Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-07
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
The ACCESSIBILITY Of Improving Com
mercial Street Talked Over.
The Three Trees on Green Street Must Go
Other Matters.

| were HNc IueHlueIS VI tHe upper DTdICl
present besides Mayor Lane, there be-
ing Aldermen Carver Wellman Sewall,
| Colburn and Purinton. 1t was not so
much in their real actions where their
profit came in as through their discus
sion Of matters which gives all a better
| understanding of what is going on in
city circles.
| A warrant was read from Judge G.
| r. Stevens Of the Kennebec probate
court telling the municipal officers Of
the city of Augusta to cause a hearing
to be held to find the reason why a
guardian should not be appointed for
| one Edward A. Foyer OF the city of
Augusta, adjudged insane. The pro-
bate judge issued this warrant on ac-
count of the fact that Sarah G. MILL
ken Of Augusta, a sister of Foyer asks
that she or some other person be APP
pointed guardian over the estate Of
Foyer as he is incompetent to manage
his affairs.
A hearing was assigned for Saturday
evening, August IL.
Alderman Sewall brought up the
matter OF the Commercial street i'm
provements. He said it had been sug-
gested to him by many Of the taxpay-
ers and merchants of Augusta that
Commercial street is badly in need Of
more proper drainage and that the
sidewalks should be repaired Also
that more hitching posts and feed
boxes need to be erected at this point.
He said many of the merchants COM
plain that during heavy rains the wa
ter instead Of being properly drained
that are beside this street.
He said he would like to have the
chairman of the street committee, AL
derman Carver, make estimates upon
the probable cost of the work.
Alderman Carver arose and said that
there was an order passed by the last
city government authorizing the i'm
provement of the street as it had been
talked over and arranged at that time.
He said if he was not mistaken the
estimates of the cost of having a better
drainage and other improvements to
the street, was $500 The order has
now lapsed and it is for this board to
act. Mr.. Carver said he did not know
where the money was coming from
that would improve the streets as
every cent has been laid out or plans
made for it. He said they would have
to give up the repairs to Rine's hill in
case Commercial street was improved.
The mayor said he thought in case
the repairs are thought necessary the
amount can be found from some ap-
preparation or from the contingent
fund Because" said the mayor, We
must not neglect Rines' hill. 1t is in
crying need of repairs and we should
make beginning this year
In regard to Rines' hill. Alderman
Carver explained that it is estimated
that the cost of paving the lower sec
ton and building the gutter as far up
as the stone wall that supports The
sidewalks goes, will be about $500. AS
they have $500 for the place he had an
idea the street could be treated to
crushed rock and properly rolled as far
up as the gutter paving will go. The
cost to properly construct the sidewalk,
with the retaining walls and the entire
hill macadamized to the foot of Grove
street, is estimated at $500.
In case the repairs are made to Rines
hill, the Electric Railroad track will be
set over about two feet and it is under
stood this will remedy the section in
Hartford square, where there is not
great deal Of room for this street as il
now exists The municipal officers I'M
derstand that the Electric Railroad
Company is perfectly willing to move
it's tracks the present year.
The matter of the Commercial street
improvement was left to Alderman
Carver to draw up an order to be pre-
scented to the city government at its
regular meeting, Thursday evening of
this week 1t was also suggested that
that city engineer define the bounds of
the street.
The highway committee reported that
it had examined into the case Of the
trees in the sidewalk in front of the
residence of Mrs. French on Green
street, and decided that they are dan
gerous to the public travel and recon-
mended that the order relating to them
be passed. This order was taken from
the table where it was laying, and was
finally passed, authorizing the street
commissioner to widen the sidewalk at
this point by the removal Of the trees
or otherwise.
| The highway committee also recon-
mended that the street commissioner
cause two trees to be placed in Mrs.
French's yard at such places as she