Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-15
NJ GiIlicuddy May
Balk All Plans

Congressman 2. ]. McGilHeuddy IS
taking a hand in the building of the
federal aid road between Portland and
Bath and it is feared By some that if
he continues his present tactics the
whole plan of building between these
two points may be spoiled. Mr.. Nc
Gillicuddy has taken the stand that
unless the road can lie built clear
through to Bath this year, that the
federal appropriation will be with
drawn.
The State Highway Commission act
irs under instructions from the fed
eral government. laid out the road
from Portland to Path. The federal
government then appropriated $4,000
for its construction providing the
State would give $4,000. This made
total Of 1885, e09 available Tor the build
ing of atlae Midway Ttre government
insisted that thts road be built of So
called permanent construction and at
first wanted il made Of cement. This
was found to be so costly, however,
that it finally COMPROMISED on btu
minous macadam and the State was
ordered to go ahead and build rs far
as it could with this material for the
$4,000 available. 1t is figured that
to Brunswick. and this plan does not
meet with the approval of Congress
man McGilucuddy who wants to car
~ it along to Bath which is in his
district Members of the State High
way Commission seen today could not
figure cut how this could be done with
the money available and the type Of
construction both settled by the federal
government If the road was to be
run through to Bath for this amount,
it could be built of nothing more sub
stantial than gravel and the federal
government has positively stated that
it would stand for no poorer type of
construction than bituminous macad-
am It is also claimed that it is i'm
possible to build between Brunswick
and Bath this year owing to existing
conditions. At present two routes are
favored, one via the famous Bull Rock
bridge and New Meadows, and the
other via Hams hill. Another difficult
ty is the fact that if the bridge across
Merrymeeting bay is built it will be
advisable 10 follow the Hams hill
route. but this point cannot be decid
ed until the town of Richmond takes
a vote on the matter.
Every other town along the route
has voted for this bridge, but Rich
mond is holding off and as result
the whole project is at standstill.
If the Bull Rock bridge route is taken
many believe that 1t will be advisable
to build new road between New
Meadows and Bath and thus avoid
the dangerous railroad crossing To-
Gated on the present main highway
Just outside of the Shipping City. II
The Merrymeeting bridge is built and
the Hams Hill route is adopted, 1t
will be necessary to eliminate this
dangerous crossing, and a survey will
nave to be made to see what can be
done about getting around it. All
Of this will require all of the present
summer and it will be impossible to
10 any road building until all of these
questions have been settled The
main question, however, is one Of
funds and type of construction and
his has been settled entirely by the
FEDERAL government and the State has
lad nothing to do about it. Congress
nan McGillicuddy, it is claimed, is
rying to place the blame for not GO
ng clear through to Bath this year
upon the Highway Commission, but
commission has had nothing to do
tbout it and has simply complied with
he orders and requirements of the
United States office of public roads
In addition the government contract
With the State implicitly states that
he work shall be started at Portland
and carried along "as far as funds
permit
Bids for the work were opened at
Augusta today and the State High
way Commission is somewhat at loss
% know just what to do about award
ng the contracts in vie of Congress
nan McGillicuddy's opposition. The
members do not care to go ahead and
assume the responsibility for the work
md then have the federal government
withdraw and leave the State to pay
The $4,000 which the United States
has said it would contribute.
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