Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-02
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Handsome Appropriations
Coming to 3rd District,
Large Amount of Work on Kennebec
Between Augusta and Gardner.
The Items Handled by Gov. BurIeigh,
Senators Frye and Hale.

Washington, ID. O., June 1.-tSpeciaD.
The two large appropriation bills III
which the Sd Congressional district
is interested, the river and harbor
bill and the Mercer omnibus public
building bill-are now well out of the
way and both win be passed finally by
Senate and House and forwarded to
the President for his signature within
4 few days. As a previous telegram
has indicated, Maine, and especially
the 81 District has Jared Spendidly
and obtained practically all that was
asked. The large appropriations for
the postotfice addition at Augusta,
amounting to $150,000, and $S1, 900 for
the Improvement Of the kennebec
river between Gardiner ana Augusta,
viii be available by July l, or enough
OF it to ensure active operations on
both projects as soon as the prelimina-
rieS in the way of letting contracts can
be cleared away.
The treasury department already
has prepared estimates for the addi
ton TO the pOstotfice at Augusta and
the architects division of that depart
ment viii be urged by GOV. Rurleigh
at the earliest possible time. 1t will
probably be some months before the
work is actually begun mt Augusta, but
as far as Coy. BurleiGh can regulate
that matter there viii be no delay
whatever. The governments rule for
advertising for bids FOR the work viii
be followed out, rs soon as the details
of the designs are completed, but
mol, I,Nr. .Vlxr fnn l.., apIT ,.ritI
be in full swing. The expenditure Of
50 large q sum Of money in Augusta
viii necessitate the employment Of
numerous Workmen in Augusta and
the disbursement of = large share of
the appropriation right in the capital
city of the State.
The same win be true in large
measure Of the expenditure Of $8l, 900
in the entire Improvement of the Ken
nebec between Augusta and Gardiner.
The engineers department of the war
department will have that work in
charge, through Major Roessler of
Portland, who superintendS all river
and harbor work in Maine. Major
Rocssler will in due season advertise
for bids for the dredging and in the
course Of Il few months, probably by
early fail 50 that some of the work
can Be done before the cold weather
sets in, h" win let parts OF the large
contract. The execution of that work
! viii also mean the expenditure Of
much money in augusta, Gardiner and
| IialloWell
A great deal Of credit for the
| authorization of the large sums for
| Augusta ana vicinity is due to the
| Maine Senators. Mir. Frye and Mr..
| Hale. The river appropriation was m
| creased to $al 900 III the Senate by Mr..
| Frye, chairman Of the commerce com
mittee. who took the matter in hand
| earnestly from the moment Governor
| Burieigh brought it to his attention and
| explained to him how the House had
refused to give but 100000. He saw to
it that the appropriation was put on by
| the Senate to the full amount as finally
adopted.
1t was Senator Hale on the other
| hand hand who took up the matter of
the Augusta postOffice addition and in
sisted that the appropriation of $50, 900,
which Coy. Buleigh had secured in the
| House. should be restored. There was
no Maine member of the Senate COM
! and the Augusta item was reduced
from $4,000 to $125,G0O by the Senate
committee and as soon as this fact was
made public Senator Hale demanded to
! know why that had been done without
consulting him. The upshot of it all
Was. after some firm talk on the part
Of the senior Maine senator, that the
| Augusta item was restored to the full
sum authorized by the House. Senator
| Hale also insisted that the $4,000 which
| Gov. Burleigh had put on the bill in the
House for Calais and which the Senate
struck out should be restored, and his
word went
| There seems to be some question of
4 law here, which has not yet been set
| tied, as to whether the decision of the
late Justice Bradley Of the District su-
pren1e court, adverse to the postofficc
department in an injunction suit by
Chicago railway guide company. shall
stand. The decision was of special in
| terest in Maine because of it's bearing
on the cases of publishing firms theHe
with reference to second class m Ill
privileges. Justice Bradley did not 81
the decision before his death, although
| II was announced by him from ne
| bench. The postoffice department will
| naturally insist that the decision is not
valid without the judges signature, be-
cause if that holds good the case must
be tried again by another judge.
GOV. Burleigh has been Informed
through q letter from w. S. ShelIer-
berg. second assistant postmaster gen
eral that an advertisement has been
prepared. calling for bids for the per-
Torrance of regular mail route service
between kineo and lockwood. Me-, and
that it is probable an award for "a
contract will be made. Some weekS
Gov. Bdrleigh submitted a petition Of
w. G. Hughes and others of Rockford,
Me-. asking for the establishment of
regular mail route between Kineo and
lockwood for supplying the lockwood
postoffice.
Representative Allen has been informed
by Mr. Alexander Grant Of the second
assistant postmaster generals office. that
the fast mail service which Maine is to
have, this summer. by way of the Roch-
ester and Nashua Division of the Boston
& Maine Railroad, will be the best SER
vice in the matter of rapid transportation
that any section If the country enjoys