The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-11-27
STATE HIGHWAY "R."
From Augusta to Belfast. The Hearing at
the State Capitol Nov. 21st.

Rockand, Augusta to Brunswick and Augusta
to Belfast brought large delegations from all
the towns Interested to the State Capitol last
Friday, including leading and representative
men of their sections. Rockland sent ex-Gov-
ernor W. T. Cobb, former Mayors Arnold H.
Jones and w. S. White, ex-Fish Commissioner
James Donohue, Hon. Elmer S. Bird, Hon.
Fred R. Spear, Col. Fred Dyer, David Talbot,
Esq. and Chester M. Walker. and Washington
sent Hon. Lindley M. Staples. Twenty -eight
left Belfast on the Friday morning train, in
GLIDING the following residents: K. w. War
ZEN, Ralph D. Southwt rth Edward R. Pierce,
Walter J. Clifford, John A. Fogg. Arthur W
Leonard, Charles N. Black, W. l.. West, " n.
A. Mason, S. A Parker, G. W. and Chas F.
Swift. E. A. Jones, R. T. Rankin, Elmer A.
Sherman, Ralph H. Howes, E. 5. Pitcher and
Clarence E. Read At every station others
joined the party, which numbered fully rs on
leaving Burnham, and with those that went to
i Augusta by automobiles from Waldo county
and the other towns interested exceeded one
hundred. The tentative route for State High
way "R." Augusta to Belfast is as follows:
| Leaving Augusta at Pettingiirs Corner, on
the Bangor road, thence by Three Cornered
! Pond, Souti VassaIboro, South China, Dirigo,
Palermo, (Dranch Mills,) Palermo Center. East
Palermo, Libertyvile, around the northerly
side of St. Georges Pond, through Liberty, by
the westerly side of True's Pond. through
South Montville, Searsmont, Belmont Corner,
following the direct road into Belfast.
Highway r. was first considered, the chair
man explaining that most of the visitors from
I Belfast had to take the early afternoon trains
for home. The following report is from the
Kennebec Journal:
/ The chairman stated that the State Commits
sion had no preJudices pro or con and would
equally welcome criticisms and approval of
the tentative plans for the various roads,
/ Hon. John R. Nelson of Augusta stated that
it is a matter of congratulation that all repre-
sentatives from the sections interested agree
in the main the desirability of the Augusta
and Belfast State road The old stage road
seemed the only suitable cross road to serve
the eastern and western parts of the State.
/ DR.. West of Belfast, congratulated the COM
mission and the State ON the tentative road
proposed His county produ annually s.,
SOC, 900 in products ard outputs that must be
moved. Belfast people therefore are not
stickle on details of direction. What they
want first and chiefly is a good road. Details
/ they were willing to leave to the commission
/ He trusted there would be no friction Bel
fast is the gateway for the interior and all
down there swear by the old stage road from
Augusta the best route to his town. He
mentioned the fact that five miles of the road is
i'll Belmont, and runs ancient lake bed.
The doctor went into details of the popua-
tion and valuation of the sections that will be
served by the road as laid down in the commits
( sion's plans. This road" eloquenty said the
| speaker ''is not of the lace, linen and luxury
variety but is to serve the horny handed sons
/ of TOLL He mentioned Belmont's 1000 tons
! and Liberty's 1900 tons of freight. hauled re-
/ spectivey into those towns y merchants,
4 farmers and mjllers over the present roads
In Waldo county $4,000 tons of freight, must
( be hauled annually over the roads. Belfast
i is boom town. husting, growing city and
that section has fine farms. splendid scenic
views Of Penobs ;ot Bay, which enthrall and
noids in rapture" Searsmont is another
wide awake. hustling town. Liberty also is
alive witt agricultural and numbering activity
and needs the road In case the decison be
to build tie State highway over the old stage
road all viii agree the doctor said.
/ The doctors speech, which was lively and
eloquent a! times, was. heartily endorsed by
Senator Charles NJ Conant of Winterport
S. A. Parker of Be fast, T. r. Andrews of Bel
mont F. R. Holland Morril and A. P French
/ of Searsmont.
l.. G. Morse of Liberty referred to that
towns various charters for street RAILWAYS
which had not availed because OF the death OF
the financial promoter on whom they relied
In obtaining the charters he had compiled data
/ of business of the town. He estimated the
freight hauled n and out of Liberty annually
over the tentative road to Belfast at 10000
| tons. There a tannery there. also ma.
c1ine shop and creamery. He spoke of theil
I beautiful lake, ii which 17-pound salmon have
been caught, fed by springs and giving free
dom from drouth and streams to turn wheels
Over the road there are hauled thousand OF
DarreIS OF apples re Lnought the north rOute
easier, but admitted tnat more people would be
served by the road mapped out.
S. W. Shibles Of Morrill, wanted the route
changed to help out the northern part of Wal
do county and was followed by John C. Carey
of Montviile, who also believed the line changed
NORTH would accommodate Montville and Sears
mont batter.
Mr.. Dinsmore Of Palermo told of the inter
est Palermo people take in the road as outlinee
by the commission. It has always been and i.
the chiefly travelled road, with many feeders
Mr.. Dins1nore got in some good points on sum
rner visitors. the Palermo landscape and lakes
| W. S. Jones of Palermo stated that his towr
/ had taken so much interest in the road pro
posed that rs 80 citizens of his town haC
left their work to attend this hearing ard en-.
dorse the plan. Palermo valley is the thor
and valley OF the St. George. His was DO
tate country, with fine farms and water powers
and progressive people,
W. ]. Thompson of China referred to there
I being IS China people here at the hearing He
presumed all people want good roads. But {
great question is involved. Is Maine to have
these State highways to aid the rural com
munities or simply provide thoroughfares from
city to city? Two million dollars and 5000 popu