Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-16
STATE HOUSE.
Continued from page 81

the app~orria ton was convincing. II
opening. Mr. Atkins gave a brief his
tory of the bridge stating that ii was
built in 1853 by private parties ana
run on toll until 1887. when ii whS
purchased by Gardiner and Randolph
That the bridge was paying propo-
sition IL the cd days vas brought "ul
Bv Mir. Atkins. who said that often as
much as $4,000 year was mace
from toll charges. II was said that
teams wera charged 10 cents pas
Rage and Il man living in Pittston ara
coming into Gardiner to trade or III
he transportation of grains or "thtr
necessities would pay a good deal Oh
money IN the course of a year.
Mr.. Atkins said that At the time me
two places purchased the bridge there
Was 50 n.ut h opposition to the ton SES-
ten that it was deemed advisable I"
abolish it. That the cities did not pur-
chase the property for a money max
ing scheme is shown BY this fact alone
tn. bridge WAS purchased by Gardl-
ner and Randolph for S23.2Il ana AT
that time mad had about SO years OF
wear and tear.
In 1886 a frcshet which swept
through the keniI-bec valley carried
away part of the bridge. the middle
section, which EeceSSitated its beng
replaced by two steel spans at Il Dig
cost to Gardiner and Randolph. ard
proportional part which was borne by
the town OF PittSto". Mr.. Atkins stat
cd to the committee that about $4,000
has already been expended on the
bridge since it was purchased. on re-
pairs and maintenance.
Mr. Atkins stated TO the committee
th..ts300oh was. expended by the city
in making repairs on account of the
destruction caused by this Greshet. He
further said that the expenses for the
last II years on repairs and mainten-
:ncc amount to s51. 9l3.95
Tie present needs are new draw
which it is estimated will cost from
$1,000 to SIS 800. the removal of the old
wooden approaches, and the taking
away of the ice breaker; in all at il
cost of ;,bout 10000. MIR. Atkins stated
that the removal of the ice bre;rfle,'
Which is situated 163 feet above In.
draw opposite the mouth of CobbcsSee-
Cont.e stream has bt Ell ordered by the
war department at Washington. This
rl,int made by the owners of a vessel
which vas thrown against the breaker
hv IN" heavy current which sets out
from the mouth of the stream during
high wator and damaged to Il consider
able extent. He estimated that the cost
Of the removal of this ice breaker
would amount to about $500 or $500
not to mention the amount that would
have to be expended in providing for
some means of preventing the ice from
spring fresnets.
Mr.. Atkinson stated that the bridge
is mainta med not so much for the in
habitants of Gardiner ana Randolph ;is
for the inhabitants Of towns acrosS the
river and in Lincoln county. 1t is also
of large benefit to the cities of -Au-
gusta and HalloWell who contributed
rot a cent in its support. He said that
tn" bridge was Il great load to the city
of Gardiner which bore the Drunt Of
the burden IS per cent. of the cost al
maintenance, the other % per cent. be-
ing paid by Randolph and the town Of
Pittston. The spea l;er said that this
bridge was not the only one that the
city mad to maintain. That there We're
four others in the city limits from 80
to a2G feet in length. The cost of main
tenunCe of the Gardiner Randolph
bridge alone-outSidc of repairS-iS
$50. the amount which is paid man
for tending the draw and doing other
ork required on the bridge.
MIR. Atkins said that the wooden
spans must be substituted by steel
during the next two or three years. In
speaking of the amount of traffic over
this bridge the attorney said that Tues
day the number of persons that
crossed either way during the day We're
$40 and teams to the number of 100.
The number was below the average as
the weather was not the best ana
many farmers and others living east
OF Gardiner probably did not come in
to town that day. The average traffic
was far above this number.
Senator Heselton then spoke. He
called the attention of the committee
to the fact that not a cent had been
ever appropriated by the Legislature
for public purposes in the city Of Gar
diner and with the exception of last
session, when the city came to the
Legislature with Il similar proposition.
they had never asked aid. But. this
year.. IN view Oh tile iiiuuStiioi uepieH
sion that the city has been forced TO
endure in justice to itself it considered
tina: ut least II small share of the bur
Gen of the maintenance of an. institu-
tion that has cost the city already
many thousands of dollars and which
is fer the benefit of communities other
than Gardiner, should be borne by the
state.
others who spoke in favor of the re-
solve were Mayor BuZZell. Hon. O. Il.
Clayson. Representative c. s. Cobb. j.
l.. E,gers. Postmaster j. ID. Libby. il.
C. Ballard. G. f.. Clark of the board OF
selectnen of the town of Randolph,
and John Cunningham.
Other measures were introduced in
F1ll0