Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-10
CITIZENS OF AUGUSTA APPEAR
BEFORE RAILROAD COMMISSION
And Voice Protest Against Building of Low
Bridge Across Water Street--City Shows
Good and Practical Plans for Build
ing Bridge Two Feet Higher.

Citizens of Augusta, together win
members of the city government APP
peared before the Beard of Railroad
Commissioners, at the Finance Room
at the State House. Friday morning,
in protest against the proposed con-
struction of a double track bridge
across the main street Of the city,
namely Water street, virtually cutting
the street in two. because not giving
enough space beneath for the passage
Of large electric cars "a. teams loaded
high with merchandise.
" hi1e the city does not object to
the building of the bridge, as pro-
posed by the Maine Central r. K. co.
it claims that the bridge could be built
higher, giving more head room be
meath, and that the construction of the
bridge proposed by the railroad does
not give the required room.
Several plans were introduced by the
city to the one project of the railroad,
all feasible but one. The raising Of
the grade of the road was objection
able for the reason that it greatly
raised the grade at the crossing at
Bridge. street. In the minds of the city
government the plan of lowering the
grade OF the street was not feasible,
owing 10 the fact Of the cost to the
city. and the damage that would be
done to the buildings along the way.
The Edwards Mills. Fuller Holway
Co. and several other land owners
were greatly opposed to any such ac-
ton. and testified that such a plan
would decrease the value Of their prop
erty.
The overhead room wanted by the
city is approximately II feet, to suit
all purposes and allow the cars, as
pecialIy the large freight cars of the
street railway to run beneath the
bridge The height that would be
left, should the railroad construct the
proposed bridge, would be Il feet AMI
two inches, an increase over the pres
ent height of two inches which does
not give the overhead clearance want
ed.
Chief Engineer Wheeler Of the Maine
Central declared that no plan of con
struction other than the one he SUD-
mittea would be satisfactory and OBJ
jected TO using any Of the plans sub
mitted by j. r. Hill, city engineer OF
Augusta. or that submitted by +. t.
Greenwood. bridge engineer
Mr.. Greenwood's plan by the way
seems To be the most feasible from the
constructive viewpoint. and only the
item Of the added cost of about $500
appears to stand in the way of az
ceptanee by the board.
=. The petition of the Maine Central
Railroad to the board, calls for per-
mission TO build a double track bridge
across the Kennebec and also for the
changing of the alignment of the
tracks in the section of the bridge, so
that the new bridge will cross the
position, at point about where the
building occupied by the Tallow Co.
used to stand.
The Board of Railroad Commission,
ers are to decree the kind of bridge
to be built and to settle the matter of
the crossing of Water street. Seth
Carter appeared for the railroad at the
hearing, while Joseph Williamson, in
the absence of City Solicitor Ernest
Mclean, appeared for the city. Mayor
Newbert also made a strong argument.
declaring that the future of the city
in that section depended on the raising
or the lowering of the street at that
point. One or the other must be done,
as the North end. so called, is the
logical outlet for the city's growing
business.
T. B. Stevenson agent of the Ed
wards cotton mills, j. j. Maher, who
owns "a storeAin that section; Blaine
Owen, president of the Board of Trade,
and Samuel Titcomb. one of the 1arg-
est single owners of real estate in the
city appeared, and voiced their urgent
protest against the proposed bridge. =
MIR. Wheeler Explains.
Seth Garter who appeared for the
railroads introduced Mr.. Wheeler, the
chief engineer Of the railroad. vino eN7
planned thc construction of the bridge
proposed By the railroad He OK
-. ~ IA.