Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-12


oHefed at meeting of your Honorable Bod,
neio friday' Sept % ult-. in relation to tn,
uscontinuance OF Oak ST., and believing
that the report made at said meeting by IN,
committee on New Streets, is not in accor
dance with the real facts in the case. and !
left uncontradicted might, in some degree
tend to mislead in regard to the real feeling
OF those residing on said street, beg leave I.
make the following public statements. and tt
snter our protests against the passing of saie
order:
First-There are more inhabitants on Oal
than on any other street leading from Water
TO State street.
Second-Every person residing on Ga.
street Is opposed to the discontinuance OF
said street
Ihird-Ihe committee in their report saw
-FOUR committee find that the property adj.
joining Oak street is assessed this wear a,
562,535 they find that $50, 1876 favor the
alteration, and s26 200 are opposed" Now
the facts are. that said SIG, POO or all the as.
sessed real estate on both sides of Oak street.
between State street and the railroad, is op-
posed 10 the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
property of Mrs. Carpenter on the corner OF
hickman and Oak streets, on which Mr.
Cobb's stable is situated, it being taxed to
him, and that of c. f. Nash, land he did not
sign the petition) valued at $500; so that
only the small sum of 5000 of assessable real
estate directly on what is now termed Oak
street, is included in the s36 335 reported by
your committee; and in order to swell this
small sum of $500 up to $50 1886, resort has
been had, we are informed, to property of
the street, and to the large valuation OF
Granite Bank building, and the property of
ID Alden situated on the opposite corners of
Oak aad Water streets, the main entrances
and business of both buildings being
upon Water street. We submit to your
Honorable Body if such a report is not unfair
and unjust, and does not at least tend to give
wrong impression.
Fonrth-The Committee say that sthey
believe the street, practically, is not used for
highway BY horses, carriages and teams
The large number of carriages constantly
passing up and down Oak street, and crossing
the railroad practically answers that part
OF the report, six or seven carriages having
passed by the Office of C. f. Nash during the
time the committee was having a hearing
therein. And if streets that have great ascent
and descent, and not having SO much travel
as others, are to be closed up. then many of
the streets of Augusta must necessarily be
closed, particularly Winthrop and Court
streets, and several streets leading onto
Arsenal street on the east side.
Fifth-Your committee also say that Oak
street cannot be graded without great expense,
etc. This seems to be dodge to yield to the
wishes and interests of the Maine Central
railroad; and the sins of omission and ne lect
of said road and The city government, in not
having the street graded years ago, are to be
thereby visited upon those living upon this
street-one of the oldest in the city-and I'M
til its travelling facilities were partially de-
stroyed by the Maine Central railroad, one of
the easiest and most travelled streets leading
from Water to State street.
This is not the first time a movement has
been made by the Maine Central railroad to
shut up Oak street. 1t was attempted in 1867 ,
but at that time there was no attempt to de-
ceive as to the real movers in the scheme -
the Hon. X ID. Rice, officer of the road,
petitoning for the dscontnuance in order to
relieve the road from the duties imposed upon
it by the Statute. An examnai ion of the re-
cords of the city govern nent ,hows that in
August 1867, (Josrph ". Patterson being
mayor, and Rodney l.. Fogg, .. G.. White
house, Geo. l.. Ballard. VIM. Woods. Jeffer-
son Parsons, John Barrows, and John o
Curtis, aldermen, an order was passed by
the Board of Aldermen, That the mayor DE
graded from the railroad, two hundred feet
westerly, or to such point as may be neces-
sary to comply with the statute" At that
same meeting the petition of X. ID. Rice
(above referred to- for the dscontnuance of
Oak street was presented, and after an half
hours consultation of the Board, the petition
was laid on the table, together with the re-
monstraDce of David Knowlton and others.
At the next regular meeting of the city gov
eminent held Sept 18th, 1867, it was ordered
by the Board of Alderman THAT the mayor
report what steps had been taken to grade
Oak street" The Mayor said that Judge
Rice would call the attention of the County
Commissioners to the street next week and
have the same graded at once, unless he
(Rice) should decide to meet the indictment,
in which case he would abide the result and
save the city harmless.
Ii thus appears that. at that time the city
government was not only opposed to shutting
up the street, but was in favor of compelling
the railroad to comply with the conditions, by
which il was allowed to cross the street and
make a st, ep ascent near the track.
Ii also appears. that then, as now. the only
parties interested in closing the street, was
the Maine Central railroad. The presiden;
of the road, acting in 1867. and o. ID. Baker,
Esq. attorney for the road, conducting the
hearing before the committee this time.
But the residents of Oak street have not
even asked that the street be graded, and If
it is desired that corporation shall be re-
lieved from duties. hitherto neglected in pro-
perly grading this street and providing neces-
sary means for the safety and protection OF
public travel at the railroad crossing, thereon
then we simply ask that fair proportion Of
highway tax of the city be expended
in removing the small stones from
the street and the sidewalk kept in q
suitable condition, and then be left alone
with all the privileges that have been enJoyed
| on said street for more than 80 years.
1t is respectfully submitted that there never
has been. and is not now any general call oil
wish that the residents upon this street shall
be cut off from direct access, as now trav
| eled. to Water street; and we believe ant
maintain that the closing of that portion Of
| the street, as proposed, would greatly depre
| ciate in value, the property situated theron
| As investments or residences, and that sai'
action would be iuexpedieut and uncslled fol
and not demanded by public convenience o.
necessity.
The order presented provides that the course
| of public travel under certain specified con
ditions shall be changed, and that portion
| of the street shall be closed to public trave