Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-10
1heAugusta & Watervi||e
Road Asks Permission
To Enter WaierviIle by Cross
ing the Ticonic Bridge.
Railroad Commissioners Listen to
Facts About Bridge.

ing AT the Clty building before the
State Railroad commissioners on the
petition of the Augusta & Waterville
Electric road 10 enter this city crossing
the Ticonic bridge. The railroad COM
ranY have all their other locations and
mad one for crossing the bridge salts
factory to both municipalities. Water
Vile :tnG WinSloW. rhe railroad COM
missionerS decided To look into the
ater and this hearing was held and to
them is left t. determine to what eX-
tent repairs should be made for
STRENGTHENING and aprortioning the
cost
Chairman Col. Joseph Is. Peaks of
Dover conducted the hearing assisted
by Hon. Frank kcizcr Of Bath There
were a large number in attendance es-
rccially residents of WinSloW and
municipal officials from each Water
vile and WiusloW. Hon. ". G. Phil
l:ook of this city represented the resi-
dents of Winslow. Mayor l.. Ct. Bunker.
this city and Hon. Herbert NJ Heath
appeared in the interests of the rail-
road company.
The hearing was opened by Mr..
Heath, who gay" 20 the commissioners
Il brief history oi the bridge. its
designation and construction by the
late john l.. Chceny nf Boston, who af-
tcrWard made an investigation regard
ing The stability of the bridge should a
railroad cross it. Mr.. Cheeny made q
report stating that the bridge was in
good condition and very few repairs
would have to be made. The south
side he thought should be extended
making Il wider roadway for travel
and have the cars run over the bridge
over the north side. He did not men,
ton in bis report widening the north
siGeN ak, bat to construct an iron rail-
ing to protect the foot passengers.
Later the Augusta & Waterville Rail
road company drcW up contract with
the town Of Winslow that the bridge
should be widencd according to the de-
signs of MIR Choeny and that the said
company was to bear the expense or if
the commission should change the de-
signs for the crossing of the road they
would bear the expense.
Charles Warren, one of the Sclcctmen
of WinsloW. who has had considerable
experience i'll bridge designing stated
that according to Mr.. Cheeny's plan.
with the additional extension on the
south side the width of the bridge
would be 80 feet and . inches between
the cCrbines and that for the running
of so ton car over the north side the
north truss would need no strengthen
ing and also reckoning the increased
traffic. but one car To be run over the
bridge ut ON" time. When asked about
the vibration of the bridge, he said
that this was no sign that ii needed
STRENGTHENING. If the car was run over
tn" north side the distance from the
end of the car to the south curb would
BE- Is feet ami il would waste road
way to run the ear through the center
with feet on each side. The present
width of the roadway is IS feet.
Mr. Warren after receiving the report
from Mr.. Cheeny several years ago
answered it stating that the people did
not think this the best plan and want
Cd tn know if the north side as we'll as
tho south could not be widcncd to
which Mr.. Checny replied that it could
and drew W plans showing this could
be done by , feet and . inches. This
would make the width of the roadway
- feet and inches and if the cars
were run through TIL" center of the
brdg" the distance OH each side would
be feet and lOlA inches. MIR. Warren
read several extracts from letters from
Mr. Ch"cny regarding the bridge.
At this point Mayer Bunker wanted
information regarding the main water
,ire of the kennchcc Water District
and wanted to know for the welfare of
the city if this pipe would have To
Il" changed in regard to strengthening.
Mr.. Warren explained that the weight
of this pipe was borne uniformly by
both frusses. ana that at the time
Cheeny made his report this pipe was
not Tier" but did not think that the
,i!,,. ", Ild need any additional support.
He also spoke "f the congcsted condi-
ton Of the bridge at times during the
day. ana thought ii would be better to
lessen tn" width of the roadway rather
than the doing away of one OF the
walks
john F Hurleigh. the civil engineer,
IL III" rruI,.st Of Mayor Bunker fig
ured that the weight Of the water pipe
on the bridge was between 30 and go
tons
@.'nr commissioners made a decision
ii tnis point IN the hearing
That according to law the platter of
the strength of the bridge would have
to u" left with an expert engineer and
the State to bear the expense. This
was de cmed the proper thing to do by
AL concerned as the exact conditions
could be learned and reported. After
this decision nothing much more vas
said about the repairs to the bridge
Eat Mr.. Philbrool: examined several
officials from the town of Winslow. MIR.
Chamberlain, and Fl. :. Garland. both
selcc.men j. w BasSctt. county COM
missioner. g. :. Paine. Mr.. Getchell.
but all of these We're of the same
opinion that for the bottcrment of the
town of Winslow ana the convenience
of tho residents it would be better to
run tho bridge over the north side into
this city.
Mr.. Burleigh made suggestion as to
the ioration Of the track. His idea
WIS to run the track over the south
side. making the reverse curve come on
the Winslow end. having the sleepers
omen as it would be more convenient in
the winter on account of the snow
But this did not seem to meet with