Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-22
PRESENT CONDITIONS
And Brief History Of the Proposed Ad'
dition to the Federal Building.

Editors Kennebec Journal:
Being aware, through repeated in
quiries made of me. of quite general
desire for information respecting the
long delay in the matter of charging
the Federal Building in this city. it
seems proper to ask the favor of your
columns in making public brief re-
sumo of the situation.
All are doubtless aware Of the gener-
al satisfaction In this city, when lit
tie more than three years ago Con-
gresham Burleigh secured from
Congress very reluctant in the matter
of public building appropriations the
sum of $4,000 to be expended in re-
licving the badly cOngested Govern
ment building here by means of an ad-
dition. 1t will also be recalled that
the government architect some months
later, visited Augusta with preliminary
plans for charging the building on it's
present grounds: how he went away
convinced that the interests of all con-
cerned. especially those of the public
and of the post Office. could best be
served by making the extension to-
wards the north and into the roadway;
and how the public arrived at like
conclusion.
1t may not be known that Mr.. Bur-
leigh interested himself in this new
phase Of the matter and. finding the
department had no fund for such in
vestigation. himself hired a lawyer to
thoroughly investigate the records and
all preliminary steps looking to secur-
ing the right Of the Government to ex-
tho MI
into the highway.
This having been done it was found
that this right of way was originally
| set aside by the old Plymouth Com
pany for highway purposes when it
owned the land here abouts: that sine"
that remote time Hallowell, Augusta.
the county ard the State had acquired
| technical rights therein SO long as
same remained a highway; also that
certain private individuals might have
a claim upon it should same be divert
ed from it's present purpose as a road.
| From time to time the Journal has
reported the various steps. which have
been taken. whereby all the Interested
parties have expressed a willingness 70
| relinquish their claims. nothing re-
naming but to secure such rights IN
legal form. The matter had arrived at
that stage considerably more than \
year ago, as expeditiously as is usual
in such cases.
| Many of the readers of the Journal
will also doubtless recall the following
item among the local news of the
Journal of Oct. IL, 1904:
Hon. Isaac W. Dyer. United States
1 - ct,;c ot{
ance from Hon. Lendail Titcomb. at
torney for the heirs of the late Hon. !.
w. Williams, that their interest in the
land to be occupied by the Augusta
postoffice extension will be presented
to the government as soon as proper
proceedings can be had i'm the probate
court and Mr.. Titcomb hopes within
six weeks to complete the transaction
SO that the government will have full
title and be able to begin its construc-
ton. This willingness on the part Of
the Williams heirs should be greatly
appreciated by the citizens OF Augusta.
and It Is believed will be the means Of
Fastening the construction Of the
building"
Naturally the public. after this in
formation, expected an early beginning
OF the work. The heirs to any revers-
ionary rights. There might be were
all said to be willing to relnquish
those rights. At present writing the
deeds have net been secured. Several
days ago, however. the writer was as
sured by Mr.. Titcomb that he had sue
ceeded in smoothing away all delays.
Cccasioned by certain legal require
ments. and would have the matter set
tied. so far as the Williams heirs are
concerned, in two weeks from that
| time.
JOHN v. LANE.