed.
President Philbrook presided al
the meeting. He announced at the
business meeting preceding the ad-
dress and following the supper thai
he would be unable to keep up the
custom of holding the office for an
other year. The reports Of the sec.
rotary and treasurer were read, fol-
lowed by election of officers.
Samuel M. Holway was chosen
president; Emery o. Beane, vice
: president; Erskine P. Noyes, secre.
, tary; Arno Bittues, treasurer.