Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-11
PROMPT ACTION
Taken at Meeting Of Property
Holders Along Kennebec.
Committee Chosen to Investigate Mat
ter--Work VIII Commerce, Today.
Expense Will Be Prcportionately Bone by
Cities and Corporations.


Evans hotel parlor was throngcd, this
morning, with the representative men OF
the Kennebec valley, who have interests
at stake along the river provided the jam
at Swan island breaks.
Hon. Ira H. Randall of Augusta, called
the meeting to order and nominated Presl-
dent A. W. McCarsland Of the Gardiner
board of trade, as chairman. On taking
the chair, Mr.. McCausland spoke few
words of welcome, stating the object OF
the meeting, and called upon Mr.. Randall
to speak on the matter.
Mr. Randall said in part: Il don't
know as ! have any more to say than was
in Mondays Kcnnebec Journal. An ap-
palling calamity is ahead Of us and l
think immediate action should be taken
as speedily as possible. This meeting
ought to decide whether VIC g. ahead or
not. The condition OF the river farther
up the kcnnebec is very bad, and with
heavy rains and warm sun the situation is
liable to become very serious. | under
stand that some Of the owners of logs pre-
ferred to wait aud take their chances with
the elements, but think the majority Of
the property owners along the kennebec
wonld like to have something done at once
$50 far as / can learn. the cities ana
towns, as we'll as several of the business
interests along the river, are willing to
pay their proportion of the expense. l
think that the expense must be borne and
agreed to decide on Il percentage of the
total cost and applied about rs follows:
Edwards Manufacturing Co., 10 per cent
Maine Central Railroad Co., 5 per cent.
kcnnebec Steamboat Co., per cent. city
of Augusta, 10 per cent; Hallowell, 5 prl
cent Gardiner, 10 per cent. Augusta,
Hallowcll & Gardiner Railroad Co., ,
per cent; Randolph and Pittston, per
cent. 30 ice houses. ! per cent. each. !
have received Il telegram from PaySon
Tucker saying that the Maine Central was
ready to bear Is per cent. Of the expense,
and more if necessary.
81 Charles Lawrence of Lawrence Bros,
South Gardiner, was called on, who said
that Mr. Randall's idea was good one.
but he Thought it rather expensive. He
thought the expense of such an under
taking would figure nearer S75, 900 than
$1,000. His company wonld be willing to
bear its part of the expense If the total
was $50, 900.
Henry Richards of Gardiner, thought
we'll OF the scheme and thought Mr.. Ran
dall's method the right one. Even if we
failed in getting through the jam, we are
not spending money unwiscly, for even
then the benefit must be good. He thought
that channel should be 800 or 400 fee.
wide to be effective, and whatever it done
should be done Immediately.
George n Lawrence was asked to ex
press his opinion and said that it would
be a difficult thing to decide the cost OF
hreakfnRthe jam to open the water, but
should ssSy that $4,000 would accomplish
the object
& GA. Phillips of Fairfield, suggested
that committee be appointed to go and
Investigate the situation. and then they
would be able to discuss the question
from personal knowledge. He was not
fully in accord in the use of dynimito in
breaking the jam as he had not found it
practical.
f II. Barker of Dresden thought if the
ice was not over = feet thick the work
could be done at reasonable expense
and that Mr.. Lawrence's estimate was
about right. He also didn't think that
dynamite was practical in breaking jams.
Remarks were then made by j. S.
Maxcy and others pertinent to the sub
iect. Mr.. Weston Lewis then introduced
a motion that committee be appointed
to investigate the affair and given full
authority to go ahead and do what in
their judgment was demanded, also that
a committee consisting of the mayor and
and selectmen Of the cities and towns in
terested be appointed to attend to the
financial part of it.
The motion was carried and the follow
ing committee was appointed: Henry
Richards, A. W. McCausland Gardiner,
Charles Lawrence, South Gardiner; 6. \.
Lawrence, Ira H. Randall, Augusta; Il
II. Barker Dresden. The mayors of
Augusta, HalloweIl and Gardiner. and
the selectmen of the towns of Randolph,
Pittston, Richmond and dresden were
selected as the finance committee who
will see the various concerns interested
and tell them the plan mapped out. The
meeting then adjourned subject to the
call of the chairman.
Among those present were Ira II. Ran
dali, Mayor Millikep. W. II Alien, John B.
Hamhlen, f. :. Lyman, A. w. Whitney,
Geo. n. Lawrence, c. VI. Cunningham. J.
H.iSturgis, Augusta; Edward Ware, Water
vile: G. A. Phillips. c. A. Philips.
Frank Totman, Fairfield; Supt. Meloon,
G. s. Fuller. Hallowell; Charles Law
renee, Van r. Beedlc, South Gardiner;
NJ. J. Powers, Pitsston f. H. Barker,
Dresden.