Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-06


result in more permanent improve
ments. | therefore recommend that
our appropriations be made up with
the idea of allowing $50 and $40 per
mile respectively for maintenance
work and that whatever sum may be
appropriated over and above this
amount be expended upon construe-
ton work pursuant to policy in this
direction. This, in my opinion, is the
only manner in which a system of i'm
proved and more permanent highways
can be attained
Highway Special.
To the Special fund has been charged
three pieces of construction work: ID
Western avenue from Sewall street
westerly to Gannett's residence, (2) Rines
hill and 90 Mt Vernon avenue, from
NH street to the north end of Getcheli's
Western avenue had been in a bad
state of repair for several years but
owing TO the probable cost of construc-
ton had been delayed until the present
year, in connection with this work the
Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street
Railway removed its track from the
north side of the street to the center to
satisfy demand OF the public This has
proven to be very beneficial TO the street
inasmuch as it has widened the travel
sunface and has made possible q better
handling of the surface drainage by di-
viding the flow of water 10 both sides of
the street and the construction of sew
eral catch basins at more frequent in
terVals thereby causing less wash and
damage to the street. The grade at the
center of the street was raised from l to
feet to give it proper crown. The ma
terial used was gravel taken from the
city bank and the upper end of Green
street. The surface coat was crushed In
a Cd of
material for a wearing surface. The
cutters on the steaper grades were paved
with old paving blocks The sidewalks
were graded where needed and turfed
Rines hill construction consisted of re-
grading from the railroad bridge to
Court street, thereby reducing the grade
from about l2Fo to- a go grade. The
width of the street was also widened by
extending the east line of Water street
straight up the hill to the intersection
with Gage street, sand removing the
to correspond TO khis new alignment.
The sidewalk which had previously occu-
pied somewhat exalted position being
from to feets abete it's surroundings
was cut down to cusaS4depth above the
street grade. and the walk on the bridge
was lowered to correspond and give a
more continuous grade.
,b The sSnrfaolns was done by contract by
Mass, and consisted of a Hassam or con-
crete base of inches in thickness upon
which was placed sand cushion from
one to two inches thick and finally paw
ing stone ranging in size from three and
one-half to four inches wide, eight to 10
inches long and four to five inches thick
These We're laid and grouted with cement
grout broomed in. A concrete curb was
also laid along the sidewalk Is inches
deep. The tracks of the Lewiston, ALL
gusta & Waterville Street Railway were
filled with the Hassam paving thereby
acir, -
face and adding greatly to the appear
ance of the hill.
The work on Mt Vernon avenue was
simply a gravel coat from 10 to IL inches
thick over a stretch of road which had
been source of great trouble and prac-
tically impossible in the spring of the
year.
State Aid Highway.
The next division is that of State Aid
Highway. The work consists of a little
over one-half mile of gravel construction
upon the Bog road, so called, which was
designated as a State aid road and its
construction made possible by the laws
of the State under the supervision Of the
State Highway Department. The road
has been widened. having now an aver
age width of 81 feet travel surface In
Connection with this work also there was
reconstructed an old stone culvert to-
which were added concrete end walls
One Finch and one 16-inch corrugated
iron culvert has also been laid Two
side drains were built, each about three
feet deep, one and one.half feet wide and
300 feet long. In the bottom was placed
six-inch land tile and fiiled with rocks
of varying size. These were to take the
water from adjoining springs which
otherwise would find its way into tho
road bed.
The State Highway fund available for
1914 is as follows:
Unexpended State apportionment
lJl- S4lSSt
Necessary city appropriation lin
order to make the above APP
portionment aValable) ..,..... s39s2
City appropriation 1914 ........... 1898 90
Available from the state ....... l,49S so
Total amount available for
State aid highway work.. s4.616.19
The above outline shows the full
amount of money available for State aid
purposes and ! would recommend that
the city avail itself of every dollar posi-
BILE from this source, inasmuch as 1t re-
neves the city of portion of the burden
and thereby makes it possible to COM
plete our road system more rapidly.
Inasmuch, as the State Highway De-
state-aid- as a state highway a new
designation has been made for State
aid-highway This newly designated
road begins al Monroe street and extends
northerly over the West River road to
the Sidney line.
Bridge Service.
There is at present under the control
of the commissioner OF the Western dis
trict ten Q0) bridges of various types of
construction. Repairs have been made
upon two only-Bond brook bridge near
gas house and bridge across Spring
brook near Morrill, residence, the floors
of which We're relaid.
In connection with this service will
say that I believe the city is making a
serious mistake in not keeping its steel
a. Build a Business