Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-11

For the journal.
THE KENNEBEC BRIDGE.

As the kennebec Bridge has recently passed
through frey ordeal (or rather ~atery,)
and very many questions are being asked
Just now with regard to it. a succinct account
of its history may not be inappropriate. In
1875, chiefly through the influence of the
late Hon. Daniel Cony, an act OF incorpora-
ton was granted by the Massachusetts Legis-
lature, to run IS years, which will expire this
year. The city of Augusta procured char
ter some years since from our State Legisla-
turc for free Bridge, and soon after bought
the present structures it will therefore be
continued the same as though they built anew.
In 1897 the first Bridge was built "a noble and
imposing structure, the arch being segment
of a circle of radius of some six feet, the
travel being over and upon the arch. 1t was
painted redish brown, four feet up from the
bottom, running the whole length Of the
Bridge, and the remainder white, which gave
it beautiful appearance. In the summer Of
1911 or II, on summer afternoon, we were
standing on an eminence of ground near our
humble domicile, looking directly upon the
Bird ge when we saw the east arch fall the
other remained until it was taken away to build
anew. ferry was then had recourse to, as
long as needed. In 1918 the late Hon. Ben
jamin Brown, and Ephraim Ballard, Esq,
contracted to build a new structure for the
sum of eleven thousand dollars, Mr.. Ballard
being architect and builder, which was done
and ready to cross in September of that year.
In 1927, April I'd, it was burned in the night,
and a more splendid sight we never saw; the
wind being eastward a sheet of flame poured
out of the west end about hundred feet long.
the whole structure being completely en-
veloped in flames, and some minutes before il
fell we could discover the whole frame work
separate from the rest by hue of redcr light.
We still recollect the very beautiful and glow
ing description the Rev. w. A. Drew gave
of it at the time. The corporation took i'm
mediate measures for the building of the new
structure, which was up and ready for use in
August of the same year, Ephraim Ballard.
Esq, being architect and builder as before.
| And here we cannot well forbear relating an
aneedote:
At the building of the Bridge of 1918 the
late Hon. Daniel Cony had occasion to Sc,
Mr.. Ballard upon the work, when he said t"
him, Mr.. Ballard, you being man of good
enterprise and belonging to family of great
longevity it would be nothing very strang'
should you live to build here another Bridge;
and so ii happened-but much sooner than he
then expected. Few persons are fully aware
of the immense strength of this Bridge; more
than one half of its support was taken away in
the late disaster, and yet it stood. We had
occasion some years since to pass a Bridge
ON the Schuylkill, said to have been invented
by Tom. Paine, and called by his name, but il
does not compare with this for strength, and
whichever the water in the river will allew
the completion of the repairs, it will then BE-
about as good as ever.
We had about concluded this article and
! vet forgot to mention the foundation itself;
all that part of the pier which is below low
water mark is wood, it is cross work Of tim,
Der, divided into what they call well rooms, .
of about ten feet square. 1t was framed near
by and moored in its present position by lines