Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-25
- LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.



would call the attention Of our Law max
ers TO what appears 10 me TO be one Of the
most unjust burdens tina; has been ha lded
down by preceding generations. upon certain
towns in cur State. hoping some action sill
be taken in hi il day of re adjustments to
equAliEe the burrhen- | refer TO the matter
of free bridges. In the early settlement Of
our State, as we'll a. Jther States, rosfs and
bridges we're built By private corporations.
aad toll required from each passer to main
tain the same The old turnpike has long
ago disappeared. the toll bridges are fast fol-
lowing in their track. and where once the
traveller expected at the crossing Of every
bridge 10 stand and deliver" he now but
seldom hiss TO unbutton his coat on a cold
lay and pay tribute. We are glad of SO
mach freedom and shall rejoice when the
hole safe is free from these distractions.
As an instance Of the injustice under our
present system and laws for the maintenance
of bridges | will take the town in which
reside az an example. Newcastle lays be-
tween the sheepsc : and Dsntr,sco,ta riv-
ers, it'll the Back river within its limits.
three deep, large tide rivers navigable for
large vessels, which great number Uf
-loops as well az other vessels nsyigave~ Two
of these rivers extend the whole len 9Th of
the town, forming its eastern snd western
boundaries requiring FIVE bridges over tide
waters. -Four of these bridges are tosn
clanges and one toll bridge, whose charter
expires i'll four wears, when this also becomes
a town change. Now i: must not be forgot
ton that bridges in these deep rapid rivers
are expensive structures. requiring draw-
bridges and daily care, with persons present
lay and night TO admit the passage Of yes
ssls ard keep the same in good order and
condition. One of these bridges one cost
to rebuild | think some $1,000. and the
past year repairs on II amounted 70 perhaps
So 800
la addition to these tide water bridges. il
has fresh water stream running the whole
! length in the centre of the town, which it is
Obliged to keep 10 repsirs. Two of the first
! named bridges are an equsl expense 10 the
AUDITING towns. Now other towns people
l who do not contri butte to the support of
1 these bridges use and are benefited BY them
/ 10 greater or less degree IL it unfair, Is
| il unjust that they should bear a little of
this bud n. Take for instance the town of
! Bristol. i heir only outlet from the Atlantic
vest by land is the bridge at Dsmariseotta
1 Their mails and people - reach the X. and
I l.. K K. have 10 cross this bridge at the
expense Of Newcastle and Damariscotta.
/ To equaiize the burden of these
bridges would have law
compelling the count, to build and main
tain them wholly or else giving the County
Commissioners authority TO assess upon
towns interested just share of the expenses
together with the County bearing its inst
part. For instance bridge costing 500
per annum to maintain let the tow rs sbuting
pay each 500; other directly Interested
towns 500; the county 500, or if the bird re
vas wholly in one town, like the three ex-
pensive bridges over Eas ern river ia Dres-
den, lie; the town pay one half, the county
the other, or some Law more Just than our
present law TO relieve these turdened towns.
do not loose sight of the fact
that the County Commissioners ha' {
power to receive any toll bridge and
maintain it wholly at the expense of the
county, but in no instance in this county
have they done so although an offer of one
free of all membranes has been made to
tbs m The reason i. apparent. Such a
bridge might not be of direct advantage to
remote parts of the county ard on vote il
would not receive a majority, hut such logic
a, that would if applied, prevent the build
ing of any road in the county. There is
much to be said IN favor Of a more just law
| lave it to better judges than myself to
study out the better way. asking OILY that
ju,tice, if tariy, may be done Possibly
state aid ought to be afforded. for while in
this small seab ,ard county with its rivers
and bays to bridge We are taxed for appro
priatons to build bridges over little fresh
water streams +. l.. c.
Newcastle Fob so