Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-20
Gives Norridgewock Peo-
p|epIe MY ofDiscussion.
Some Want Toll Bridge Made
Free -Others Do Not.
Opinions Of Stockholders...State.
msnt by SeIectman Ames.

Norridgewock is hot with the dis
cussiOn Of the toll bridge question.
The two factions, one standing Tor IL
free bridge, and the other maintaining
That the time is not yet ripe Tor max
ing il free, are still growing in mum
hers. The stockholders are SAID L"
size I'D the situation as follows: Nor
fidgewock is heavily in debt on ac-
count of the railroad that runs through
the town. The taxpayers are paying
q mills on the dollar. probably the
highest rate of any town IN the c"nh-
ty, and the stockholders say that Tor
the good Of the townspeople it is bet
ter to pay 81 year on the toll bfIdS"
than TIC increase the taxes and they
conclude by saying that the brldS"
cannot be made free for the reason
that when appraisers are put on t" de-
tcrmine the value of the bridge, it Will
exceed the amount that the town can
go in debt for.
Those who stand for a free bridge
say that the town will incrcaS" IN val
re and that Norridgewocll will be freed
from that ban of serfdom and thpE
believe that, considering the large vote
for a free bridge. sooner or later. anu
it is expected in The next six months
the word toll will be dropped from the
NOrridgewock bridge. 70,
Frank l.. Ames, chairman of The Sc
lectmen and one who has done most
toward making Norridgewock bride"
free. has made public the following
statement:
There are 3S1 shares of bridge stock
and will cost S5..l5 at price of 81"
Ter share as named in the resolve. 1h''
State will pay $4,000. Ieaving S22l3 for
the town to pay--Deing $642 less ttian
half the value of the bridge. In other
words. the $500 which the State gives
the town is practically equivalent I"
exemption Of State tax for two years.
The Bridge Company annually col
lects from 800 to $500 a year in tolls
from our citizens and has paid. on an
average, for the last 10 years. the sum
Of $103 4 year to keep the bridge i'll
repair, so that the tcwn will save at
least 5000 year on the average by
owning the bridge.
Tile town raised s4ll3 this year f"i
highways; now to be afraid To put in
800 more year and save $500 %, 500
would be penny wise and pound foolish.
This bridge is just as much highway
as any other piece OF road i'll town.
"A few citizens fear that if the
bridge is appraised it will be appraised
high; in the same breath they say that
when the town gets it. it Will be Il
white elephant and will b" heavy
hill of expense. If a free bridge Will
save our townspeople $500 to 500 Il
year, it is worth something; if the
bridge is white elephant. the apprais-
erS Will award nothing as its value. IN
either event, it is good business sense
TO have the town own The bridge
FOR if the bridge pays nothing. the
company will lay out nothing on it,
and hence the town should take it be
fore it becomes dangerous. The loss
of one life by breakdown would cost
perhaps more than the $4,000 necessary
to pay for the bridge in full. The town
will keep it safe; the Bridge Com
pany may not.
'If the free bridge will save the
townspeople 5000 to 800 per year then
it will save 10 per cent. on $4,000 a year.
so that the town can afford to keep il
i'm good and safe condition
AS matter of fact. the bridge is,
not white elephant; it is a good
piece of paying property for Norridsc-
wock to own; it is poor policy for a
toll bridge to be allowed to do b,lsi-
ness in our town; the tolls of any toll
bridge are always burdensome. rc sting
heavily on some, and burdensomc upon
all. No person can justify a toll bridge
everybody hates toll bridge.
This institution separates instead
Of joining the two parts of our town;
1t keeps the valuation of property on
the north side Of the river away below
what it would be with free bridge; it
keeps business from our business men
and merchants: it taxes property hold
crS on basis of about 81 to 81 on $1,000
where town tax of 16 cents on $1,000
would accomplish the same results; ii
gives To our town the appearance and
justly so. of being an unprogrcssive
community
Mrs. J. n. Smith, vino has been In
Boston two weeks. returned home
Monday night.
Benjamin Eaton. local station agent.
accompanied by his daughter. Mrs j.
r. Oak. and Mr.. oak and DR.. Pulsiter.
ment tn Boston Tuesday
Frenchman invents New Torpedo.
Some highly interesting experiments
were recently carried on in the harbor
of Antilles. France. with new auto
dir'gible torpedo. the secret of which
is guarded with the utmost care. It
Is only Known that Thu; torpedo is driy-
en- by means of electric storage bate
fles carried in compartment located
under the torpedo proper. The uDper