Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-05
THE ONLY SURVIVOR.
He Relates some Personal Experiences
OF building the Kennebec Bridge, Ar
senal and jail.

The Journal was favored with visit from
William A. Barton. Esq. of Windsor yester-
day. Mr.. Barton has seer his three score
years and is in q fair way towards enjoying
the other ten and more
II noticed the article you had in the other
days Journal about the building of the pres
ent kennebec bridge here. l am the only
living survivor Of all those who worked on
the bridge. The bridge was burned on the
night Of Apr. LIST, 1927, and then was work
ing for Squire Brown a. Browns corner. /
remember as if it were yesterday of the man
who brought the news that the bridge was
gone. was sleeping down stairs
when he came and told me and | went
up stairs to the Squires room and
woke him up. He was one of the largest
owners but when / told him, he simply said,
Well s'pose it can't be helped. You'd bet
ter go and get another nap. In the morning
well go down and take look at it, and he
dropped of to sleep again. This Mr.. Ballard
under whose supervision it was built was a
cousin to my father and / knew him quite
we'll. The bridge which was burned was
built after the pattern Of the one across the
Connecticut at Springfield. Mass, which is
still standing. Mr.. Ballard was sent on to
make a drawing of il before this one was con-
structed."
"You worked on the present bridge when
it was built did your
"Yes and am the only one living that
did work on it. | remember one day when
we were given stint to finish 1t was
putting a certain number of the logs, which
lay on the bank into the river. Well to
hasten matters, took pair of cattle and
would hitch them to log and drive right out
into the river till the log would float, walk
ing beside the cattle myself. In that way
we hastened matters considerably, and
realized a short furlough by reason of it.
think we earned it however"
Didn't have any ten hour system in those
days suppOse?"
No sir. | remember when drove
team, hauling stone at the time the Arsenal
long as could see and then take the cattle
to get them shod and hold the light for hours
while the blacksmith shod them. And by the
way | am one of two Of those who worked
on the Arsenal, who still survive. I had
nearer a ten hour system when the Jail was
built was then County Commissioner
Of all the county officers then in office, Judge
Baker is the only one left except myself II
suppose you know that there is little box
built right into the wall of the Jail and in
this box are the pictures of the county Off
GERS at the time when the Jail was built. If
you could see that portrait of mine you
wouldn't see so many gray hairs as | now
carry"
81 presume you've been acquainted with
the Kennebec journal for long time o.
81 should say | had. | have been per-
sonally acquainted with every editor of the
Journal since it was started and have always
taken the paper"
There was considerable excitement in
getting this bridge made free to the public
was there not, Mr.. Barton 2"
"You may be sure there was. Twice we
tried to get company Incorporated, who
should build free bridge but the committee
were against We finally accomplished
our object and then the other company was
ready to sell the bridge, SO we bought"
Mr.. Barton carries his years remarkably
and still retains the faculty of recounting
"reminiscences of his busy life in very in
teresting manner.