Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-20

Editor hennebec JourRat:
Let US have a new bridge by all means :.
The growth of this city depends quite as
much upon the beauty and conveniences and
improvements therein, as on other elements
of prosperity, and while we all recognize the
great service the present bridge has been to
Augusta and, that il was once masterpiece
of bridge builders skill, We are obliged to
admit that it is now far behind the times, and
rapidly falling into the decay which betrays
the symptoms of approaching dissolution
In the first place the present bridge is be-
leved by large number of citizens who daily
pass over it to be absolutely unsafe, and that
before many years. perhaps months, it may
be the means of destroy ing life and property
by suddenly falling to the river. Such dis
aster would mean a financial loss to the city ,
of may be, enough to build two new bridges
Then it costs the city a large sum to
keep it in repair and there are many items of
expense which a new bridge would entirely
do away with.
The city pays S275 yearly for insurance
alone, upon this bridge. |. costs 5000 year
to light it. For many years bridge keeper
has had charge of it at salary of 5000 a
year. 1t must be replanked nearly every
year and shingled occasionally. Snow must be
carted on to it in the winter, and cleared off
in the spring. The walk through it is dis
NAL one, especially late at night, and a.
times the stencil in it is nausesting in the ex-
IRENE, and it is old dilapidated, and homely.
new open iron bridge would cost nothin &
for insurance. One arc light in the middle
of it would give it plenty of light all nj xht
and cost only Sl25 year. No bridge keeper
would be necessary. Pave it with light paving
lsl- &c.
planking. Smuggling the bridge would be
come ancient history. No snow need be carried
on it. The walk over it would be pleasant
and no more to be dreaded than a walk up
Water street, and the nostrils woull have a
pleasing change from the damp, close and
unhealthy air of the present bridge to the
pure air of heaven.
The new bridge would be a thing of beauty
and there would no longer be an inhibition
against driving over it faster than walk,
1t would raise the value of property. espec-
ially on the east side of the river, and be the
means of establishing new homes there, the
taxes on which would be a source of per
petual revenue to the city.
And why not have it? First, it is said be-
cause the city debt has already reached i'll
institutional limit and we cannot increa:s
it.
Second, that our people will not stand the in
crease of taxation necessary to pay for a new
bridge in single year. We believe thai
both these objections can be obviated.
Suppose new bridge will cost S25 900; 8
company of citizens is organized with cap
ital stock equal to that amount, which is di-
vided into $50 shares of 800 each, to be ex
empt from taxation.
/ The city leases the bridge, agreeing to pay
the owners (the bridge company yearly
rental therefor, which shall amount to the
interest "a low rate) on the capital stock ,anc
also buys yearly, say ten shares of the stock
amount ng to 81 900, fthe right to buy which
is reserved to the city, designating
the numbers of the shares so to be bought b;
lot. Thus in 20 years the city wonld be
come the sole o~ne of the bridge and this
without any perceptible increase of taxation
The only expense of the iron bridge woulc
be painting, which would have to be done
once in three years probably.
For many years the cost of maintaining
the present bridge has been included in the
accounts for highways. street lighting and
contingent, and not till 1884 was there any
specific appropriation of money for 1t II
terms, but taking the cost for the past q
wears and such other expenses as can be
got at for the last 10 years, this bridge ha'
caused the city an average expenditure OF
$500 year, and now we are brough
face to face with a largely increased expen
diture which will be necessary Il
put it in safe condition. Now il
the city will take hold of this matte
asa business proposition we can have I
bridge across the river which will be in al
respects credit to us. The city council o.
lsss will go into history as the first one brave
enough to inaugurate paving. Let that o
1889 solve the bridge problem. +. f. s.
AUGUSTA. April 10, 1883