Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-20
Shall We aave a New Hr,dxs9-


Ednors u the Rsnae5ee Journal.
For number of years I have called a,,e,.
ton Of Individual members Of the CIV c.
eminent 10 the fact that the time va, "a,
approaching when the Kennebec Br;dge
must be replaced by a suitable structure n
Accommodate the ever increasing reoui,e.
tnents OF travel and commerce. Fully real
iz'nR that immediate action must be taken tn
render the bridge safe, called atten,ion Of
sie tny Council to the matter April tth
ana the Council ordered the street commits
s'oner under the advice of the Nayor To
MAKE such repairs az should render the
of1ge sale An examination reveals The
isst lhat 70 put the bridge in fair condition
VIII require an outlay Of from two TO three
uioasand dollars, or from once eighth 70 one
'i11h OF The cost Of rev iron bridge which
YOU'D make Augusta in fact, what il il nov
~ name one city. With no dismal, unsiyhtIy
ana odofiferous y tunnel uniting
or rather di-uniting it, two plrts,
ihese repairs being done the bridge will last
io' Few years. xhen the process mus, be
repeated ln the meantime exists the nuisance
OF repianking, hauling on snow in winter. and
hauling OF filth at all times, the presence of
ponce officer to prevent driving faster than
wax the necessity of requiring heavy
ifelehi to be Transported acre o. the river by
raj (for the legal limi, of load il now
f'oo ponnd.). together with a large annual
payn ieh' Tor insurance, swelling
the annual cost of maintain
ing the bridge, exclusive Of extraordinary re.
pairs to 81 eco year or more The aver.
age cost OF maintaining the present bridge
ior the next ten years will not be less than
81 900 year, or ihree-hfths of a new and
connexions structure which will last a hun
afed years Tor the cost of painting. Realiz-
ing these facts, believe that the least posi-
PIE oasiey should be made at present. Let
ters nave been ~1i.'~n to several bridge
companies for plans and prices. The matte.
VIII be brought 10 the attention Of the
City Council at its next meeting NAV
LIST. believe such an expendi-
tnre as will be necessary to place
the present bridge in a temporarily safe con.
diti0n to be waste IL i. time that the patch.
work policy cease Unless the citizens, tax
payers and business Interests of the city are
radically opposed 10 a new bridge, I am
ready to take the res yousibllity, if the city
council will so authorize, 10 see TO il that a
new and sufficient structure spans the Ken
nebec within a few months and believe it
can be done, and paid for within from Ave
to eight years without any material
increase of the taxes. On the
present valuation, S. 900 year can be paid
with a tax of one mill per cent This if the
city stood still, would be an increase of
about three tifths of a mill But the progress
of the city, its increasing valuation, the re-
qurements of trade all point to the fact that
il is only question of time when new iron
bridge must come. Why not now?
fully endorse the letter of Mr.. Marley. /
| am glad he has said TO the public, through
) our columns, what | had conte mplated say
ing to the City Council at its next meeting.
II the citizens believe the present bridge |
all that is necessary, let them protest against
a new one, aud protest in no uncertain terms. |
If they believe the PATCHWORK" order should
not continue, and permanent work to be the
correct system of economy unless greatly
mistake the feeling of the City Council, the
work will be done.
hope to hear the people speak in this
matter, and promptly.
SAMUEL w. LANE.