Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-15

up oelore the committee on interior
waters Wednesday at 2 P. NJ. The
flshons Ferry bridge proposition in
which residents of the southern part
OF Somerset and northern part of Ken
nebec county are interested will come
up Thursday before the committee on
ways and bridges.
Inc act to set off the towns of Ston-
ington and Isle Au Haul from the
county of Hancock and annex the
same to the county of Knox will be
heard Thursday before the committee
on counties. The petitioners for the
act will seek to show before the conf
mlttee that the geographical and COM
merclal interests of the two towns de-
mana the change in county lines.
Inc committee on ways and bridges
VIII present its report Monday upon
the Donigan bridge bill. AS has al
ready been stated this report will be
divided report, seven of the mem
bers of the committee favoring the
Donigan bridge bill with an amend.
ment, making the length of the
bridges to be taken over by the State
80 fet in length instead of 40. IS under
80 feet in length instead of 40, as under
ed by Senator DOnigan. The minority
report, which will be presented by
Senator Theriault of ArOostook the
chairman of the committee, Senator
Wyman of Washington and Repre-
sentative Rounds of Portland vii! ia
vOr as an initial step county control
of bridges in some form or another
A tentative draft of compromise
bridge bill. providing for county own
ership and maintenance of bridges has
been drawn up by Senator Theriault
and with some changes will probably
meet with the approval of the other
minority members of the committee.
Section l of the bill proposed by
Senator Theriault provides that on and
after Jan. i, 1910, all bridges having a
clear span between abutments of %
feet or more, which form a part of any
highway, shall be maintained and kept
in reoair by the county commissioners
of the county or counties in which the
proposed bridge is located.
Section 2 provides that on and after
Jan. /, 1910, all bridges, which form a
part of any highway, having span
of 10 feet and which are not maintained
by the several counties under the pro-
visions of this act, and also all hay
ing span of 10 feet, which cities and
towns are now obliged by law to main
tain and repair shall continue to be
maintained and repaired by such cit
les and towns and upon q certificate
under oath made by the treasurer OF
any city or town to the county COM
nissiCncrs, the county commissioners
shall forthwith when satisfied OF the
correc of such statement draw
their order upon the county treasurer
for the payment of tWo-thirds of the
amount of such expense to the treas
urer of such tGWr.
Section , provides for the rebuilding
and building of now bridges over %
feet in length by the county commits
SlOneTS.
Section ; provides that in the case
of the construction of all bridges over
% feet in length between abutments,
the state commissioner of highways
shall approve all plans before the
work Of construction has commenced.
Section provides that nothing IN
this act shall invalidatc any existing
contract, Judgment or decision of any
tribunal, whereby any bridge is Who'll
" or partly kept in repair or any
money is contributed for that purpose
bv any individual, firm or corporation.
Section is as follows:
The term bridge in this act Shall be
construed as including all structures
forming a part of any highway, town
way or city street, having Il clear span
between abutmcntS of 10 feet or more,
also all bridges or causWays across tide
waters. All bridges shall be subject
TO the provisions of this act, whether
now maintained by any county, city,
town. organized plantation or bridge
district.