Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-19
A Communication.
Tor Kennebec Journal:


Editor Kennebec Journal:
One of the first things that the good
old city of Hallowell ought to do is 10
get rid of some of the eyesores, one
only of which | shall mention at the
present time, viz: the flag and water
grass swamp situated on the old Day
property, so called, now owned by two
of Augustus most enterprising citi-
zens, Messrs. Williamson Il Burleigh.
The swamp is not only a nuisance but
a danger to health. and the buildings
ON the property facing the main thor
oughfare from Augusta to Hallowell
are not what they should be to say
the very least. Every time | ride on
the electrics by that property and cast
my eyes on that dismal swamp | turn
them quickly away To view that pleas
ant, peaceful, restful spot on the other
side where all my friends wish | was
This is a matter which has disturbed
| the good people of Hallowell for many
years and the city fathers of the vari-
Gus city governments have spent sew
eral hundred dollars in choice cigars
discussing the troublesome problem
| but ii all ended in smoke, or smoke
| talk. At one time they did make a
/ sort of half hearted attempt to do
something put in a small pipe which
proved inadequate for the work de-
| sired because 1t was not properly pro-
| teeted and soon choked up-hence a
| failure
The gentlemen who own the prop
| erty are anxious to improve it. are
willing to Incur all expense of drain
| ing their land; are willing to be taxed
double the present valuation provid-
| ing, however. that Hallowell does her
part There are three ways of
draining swamp of that character;
one. large open drain, one, large
| stone drain and one by sewer pipe of
sufficient size. The first is not To be
thought of except, perhaps. for a tenn
parary purpose: the second too eX-
pensive; the third all right if properly
| laid and protected; and right here let
me say the residents in that section
| OF our city are entitled to proper
sewerage and are undoubtedly willing
10 pay their part of the expense as
| AUDITORS. The sewer pipe would ex-
| tend from the south end of the swamp
| to short distance below North street
some fifty rods or more-and that
expense can be easily estimated. The
draining of the swamp is another
problem; that would require drain
| tile; main tile of sufficient size
through the center of the swamp To
enter the sewer pipe at the lower end
| and smaller drain tile laid at right
distances to enter the main. As tile
will take moisture from land "a feet
each way the number required can be
o. 81 " aGf inns taA oil h..
but that is for the owners of the land
to consider. First, however Hallowell
| must afford them an outlet for the
surplus water coming from the hills
and either oozing slowly away or be-
coming stagnant. breeding place for
mosquitoes and malarial disease.
am happy to say that at last our
city fathers have awoke to the neces-
sity of doing something and doing Ii
| right away They have employed a
civil engineer to survey and estimate
the cost. Mr.. Getchell, formerly en-
ployed, estimated that it would cost
in the neighborhood of $780, But
no matter what 1t costs, it should be
done and done at once
BY drainage-not cheap open drains
but covered stone drains laid four feet
deep-I have cut two to three tons of
good English hay where previously
| nothing but flag and sour water grass
es grew and by the same kind of
drainage, costing about two dollars
per rod, | now have a fine orchard
where the land was too wet for any
thing of value to grow. | realize of
| course, that the draining of this
swamp is a greater problem than
draining farm lands but what is pos
| sible to accomplish should be under
| taken from sanitary considerations If
| from no other. At one time the Hal
lowell Board of Trade appointed
committee to nose out all the natural
resources of the city. What has be-
come of that committee [ do not
know; it may have gone to pieces or
To sleep; but ii there is any part of 1t
alive and awake l would suggest that
here is resource undeveloped or
running to waste from the lack of en-
ergy and pluck. When that swamp is
| thoroughly drained, filled in, lots laid
| out, houses erected, you will see q
| wonderful transformation. Then there
will be something for the people of
Waterville and Lewiston to admire
Then there will be Western avenue
To be proud of and then there will be
a revenue of goodly proportions COM
| ing to the city of Haliowell for wise
| Investment.
| 1lo