Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-17


OF both sidewalks. y
The city council should take the nee
essary action to include both sidewalks
within the legal limits of the street. II
this involves the taking OF any land
outside the present recorded limits OF
the street, the damages, III any, should
be no more than nominal. because I'M
der the conditions existing the techni-
cal widening Of the record street to
conform to the actual street as used
and maintained for the past forty years
can be no actual daTage to the owner
OF the sidewalk,
BY having repaired and maintained
this sidewalk as a part Of the street the
city is liable for any injury to a trav-
eIler caused by defective construction.
by taking the action which ! recon-
mend the city will secure to the public
rights which will and ought to be CO.
extensive with, the city's,. liability.
There will then be no pretext for claim
on the part OF owners or tenants of
abutting stores to obstruct any part
OF the sidewalks by their wares.
GOOD ROADS .
In the building of good roads the city
| manent work was done by this city last
year in this direction than all the other
cities in the state. 1t is a record Of
which we may wei! be proud, and the
result is viewed with satisfaction by
all our fellow citizens.
The impro, cd country road contract,
under which work was begun i'll the
fal! Of 1916, was completed last .Sovem-
no. Tl,}S limo
and niacadanizing and draining the
North Belfast Road, for grading, drain
ing and Srayelling the Bangor road, fer
grading, draining and ElacadaInizing
the Falloweli ANA Winthrop roads.
Total length Of the improved portions
OF these four roads was 1885, lineal
feet, $40 miles. Total contract price
approved by the engineer was s335Sl.6J.
The Thonaston road was graded.
drained and macadamiZed for a dis
tancc Of 1860 feet and Thorne hill, the
most dreaded for 90 miles to the east OF
Augusta, cut down by blasting 700 Gu
bic yards OF ledge out at the top and
niakir:, Ii fill OF seven feet at the bot
tom, thereby reducing a grade of IL
per cent. to one OF about per cent. The
blasting was done at Il cost OF $i.75 per
cubic yard. In addition 10 the work
or our country roads We have the past
year graded and macadamized the
north end of Water street, also Oak, |
Court and Green streets and rebuilt |
with pitch :nacadam RineS hill. We |
have built two miles Of concrete and |
plank sidewalks, 1867 feet Of sewers |
and Improved many streets and roads |
On both sides of the river. 1t has been |
a year of hard work and we have |
something to show for it.
believe that the policy OF building !
permanent country roads should be |
continued. The Bangor road should be
macadamized from Pettingilrs Corner |
to q point near the North Parish meet
ing house TO connect with the improved |
highway which extends To the Vassal-
bOro line: the South Belfast road
should be macadamized and perma.
nent Improvement Of the Togus road
and Mt. Vernon avenue continued. =.
1t is hardly necessary for ma to set
forth the advantages OF improved
roads. Their value has already been
demonstrated in this city to OUR farm.
ers. our merchants and our city dwell
ers. All classes Of citizens are bene-
fitted. The value Of real estate Is en-
HANGED. The farmer finds is possible !
to haul larger loads. thereby reducing
the cost OF transporting produce to
market He can reach the city, any
day in the year and thus take advatl-
tage Of high markets. His family can
the more easily attend church, lectures
or entertainments and his children be /
better able to attend school regularly,
than before.
The country trade OF. the city ner-
chant is increased in volume and be-
comes more regular. City jewellers find
the markets better supplied with couh-
try produce and at prices lower than
formerly on account of decreased cost
of transportation. Abandoned farms
have Il ready Sale-soma for permanent
homes, others for summer use. Their
value is increased. thereby adding to
the taxable property of the city.
Under the new State road law the
city of Augusta Will be entitled; to re-
ceive from the Stale The sum of $939 81.
provided the city accepts the prOviS-
ions of the law and sets aside from its
regular appropriation the sum OF 1856
and also raises and tppropriates the
additional sum of $4l7.50 for permanent
improvement Of main highways. This
makes total fund of $2i91.S1 for eX-
pcnditure this year upon the State
road
/ recommend that the City Govern
ment take necessary action TO secure