Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-23

The much discussed question of the
advisability of building a bridge be-
tween Bailey and orr.s Islands in
this town will probably be brought be-
fore the coming session OF the Maine
Legislature and will surely be pre-
sented to the county commissioners of
Cumberland county in the near fu-
ture. The board of selectmen Of Harps-
well at a meeting Saturday after
| noon voted, by a majority vote, not
to re-locate bridge across Wills
strait between these two islands.
For 43 years the people of Bailey
| and Orr,s islands, two of the best
known summer resorts in Casco bay.
have been asking the town of Harps-
we'll to connect the two islands by a
bridge. The bridge will have to be
built across Wills strait, which is a
navigable body of water that is much
used by motor boats. In 1883 the
Maine Legislature granted the town
permission to build the bridge. In
1889 or 1890 the people of Bailey Is
land took the matter before the SUI
preme court of the State in an effort
to compel the town to build the
bridge.
About three years ago the agita-
ton for the bridge again started with
Everett Sinnett, Charles Thomas and
C. NJ. Clary of Bailey Island as the
men pushing the project. Plans for
a rock-filled bridge with draw and
one span were made but these were
objected to by the small boat owners
in the vicinity of Phippsburg on the
ground that such q bridge would cre-
ate dangerous current which would
practically prevent the use Of Wills
strait for navigation. This objection
was presented to the United States
war department and as result the
town was forbidden from building that
style of a bridge. Plans were then
made for a wooden pile bridge and
these were accepted by the war de-
partment as satisfactory.
During the years 1912 and 1913 the
town of Harpswell on three occasions
voted in favor of building the bridge.
Bids were asked for and the contract
was all but awarded when the oppo-
sition led by DR.. George s. Littlefelo
and Theodore Billiard secured per-
manent injunction from the supreme
court ON a technicality. it being dis
covered that the selectmen in locat-
ing the bridge had neglected to use
the word bridge" in the original pa
per.
Now the good people of the two is
lands have again started a movement
to have the bridge constructed. Seven
ty-four of the residents of Bailey Is
land petitioned the selectmen to re-
locate the bridge. A hearing on the
petition was held Saturday, Nov. IA.
with Everett sinnett. Charles Thomas
and C. NJ. Clark speaking in favor and
Emery G. Wilson of Portland and
Harmon o. Coombs of Cundy's Harbor
opposing the construction of the
bridge
After considering the arguments for
week the selectmen by majority
vote decided not to relocate the
bridge. This action was taken. not in
opposition to the bridge. but to SIM
piify matters. The opposition had
practically given notice that If the
petition was granted that they would
appeal to the county commissioners
to set aside the action of the select
men. Now the petitioners will appeal
to the county commissioners and ask
them to lay out the bridge. Which ever
way the county commissioners decide
the matter will probably be taken to
the Maine Legislature ard also before
the supreme court.
Already the residents of Harpswell
have spent in fighting for and against
the bridge sufficient money to have con-
str,,ctad tho bridge twire over In wears
past the principal opposition to the
bridge was on account of the financial
condition of the town. Now it is on
account of the type of bridge which 1t
is proposed to build. The opposition
maintain that a pile bridge would be a
constant course of expense to the town
and that probably every spring great
damage would be done to such a struc-
ture by the ice, which sweeps through
Wills Strait with great force. IL the
war department would permit the town
to erect a rock filled bridge it is doubt
full if the opposition kept up the fight.
The proposed bridge and approaches
would cost about 30.0c0 AS the debt
limit of the town Of Harpswell is about
$4,000 and the town only had debt of
$4,000, the construction of the bridge
would In no way impare the credit of
the town.
The bridge is being strongly advocat-
ed by the Automobiles of this section OF
the State, as well as by the residents of
the two islands, as with the bridge peo-
pie could drive from Brunswick to
Gurnet Bridge and thence across Sc