Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-31
Hitch Posts and Feed Boxes.

Our wideawake business men nave
always been quick to recognize '"e
fact that everything which adds 10
the comfort and convenience OF our
out-of-town visitors tends to enlarge
the volume of local trade. This Is
specially true of those who come ana
go in their own teams. The country
trade must always be a positive anu
powerful factor in the commerciai
prosperity of a city located as Au-
gusta is. Whatever will assist. there
fore. in attracting and holding TINS
trade should be carefully considered by
our business interests and by those
charged with the administration OF
city affairs.
At the present time the hitching ana
feed box facilities afforded in our city
especially upon the west side OF the
river-are far from adequate or satis-
factory Hitch posts are few and far
between along Water street. Again
tho snace on either side from the foot
of Rines hill to the cotton mill, and
esnecjally between Winthrop and
Bridge streets, is so thoroughly taken
I'D by accommodation and delivery
teams that the facilities for outside
visitors on our principal business street
~ attain Mt
has been made to furnish accommo-
dations for the hitching and batting
of teams along Commercial street; but
the location, to say the least, is not
desirable one, and the conditions sur
the facilities afforded for
teams are not wholly creditable to the
city. Many out-of-town horses cam
not be hitched with safety SO near the
railroad track, and the filth which ac-
cumulates along this narrow thorough
fare, and which is about the first
thing TO meet the gaze of the visitor
who comes to our city on a railroad
train. is at times positive menace to
the public health. If this street is to
continue to be used for present pur-
poses it should at least be thoroughly
macadamized and drained. In this
way it could at all events be made dry
and easy to clean.
One afternoon of the present week
4f vctn nd
business men were holding a meeting
in one of the law offices which COM
manded a view of Commercial street,
and its unsavory condition was noted,
and very freely commented upon. The
opinion was also expressed that the
appearance of Market Square would be
greatly improved if the hitching posts
beside the Opera House could be re-
moved. At the same time the fact was
recognized that it was incumbent upon
the city to furnish it's out-of-town
visitors with facilities for hitching and
batting their teams that should be
both adequate and convenient.
Where can such facilities be pro-
vided? The place that occurs to us
as ideally suited to this purpose is the
large fiat behind the Maine Central
roundhouse. Here is an abundance of
room in a place handy to Water street
and admirably protected from the cold
winds that during a considerable por-
ton of the year sweep with special
force up and down the river valley.
This land is owned by the railroad
company, and there is every reason to
believe that it could be leased by the
city for the purpose named upon
very reasonable terms. If it could
the city would be able to do away
with some undesirable existing condi-
tions, and at the same time provide
out-of-town visitors with better con-
veniences for the care of their teams