Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-29

the city of HalloweI something; so its citizen
resisted it to the uttermost, and the citizens of
Augusta, proverbia for liberality both public and
private well as for good nature, failed to sg-
gressively press the point but trusting TO the iu-
ture generosity of their neighbors, unfortunately
yielded. And this was the way the proposed new
highway to Gardiner was Observation-Disclosures
ly defeated for financial reasons by citizens Of
lIalowell, some Of whom-among them your cor
/ resi ondent,-impef Ously demand that Augusta
shall now build a merely local road at the enor-
nous cost OF $1,000 to meet their apology for one
at the boundary, even after hay ing already spent,
three years since, two dollars TO llallowehs one
towards extending the road as laid out. If our
! Ilalowell friends and others want Sewall stree:
extended it would be much more rect, not to
say decent, under the circumstances, to assign
some different reason for their demand than that
the road as laid out was purely an "Augusta pro-
ject," ard that "liallowel has done lis part"
When Hallow ell uiH do its part. and the road
which was asked for by the petitioners is laid out
in all its sections, Augusta will not for moment
shrink from its remaining share Of the burden.
Until then there is no justice in requiring such
wanton expenditure of the peoples hard earned
!
build use less road TO the IIallowell line Farming
dale has indeed "done its part" but it did it I'M
der a righteous protest, which Augusta would
have gladly joined in had it been invited.
Again, the impression is given by the writer's
above mentioned that Augusta has refused to
bIild its part. In reference to this will say that
this city has never been asked to build to Halo
well NJ petition has ever been presented to tue
City Council or any city officer for such thing.
A petition was indeed presented to the County
Commissioners last winter for the appointment of
Mr.. J. Y. W ade as Agent to build the roal at the
expense of the city, but one-half the Augusta
ci zens who signed that petition, have since asked
the Commissioners to discontinue the road, it s
far to presume that they siguod Mr. Wades petit
ton an act Of neghbosly kindness rather than
because they think there is any public demand fo-
the road, and desire it built. Augusta has not re-
fused 10 build the road; but for weishty reasons
it has presented an immense petition for its dis
continuance,-A petition signed by citizens repre-
sentng large portion of the city's valuation.
The article in the Journal of the 22d represents
that only a few citizens of Augusta, oppose the
road, ard that an order was secretly slipped
through the City Council against the wishes of the
people. Now, whether important or not in this
connection. believe the fact to he that more than
fcur-fiIh, of ctzens, and the City Council unan-
imously, do not favor the road, because there is no
public necessity or convenience demanding il. lit
WAS 10 fac, o. ginay intended, part of a
direct thfop-a road to Gardiner, the would
be diffeieut.
1 Tue allcie above referred to, argues for the
| ~
provides az avenue TO Gardiner away from the
railway track forty rods, whereas al the present
time life and limb in constant jeopardy by the
close proximity of the highway to the railway
If this refers solely to the Farmingdale end il is
correct But what about the constant jeopardy
by the close proximity of the highway to the rail-
way" after the traveller from the direction OF Au-
gusta has reached the south end of Second streeti
There Vaughan brook-a miniature Yosemite
lies squsrely across his course, and he must turn
| abruptly to the left, pass over the railroad a
wooden bridge perched high in the air, then down
a steep Ak neck hill to Water Street, then
swing to the right, and pass along Water Street,
which is the old-time road TO Garduer-to the
new Vaughan Brook road, then turn squarely to
the night, the railroad track a fourth time,
(
Guilty at the beginning of the Slab City road. Be-
tween the south end of Second street and the Hill
Of Difficulty, the traveller must pass alongside
the railroad the whole distance, and across trice,
being in Constant jeopardy" Of the worst kind.
4, Be assured he will never 90 to Gardiner that
way second time without having first made bis
will and taken out one of the Gardiner Journals
accident policies. This dangerous road we are
asked to believe il improved route to Gardiner!
This is the road lIaowcll has btqueathed to US,
and claims that "it has done its part" instead of
bridging Vaughan Brook at a grade that would
practically avoid the hills either side, besides
leaving the railroad well to the left. Our Halo
friends did not seem to want a road that would
| cost them much 1t was 10 avoid such danger
Gus road that the original petition presented.
If gentlemen desire Sewa street to be extend
ed to the Haiowell line simply the ground OF
public convenience and necessity, please say so
/ but pray do not try to make people believe that
the road which citizens of Augusta Joined in pc
titioning for, laid out, that Hallowell has
with great selfsscrfce "done its part" or that If
the proposed extension is built to the Haowell
line, 1t will be anything else than local road
having no more real connection with the Halo
well and Farming1ale sections below London Hill
than it has with Northern Avenue or the road to
Vsssao oro'. If public convenience and necessity
require the further extension of Sewall street at
the present time let it be done; Augusta is never
backward in anything of that kind. But for the
County to require Augusta to make the road smp
ly as section Of through line TO Gardiner, as
suggested by the writers, would be to impose
unjust hardship upon town which whole
has the most road to the square rod, and the best
and most costly highways of any town in the coun-
ty, and which pays one-fourh of the whole coun-
" tax.
PRO BoNo PUBLICo.
Colby University Notes.
The game of base ball came off Saturday AS was