Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-09
The City Proud Of Its Last
Piece Of State Road.
Glass Of 1909, High School,
Planning Reunion and Banquet.
Methodist Ladies' Aid Has a Very
Successful Sale and Supper.


over Main avenue, Gardiner is inter-
esting in two particulars, one. that the
time of it's commencement is unknown,
and another that 1t is one of the few
pieces of extremely modern road
solid cement and crushed rock-yet
built in Maine. 1t crosses what was
once an open bay at the union of the
KenneDec and Cobbosseecontee rivers,
and LANDLORDS a water area where
vessels were once loaded and dis
charged.
Some 80 years ago, it appears from
an old legal paper. there existed a
crossing there, of such unsatisfactory
character that r. II. Gardiner offered
bond of $4,000 to the officers of the
then town, as an indemnity, and
agreed to maintain a safe and proper
thoroughfare for persons and horse
drawn vehicles for q term of years.
provided the town paid him a sum
OF money there stated, each year, for
its maintenance. The result Of that
proposition has no place in this story,
but by inches and feet, the Cause
way" now Maine avenue, has steadily
grown higher. year by year, but the
quality of it's surface still remained,
in wet weather, the dispair of all users.
This season. on recommendation Of
State Highway Commissioner Hardi-
son, aided by Weston Lewis, a Coun
cillor, the State furnished sum of
money, the city council of Gardiner n
like amount, to which was added other
money. standing with the State to
GARDENERS past credit, and the road
has been built
Concrete, by the advice of the State
highway department.. was selected the
maintenance of such roads elsewhere
having proven very economical and
contract for the roads surface placed
with John p. Gulliver of Portland.
The road is continuous from Depot
square to the Farmingdale line, %
feet in width and inches in thick
ness, with a Gambler of inches, and
coating of asphalt and sand finishes
on top The price was s1.29 per square
yard.
On completion of the contractors part,
the city highway department took its
part of the work up grading the sioux
ders. recovering the bridges, to conform
with the new roadbed. and paving the
edges with granite blocks, the entire
length.
The management of the L., A. & w.
Street Railway generously co-operated.
raising their grade. filling between the
rails with crushed stone, and paving the
interval between the rail and the con-
crete
Mr. Hardison and his associates have
been much interested in the progress and
completion of the work, giving it their
personal attention and oversight. and are
inent State highway.
After all is said and done, no small
credit for the successful termination of
this grand Improvement is due to our
efficient alderman of streets and high
ways, Major John w. Berry. The major
is born roadbuilder, and some of the
older residents will remember that the
first address ever made on the subject
of good road in the state of Maine was
delivered by this gentleman about 25
years ago before the State Board of
Trade In Lewiston. Major Berry was
member of the State Board of Trade
commission that appeared before the Leg
islature, the following winter. and asked
for the appointment of State highway
commissioner. They also requested the
appropriation of $1,000 to be expended in
the locating of suitable roadbuilding ma
terial in the State The members of the
commission to have this lin charge were
to serve without pay. and the information
acquired was to be placed in the hands
of the county commissioners.
This effort proved unsuccessful, but a
part, at least, has been since adopted
the appointment of "a State highway com
missioner-and the rest will as surely fol-
low. hs