The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-05-23
THE STATE ROAD IN UNITY.
Petition for Change of Location.

as now designated by the county Commissioners
Is not the main travelled thoroughfare in said
town and that public convenience would be bet.
yer served 6y the designation Of the following
named road as State road: 1.-THE road begin-
ming on the westerly line of said town of
Unity at the line of Unity plantation; thence
easterly on the public highway to Unity viii
lage, in said town of Unity; thence southerly
on the public highway to Sandy stream bridge,
thence easteriy on the public highway to Jones'
Corner (so-called) in said Unity; thence east
erly on the public highway to the town line of
the town of Thorndike in said county of
Waldo''
The present State road in the town of Unity
was designated by the county commissioners
of Waldo county, April 29, 1904, as follows:
old Augusta stage road, thence northerly to
Unity village by the railroad station and across
the new county road and by the ]. L. Ames'
place to Troy line."
hearing on the above petition was held in
Adams hall, Unity, May goth at p. m. The
commission consisted of P L. Hardison, State
Road Commissioner, Levi J. Williams of Au-
gusta. chairman of the board of Commission
ers of Kennebec county, ard E. 7. Reynolds
chairman of the Selectmen of Unity. About
$50 representative citizens of Unity, Troy and
Albion, towns that would be affected by the
change, were present. The State road stipend
has from the first been expended on the public
highway from Bangor to Augusta through
Unity from Albion to Troy, this road taking in
the depot and the main street of Unity village
The petition for the change was signed by 154
of the 294 voters of the town and was for the
cross road running from Unity Plantation by
the Unity fair grounds, over the steel bridge
OF Sandy stream. thence east to the Thorndike
town line. The petition was circulated by
James Vickery, Jr., and Charles Cook two
popular young farmers, and Mr.. Vickery was
the first speaker and made good argument
for State aid in this section of the town. He
told of the large amount of teaming over this
road and of the willingness of tax payers and
voters to sign the petition. He said that
about three-fourths of the R. F. D
route driven by Gurney Stevens was
over this road; that most of the worst places
on the State road had been permanently re-
paired, and all the petitioners asked was for
State aid for short term of years until some
of the most dangerous places were repaired.
Mr.. Charles Farwell of Unity, who owns g
400 acre farm and raised 1000 bushels of pota
toes last year, asked the first question of Mr.
Hardison: "Are State roads built for the con-
venience of the citizens of the town or for the
travelling public?" and the reply was: "For
both, what benefits would also benefit the
other" MIR. Rufus E. Stone of Troy led
the opposition. He said that if the cross road
needed repairs, and he acknowledged that il
did, the main road needed them even more
and he presented facts and figures and state.
ments from others present to prove his points
making strong argument for the main road
He said that if petition was started in oppo
sition the signatures of 500 men who would be
injur ed materially by the change could be had
l. H. Parkhurst of Unity made some sug
gestive remarks as to the manner in which the
Unity roads were repaired and money appar
emily wasted. W. B. Ferguson, who keeps
general store in Troy, and does great amour
of hauling over this main road, buying abou
$4,000 material yearly in Unity, made
good argument in behalf of the main road
W. H. Moulton of Unity spoke several times il
favor of continuing on the main road. Charlie
Farwell said it would be breach of trust t.
, Troy and Albion to make the change, and ere
tae much hard feeling, and he would favo
continuing the main road. Mr.. Pray of Abol
. spoke of the large amount of produce brough
{ from that town to Unity and said that If the
, change was made this business would go else
where.
j. L, Ames,a selectman of Unity,spoke of tn
bad condition of the main road. He said h
had spent many days assisting teams and auto
, stalled this road and had counted 68 heav
teams in one day pass his house on this roaG
One day ne counted S4 autos. He though
this was the road to use State money on.
Allen Rollins, the stage driver from Unity t
, Troy, making four trips, put in a plea for tn
old road, telling of its urgent need of repair
and said that he had ruined two horses on il
He doubted the judicious expenditure of Stat
money when he had seen the road machin
start out at 7.S0 in the morning with "a horse
and II drivers. L. L. Rogers, wood worke
of Troy, said he hauled material for 80 ca
loads to Unity every year and one-third NOR
q could be hauled at load if the road was
better condition.
George Varney, one of the large taxpayers
spoke in favor of the change, which woul
J, benefit him. E. B. Hunt, one of Unity's selec
men, said he thought the main road should
finished before the cross roads were taken III
! E. T. Reynolds was called upon and said h
n thought criticism of road making should (
dropped and attention given to the matte
2 under discussion. Walter Gerald said tt
d main road should be finished and the Gro:
road repaired if the town had to borrow none
to do the work. George Gerald also spoke
favor of the main road.
1t developed in the course of the hearir
that large number had signed the petite
!, without knowing the purport of it and hs
- since changed their minds. 1t also came OF
that petition had been sent to deputy ros
commissioner McAllister for the section of tt
- main street in the State road to be repare
y this year, but on account of some irregularit
it was void.
I. The discussion lively at times, three
S four on their feet at once, but the very best
a feeling prevailed, as the citizens of the tow
interested are neighbors. friends and nusine
+. associates.
). Messrs. Hardson and Williams had been ov,
" both the roads in question and at the close
e the hearing the State Road Commissioner sal
in brief. that he knew this hearing would resu
in better work the roads, and more of