Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-09-13

The New street from Augusta to Gardi-
ner.
In late issue of the Journal is an inquiry into
the state Of the proposed new road from Augusta,
through Halowel and Fsrmingdale to Gardiner
and why it is not completed, &C. Halowell has
answered, and says that city is ready to meet the
Augusta folks half way. Perhaps a majority OF
the people in the towns and cities through which
passes have never looked ineO the matter enough
to know or care how the call for q new road was
made, and where it was to be located.
In the first place, road from Bowman street,
in Farmingdale, about mile back from the river,
to lead into Hallowell and connect at LoudOn hill
with what is called the "slab city" road into the
city, was called for by people owning land in those
regions, they giving the land, and quite respect
able petition to that effect was circulated. part
of the citizens Of Farmingdae, those nearest Gar
diner, started . strong remonstrance denying that
Hny such road was needed. The county commits
sioners went on and viewed the route, and had
hearing, but pending their decision, . request
came from Augusta and Hallowell, saying that
the road not ohly ought to tap part of Farm
ingdale, but should extend both ways, to Gar
diner and to Augusta, making separate road
from the latter to the first city, entirely. Accord
ingly q strong petition obtained in favor of it
in Augusta, another in Hallowell, and another in
Fsrmingdale, and many from Gardiner favored it,
and Augusta and Hallowell instructed their solic-
itors to work for the new road. Farmingdale got
up still stronger remonstrance, and they and
Gardiner employed counsel 10 oppose it. Accord
ingly the commissioners went on about two years
ago, and in company with delegations, pro and con,
viewed the whole route through 1t was proposed
to start somewhere west Of the State House, and
pursue souther!y direction till Second street in
Hallowell was reached, (Which street was laid out
to Augusta many years sgo), thence along that
street ill q connection was made with the "slab
city" road to Loudon hill thence IN soutberly
direction till High street in Gardiner was reached,
and junction formed with the old Richmond
road. which in time should make 9 continuous
route from Augusta to the last mentioned town.
Then the hearing took place in the City Hall at
Hallowell. Counsel was there from all the places.
1t was argued by those in favor OF it, that road
was needed over which teams could pass from
place to place without danger from passing trains
on the railroad, it being well known that the larg
est part of the river road lay dangerously near the
railroad, and horses were repeatedly frightened,
and serious accidents happened in consequence.
by looking at the county, map 1t was seen that
the distance would be very much shortened, be-
cause Of the turn in the river road at Rich's in
Farmingdale. Again, people owning land in the
centre OF this town had no means OF going north
or south, without going out to the old Litchfeld
or into the river road, the distance between being
about four or five miles. Once . road was open
there to Halowell. They claimed it was easy TO
get to market, and that produce sold well at Hall
DWELL and Augusta. People would settle in there
buy land, and the vAlustou would be raised, &c.
On the other hand, the remonstrsnts held that
the railroad was no scare that if ever so good
road were built, nobody would travel on it, but
always come out to that on the river; that no
produce would be carried to Hallowell or Augusta
and that the owners of land there would never
sell anyhow; that the road was q burdensome one
to build, and not needed, and ought not to be
built. But in spite Of this the county commits
sioners decided that it was needed, and ought TO
be built. The town of Farmingdsle took excep-
tions to this, and instructed their counsel to ap-
peal Accordingly they did so. A committee of
three was appointed to go over the same ground,
view the route and have q hearing. They did SO
last year, and had their hearing in Farmingdale,
and after careful examination Of all the facts,
they decided to sustain the commissioners. In the
meantime it was proved that the road could be
built through Farmingdale at about dollar and
half a rod. BY peculiar shape Of the northern
boundary of the town, Hallowell penetrates di-
rectly south half mile. Along this line Halo
well agreed to build the road. The rest was COM
paratively easy. Gardiner had only few rods to
build anyhow; aud thus the case stood year ago.
We believe the rosd has to be built in two years
from the time of the decision. If the towns and
cities don't do it, then the county does it at their
expense 10 We are informed by the lawyers.
A glance at the map is the best way to show the
whole thing. Farmingdale has NO road except
the river thoroughfare running north and south