Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-13

direct application of the power and
energy of our rivers which means de-
velopment and a great future for our
State. Why not let municipality
large enough take charge Of the bridge
question and develope in the country
lines of communication and save time
and energy of men for more profitable
purposes? Pass a bridge bill and you
will open new avenues of communion
ton, you will save time and expense to
the community as whole, you will do
more for the State than you can by
special bridge appropriations and many
others which involve thousands of dol
lars. To my mind, not only does this
bill mean Improvement, but it means
placing the burden of these structures
where they should be. In the county
of Piscataquis / have in mind II towns
that maintain large bridges which are
the thoroughfare of the county. Let
the county or the county and State
maintain this question and the burden
will be equaliZed. Equalization of men
| and burden are the first principle of
| this government. But my friend from
a western county says a bridge built
| means expense, but railroads cost large
sums of money, yet they mean econ
omy, telephone lines cost but the re-
| suit is economy All these mark the
change of progress and progress al
ways pays. / believe a general bridge
bill is step in progress and will pay.
This State annually appropriates
| thousands of dollars for special
! bridges. / can recall one of $4,000.
| Why? Because the Legislature recog-
| niZes that towns should be assisted in
the construction and maintenance OF
/ large bridges. Pass a general bridge
| bill and the State will save money, and
| yet do more good with that which it
does appropriate, as / do not believe
| that one-third that the State will con-
| tribute under general bridge bill, will
| in the run of years be acquired than
| that which it now contributes to spec
| ial appropriations While / do not be-
| lieve in the bill as now reported by the
majority of the committee. yet l shall
| vote for the acceptance of the report
so that this body will he placed in
possession of the subject matter. l be-
lieve the bill should be so amended as
to strike out the purchase clause that
it contains and further amended SO
that the county shall assume two
thirds of the burden of construction
and maintenance in place of the town
.one-third and the county one-third, and
the remaining one-third shall be paid
by the State as now provided, and at
the proper time / shall offer an amend
ment to the bill to that effect. In or
der to obtain large of this
body on this feature. I therefore hope
that the report of the majority of the
port will be accepted and that the final
result will be the passage of a general
bridge bill through this Legislature,
which has so often been attempted but
failed.
Mr.. BURLEIGH of Aroostook: Mr..
President. 1 will not weary the Senate
with any long speech, but have few
ideas 1 wish to present. Many towns
in our rural districts are not financially
able to build good substantial stone
and steel bridges, and continue to patch
and repair their old wooden structures
from year to year and as long as this
custom continues we shall have poor
bridges.
Many towns are, today, maintaining
large bridges that are used largely by
the inhabitants of other towns who do
maintenance. Should not this burden
be more equatably distributed, and
our small towns relieved?
Eight counties have unorganzed
townships or wild lands The wild
lands of the State do not contribute
anything towards the building or
maintaining of these bridges. Should
not this property bear some part of the
cost and help relieve the burdens of
our county towns.
Taxes are not to be increased by this
act. but the burdens of the same are
distributed among large number and
become less burdensomc, making the
whole property in the State contribute.
Pass this act in some FORM either put
ting the burden on the town and county
Jointly or upon the town, county and
State and in 10 years the State Of
Maine will have the best bridges of any
state and the expense of maintaining
will be reduced more than one-half.
The committee which have had this
matter under consideration have given
the subject careful consideration and
have reported this bill in new draft
while they do not say that it is perfect,
believe it is step in the right dircc-
ton. 1 hope the Senate will not turn
it down, but will consider 1t upon its
merits, and if imperfect amend it so
as to meet the views of the majority.
Mr.. GOODWIN of Somerset: VIII
the senator from Aroostook permit an
inquiry? Is the senator in favor of
striking out the purchase clause in the
bill?
Mr.. BURLEIGH: l should not have
any objection to that being stricken
out, if it improves the bill. 1t Is our
wealthy towns that have steel bridges.
and the poorer rural town has not yet
got it. They continue from year to
year to patch up their bridges Now,
if the wealthy towns have their iron
bridges built, it has struck me that it
is not fair to ask them to build bridges
in other towns not as progressive as
they are. l do not think there would
be any objection by any town in the
State to the county's taking over the
repairing of bridges, and the building
of new bridges. I favored the paying