Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-26
GARDINER.
s@.tE
The Early Development Of.
I: Brunswick Avenue
Again Discussed BY Citizens
Before Finance Committee.
THE Private Sserstary" Tonight.
Given By the High School.

The members of the finance commit
tee Of the city government held
meeting last night at which time a
second hearing was held on the pro-
posed development of Brunswick ave-
nue. from the Common to Piummer
street, a distance Of about l200 rect.
About 20 taxpayers of the city were
present and nearly every man pre-
sented his views on the matter.
l.. c. Ballard said that the question
WAS what can we afford to do. He
would like to see the city spend lit
tie money this year, not $1,000 as was
estimated hut to have the street loca-
ted and graded so that the water will
run into the sewer at School street.
The road now is muddy in wet weather
and dusty in dry. He offered to fix the
road alongside his property If the
grade is made.
Or. q. +. NOyes favored taking out
the cross walks, the knobs in the road
and filling in The hollows. make a
foundation for permanent sidewalks
and ne believed. all the property own
ers would pay their share Of The curb
ing for the sidewalks.
C. A. knight said il Was generally
agreed among the citizens that the
proposed plan called for too much out
lay but it seemed to him that the time
had come in the city's affairs TO start
permanent improvements in the resi-
Genital sections He would like to see
sidewalks on both sides and would be
satisfied this year if the city would put
in gravel for the walk grade and then
go ahead from that later but make q
start somewhere.
Frederic Danforth gave figures on
work done in other parts OF the city
showing that it would cost about st
per running foot on Brunswick avenue
to grade the road. put in curbing, Gull
verts and drains and build sidewalks
It was estimated that the cost foi
grading and curbing with gravel walks
as a foundation for better walks would
cost about $4,000.
Major Berry said that the drainage was
the most important subject to be consid
cred.
Dr. c. s. jackson thought it advisable
to remedy some Of the defects of old side
walks before any new ones were to be
built. He believed in permanent improve
ments but wished other parts of the city
the city went behind about 5000 last year
and with the falling off in the valuation
this year and an increase in the tax rate
we had better go slow.
d. r. Darling said that If anything was
done 1t should be by specifications with
responsible contractors to do the work
and that this would reduce the cost. he
favored building good roads under that
plan and spoke of the bltuminous road
Major Berry said that 1t was not unloya
TO let the job of building road to par
ties outside the city any more than build
ing a bridge or railroad.
S. G.. Decker said that he failed to see
any street in the city which needed I'M
provements more than Brunswick avenue
and he favored grading and having some
thing done.
c. o. Turner wanted the work made to
last more than three years. He was In
favor of wider walks. especially for win
ter travelling and to have the present
defects In walks remedied.
John Milton said they were others In
the city to pay taxes besides the resi-
dents of Ward 5 and that they would be
lucky to get one sidewalk.
Guy A. Hidreth spoke favoring the
grading of the road from the Common as
far as practicable with walks on eacl
side and TO do away with the cross walks
and that the work should be started a:
unit for future work. 1t was not rea
sonable to expect to have the plot a
planned but have the grading up, curb
ing and gravel walks and If the city wa;
unable to give all that. give what 1t can
Mr. Hildreth also suggested that all the
wires on the street be laid under srouno
from the Common as far up as practi
cable
DR. ponneu said that the $1,000 needed
would increase the tax rate but three
quarters Of mill and that there woult