Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-20
Orders of the Day.
The Donigan Bridge Bill.

On motion of Mr.. Weld of Old Town.
Bill relating to maintenance of bridges
by the State. was taken from the
| table.
| Mr.. WELD: Mr.. Speaker. in taking
this bill from the table do so with
the conviction that no more important
measure to the interests of the citizens
Of our State has been or will be pre-
| sented to this session of our Legisla-
| ture.
| My object in tabling the bill was
| SIMPLY to give ample time and notice
TO all members of the Legislature that
the measure might be fully understood
and to give it free and impartial dis
| cussion. Permit me to state at the out
| set that this bill comes before You
| from the committee by unanimous re-
port that it fought to pass" and I am
| Informed that, although this subject of
| bridges has been widely discussed and
heraldcd throughout our State by the
| press, not one single individual of our
State has appeared before the commit
! tee to protest against it.
The committee has worked earnestly
and faithfully upon this matter and
congratulate each and every member
upon the result of their labor and this
unanimous report.
Although representing municipality
having a large number of bridges to
support, | have no selfish interests or
| motives in supporting this bill, and
were the measure as q whole inimical
or dangerous to the State or our citi-
Zers at large 1 would cast my vote and
| raise my voice in opposition to it's pas
sage Just as earnestly as 1 now advo-
cate its passage.
I am deeply interested in this meas
ure, not because Of my constituency,
bat because it is, I believe. legislation
along the right line. Legislation which
removes the burden from our already
overtaxed cities and towns and their
residents and places it where in all JUS
tice and equity, as it will be my en-
deavor to show you. it rightfully be-
longs. Legislation which is along the
same lines with State appropriation for
| insane hospitals, paupers and the many
similar objects. matters and things. in
GLIDING and not for a moment forget
ting, rs I shall have occasion to again
refer to the subject, the wise and bene-
ficient provisions made for State roads.
If l was going to offer any material
amendment to the bill, it would be in
substance like this, to substitute for the
word forty the word ten" SO that
the measure shall include all bridges in
the State ten feet or more in length.
This may seem to some like radical leg
islatiCn but if I cannot convince you
| that we can just as well. just as easily,
lust as economically take care OF all
bridges from ten feet in length and up
wards as we can bridges forty feet and
upwards in length then, it were use
| less to make any argument whatever
upon this matter.
At the cost Of considerable time and
labor, to myself, although most cheer
fully rendered, 1 have prepared certain
tables of facts and figures, the sub
stance of which I desire to place be-
! fore YOU at this time that we all may
act and vote intelliGently upon this
measure.
assume that every member of this
bodv has read this bill and is fully rs
we'll acquainted with it's provisions as
am I.
First. You will observe that, unlike
| other measures that have been present.
ed to the Legislature in previous ses-
sions. the State is not required to ap-
prcpriatc one dollar for the purchase OIL
| bridges now supported by our cities
and towns. 1t is sufficient for my pur-
rose to state that the fee IN these
|! hr;drns masses to the State. in cOnSid-
| Grafton Of the assumption by the state
| ri oil future repairs and construction oil
| brides.
| firmly believe that the bridges con-
| s;itutinC as they do large and imnort-
ant part of the highways of our state
| should be the property of and support
Oh bv tho state The cities and towns
having bridges to support have borne
| tho burden long enough. no more
| should our cities and towns be re-
o,1ircd unaided to construct modern ana
extensive bridges for tho convenlence
Of thc general public and 70 meet the
cyc.. increasing demands OF our time
and raridly developing civilization.
This i; the age Of electric lights. tel
| cnhonc. wireless telegraphy and tn" au-
| t,nobile. The vehicles of today that
aro sacu uDon cur public highways
x,.aior tons where q few years ago
| Wounds or at the outside n few hum
dred mounds was the limit in weight.
S7neI bridges are being thrown across
orr large rivers here and there
| throughout our state
BETTER and stronger bridges are re-
r,irnd to support the burdens put upon
| +bap, and 10 meet the demands OF the
itimes, among which might be noted the
cva,. increasing thousands who annu-
| ally visit our state in search OF health
| or pleasure. !.
| Another feature of the bill is That II
| porvides an adequate and systematic
bridge inspection. which in itself tur-
n;sbos an additional safeguard to the
rubiic. -, ;. o,,,r
The main features of the bill. it seems
! IN me. and the ones likely to provoke
The most discussion. are those relating
;, tho cost to the state and direct tax
alton by the State to raise the amount
| necessary to meet IT,
| During the session of 1903 the Legs
,otr-o directed the state assessors to
collect information in regard to the
1o~pe bridges within the state. Ine