Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-03
STATE HOUSE.
Securing Information Concern
ing Names Long Bridges.
Semi-AnnuaI Tax on Banking Con-
Germs Committed Today,
Commissioner Gilman to Visit Massa
chusetts Agricultural College.

The local assessors throughout the
State are quite prompt this year i'll
making their returns to the State as
SCISSORS. Already returns from about
200 towns have been received. This
year, in addition to the usual Informal
ton required of the local assessors, the
boards are asked to give information
concerning bridges located in their
respective towns, in accordance with
the order of the last Legislature, which
imposed upon the State assessors the
duty Of ascertaining the facts in re
-slrd 10 the length of all bridges in
Maine. The State assessors send a
blank to the local boards and request
them 10 fill out the same and return.
This blank is attached to the regular
valua ton return, so that it is impOSsi-
bic for local assessors to overlook the
same. 1t calls for the number Of
bridges over 80 feet in length, exclusive
OF abutmcnts; the name OF stream or
other waters crossed; length OF each
bridge between abutmcntS; length OF
each abutmcnL or approaches to each;
number of piers in each; whether Gov
cred 81 open, estimated or known cost
of each; the condition as to repair:
when built; ii State gave aid toward
construction. state how much; ma-
terial. wood or iron; if constructed ana
maintained by your town and adjoining
town or towns, give name OF each
town. and fractional part paid by
each. If towns have no bridges 80 feet
or more in length the fact should be
noted OH the blank.
The asses SorS are very much pleased
with the manner i'll which the local
boards are attending to this duty, and
they are confident that when all the
returns are received they will have il
full and complete record of all the
bridges in the state. Such information
has never been secured before. The
necessity for this knowledge was
found to be most urgent during the
last session Of the legislature. Sew
cral bills were pending providing that
the state maintain all large bridges,
and the committee having the matter
~ charge had no data by which the
amount Of money required for the pur-
pose could be asccrtaincd. And So in
stead of passing any law looking to the
support of bridges by the Sta,e, the
the State assessors to ortainI
All information on the subject and re-
rort to the next legislature
There is every prospect that the Leg
lslaturC of 1903 will carefully consider
the proposition of the State assuming
the support of the bridges, for it is
that the towns are not able.
except in few cases, to keep their
bridges in repair and maintain them
as they should be. Some towns have
no bridges while others have several.
And the latter towns assert that their
bridges are used more by people out
side their towns than by their own
taxpayers; because the bridges are in
variably a part of the county highway
When the matter comes up next win
ter the legislators may be able to turn
tothe report of the State assessors and
learn all that is needed concerning the
Hong bridges of the State.
Commissioner Gilman of the Agri-
cultural Department is planning to
visit the Massachusetts Agricultural
college ut Amherst in that state on or
about June 20, for the purpose of at
tending Il meeting of leading argicul-
tural cXpcrim"ntors. He will then
spend about 10 days visiting produc-
tive orchards in that section. He will
pay visit to John W. Clark of North
Iladlcy Mass. who has an orchard of
80 acres, and who has been very sue
cessful in raising large and small
fruits Mr.. Gilman proposes to study
the methods pursued by the advanced
orchafdistS Of Massachusetts for the
benefit Of the farmers of Maine.