Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-24
GENERAL BRIDGE BILL.
Domains New Measure Calls for
100000 from State.

Senator Donigan of Somerset VIII
introduce his new bridge bill sometime
this week. probably Tuesday. The new
bill differs from the one he introduced
two years ago mainly in that Il puts
the county commissioner in charge OF
the bridge building work. In speaking
of the bill Monday afternoon Senator
Donigan said:
The new general bridge bin is
changed in only Il few respects from
the one Of two years ago. The new
draft Will be termed a state bridge
bill. bat could easily be called Il Coun-
" hill. as by it the county commits
sionerS would have fun charge of
building and maintaining bridges, and
are reimbursed One-third by the state
and one third by the town or towns
in which the bridge is located. but all
Will be under the general supervision
Of the highway commissioners. In case
OF sudden defect the town officers will
have the right To repair damage.
The bill calls for one-half mill or
about 500, 600 from the State. one
half mill will be the limit for the State
to pay but according to figures TAX
en- from the assessors and highway
commissioner ii would not cost the
State fourth of that unless they
wished TO build new bridges, as s10S.-
900 is all il would cost the counties.
State and towns for maintaining all
the bridges in the State. Bridges and
roads are now kept separate by the
town assessors, and one can get at the
cost OF maintenance quite accurately
at the present time. This bill would
tax Portland 100000 but il would give
back to Portland Tor building and
maintaining their bridges. Portland
is not assessed the same as smaller
cities ard towns, where the assessors
know where every piece of property
is and what it is worth. Therefore I
venture the prediction that one eighth
of the real valuation of Portland is not
assessed. Besides this Portland gets
a large amount from the state for
schools. hospitals etc, that smaller
towns do not get. one senator said in
the Senate last week, if it were not
for the smaller cities and towns. Port
land would not be larger than Scar
horo Flats. With all this the bill does
Portland no injustice.
This bin would take from the wild
lands $2l,@45.15, and l have talked with
many wild land owners who do not
object to paving this for the support
of State bridges. Are we going TO OBJ
ject? Large and small appropriations
are given for bridges in different parts
OF the state. which does an injustice to
towns in other sections. over $4,000
petitioners have asked in the last two
Legislatures to have THE State take
over the bridges. ana | have now be-
tween 5000 and 5000 for a referendum
The senator from my county two years
ago voted against this bill, but hc. will
not vote against it this wear be-
lieve the defeat of this bill had as
much to do with the election last fall
as any other one thing. Good bridges
are more essential than good roads
and il the road law is right the bridge
law is surely right
Bills have been presented to this
Legislature asking for about 81 100000
for the Insane hospital. and nearly
$150,G00 for the Home for Feeble
Minded. Two years ago about 81
100000 was appropriated, but the Leg
slature did not see fit to give 100000
for State bridges. | have every rea =
son to believe that the bill will pass at
this session. as many members who
voted against it two years ago are
willing to vote for it this year.