Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-04
THE ROAD CASE.
Referees Went Over the Proposed
Route, Thursday.
The Hearing Postponed 10 Thursday, sepiem.
ber 7 The Referees Trip.

The referees in, the -Coombs
Mills road case. have been over the route
of the proposed road and il is safe TO saw
that they are impressed with the rugged
ness of that section Of the country. Not
that 1t Is so very much filled with high,
steep hills. but 1t Is through a rough sec
ton. following along the bank of Bond
brook in such manner that to follow it
one is in and out OF valleys and ravines
plugging through thick brush and cross
| ing streams all the time.
The referees, Hon. G. +. Johnson of
Waterville, Josiah Bassett of Winslow.
and Hon. Frederick Danforth of Gardi d.
ner, were at the rooms of the aldermen
| at the appointed hour of 10 O'Clock
Thursday morning. and ready for the
examination of the road and the hearing
After Mr.. johnson had read the notice n
part of which was waived by the attor-
neys OF each side, both saying there was
no point in that to contest, 1t was decid-
ed to at once go over the road.
Thomas Leigh, Augustus city solicitor.
and f. w. Whitehouse. representing the
friends of the proposed road. were the
two attorneys They explained to the
of the road are away from home now.
and also that some of the business men
of Augusta who are against the road are
away from the city, and that it was de-
sired to postpone the hearing on the mat
ter to some future date. Both sides being
willing, the date Of the hearing was set
for Thursday morning. Sept. :, at 10
O'Clock in the forenoon. at the rooms of
the city government in Augusta
Teams were furnished for the referees,
the city officials and the city government
about % in all. and the party rode out
over Western avenue. The ride was an
enjoyable one for they were behind some
of Stilkcy's horses in easy carriages aIi
buckboards. They drove to the Caldwell
schoolhouse. where they turned into tn.
road leading to William Lyons house
and then to the Wade road. thus going
town of Manchester that is already built
Here all but TWO of the party left the
teams and were joined by about an equal
number of the people living in that sec
ton of Manchester. and together they
went over the two miles or more of the
proposed road.
The road leads through one or two fields
where the building will be practically
easy. but the rest of the way is a hard
one to build, SO those competent to judge
say.
The route is for the greater part of the
way over the banks Of Bond brook, and
the nnumerable number OF gullies would
make necessary many culverts TO he
erected. Then in places the proposed
route is along the shore Of Bond brook,
where, II was shown. is at certain sea-
sons of the year overilowed. The Augusta
people attempted to show the referees
that it would be Very, very expensive 10
keep it i'll repair even after it is built
The brook had to be crossed four times
on the way, where the four bridges will
have to be erected. The first crossing
was made on logs. while the last tire:
were by boat, City Marshal Morse having
gone to Coombs' Mills and secured a boat
which he took up the stream for the ac
commodation of the party. The marshal
and Alderman Carver, it is said, carried
away some of the Bond brook water on
their clothes. on account of misjudgmen;
The boat was greatly appreciated. though
as it would otherwise have been Difficult.
to have crossed.
At the four places where the bridges are
to be built, on account of the construc-
ton of the land there, the cost of the
bridges would be quite large.
When Coombs Mills. the eastern end
of the road, was reached. the carriages
were again taken and the party went up
the Bog road and across to the Wade
road. to show the route by which the
people come. They returned home by the
way of the Brook road, arriving in Au
gusta at about 3 o'clock.
The party took dinner at the Augusta
house, after which the referees went TO
their homes.