Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-16
i'd s1s1.46. leaving a net cost to city

paid s1s1.46, leaving a net cost to city
Of $672.32.
The work on State street long waited
to be done. The l.. A. & w. St Ry.
tracks were moved from the east side
of the street to the center Of the trav-
elled way, thus making wide and
handsome street. The work comprised
1901 square yards Of water bound ma
cadam and cost $1a27.19. The L. A. &
W. st. Ry. paid towards this construc-
ton $435.2l, leaving a net cost to the
city $14919s.
OF many other pieces Of work done
during the year of a more or less per-
manent character would mention the
following: The hill on Lower State
street was resurfaced with crushed
gravel. The approach to Kendall street
on Northern avenue was gravelled and
otherwise improved. The end of Gage
street and the drive across Hartford
square were gravelled and concrete
curling set in front Of the Hartford
House to correspond with the park de-
velopment. The north end Of Water
street from the Swift block to Bond
brook was gravelled. and will prove a
street. from Sewall street westward.
and Weston street from Chapel to
State streets We're gravelled. Clark. AL
len, Prince and Lock streets were also
gravelled and graded.
Opening Streets.
Pursuant to Chapter "a Of the Public
Laws Of 1911. the city undertook early
last summer the regulation of street
openings by individuals and cor
porations. The hong practice of allow
ing anybody and everybody to dig up a
street and put it back in any sort OF
fashion has been stopped. The general
law is wise, and the protection it gives
is of great value. During the year the
mayor issued 172 permits for street
openings, covering operations on so
different streets. Not only does the
city now absolutely control the situa-
ton under the Law. but charge is
made for opening an improved street,
the city doing the work of resurfacing.
Sidewalks.
More than usual attention was paid
to sidewalks during the year. In all.
the city laid 1852 yards OF tar concrete
sidewalk as against 1887 yards in 1913
This construction cost sl306.93. In 1918
the city bull, 2S5 yards OF granolithic
walk. This year We have built IFS
yards of this permanent sidewalk. at
a cost Of S194l.60. abutters paying one
half the cost. In addition to sidewalks
surfaced. extensive general repairs
were made to sidewalks. and on many
streets permanent grading was done in
preparation fer surfacing next year. A
good deal Of old plank sidewalk was
taken up and the surface treated with
gravel or crushed rock.
Oilirs Streets.
For the first time the city under
took the work OF oiling certain streets.
Authorized by general law the munici-
pal officers unanimously voted to re-
duce the dust nuisance which had be-
come unbearable and daily menace
TO the public health. Both method and
cost were carefully invested and the
whole question duly considered In the
SHOWS of winter a few may forget the
dust Of dry summer. Most of us.
however. who live upon city streets
have good memories. Possibly a few
people like the oil. but object to the
cost. Most OF those, however. who are
directly benefited count the cost small
and the money we'll spent. \ step
| such as this once taken and there is
no going back. People will pay for add =
ed comfort, nor is there a price on
health.
The total cost Of the seasons oiling
service. exclusive of equipment was
s6,o92,d1. The assessments made against
ahutting properties amounted to s2,S1 46
OF this amount the L. A & w St Ey
was assessed s47ne0 The balance of the
cost is represented by one oilins on West
ern avenue as a part Of the construction;
by the oiling on Water snd Commercial
streets and Cony hill and by exemptions
made by the municipal officers OF
churches. other public buildings. city
squares and functions OF streets.
Sewers.
Northern avenue. the houses lining
both sides of the street, had petitioned a,
various times for % years for a sewer.
This year 4 careful survey was made and
an engineers estimate of cost presented
The work was begun. The need was
great and connections We're Immediately
made by aoutters. This sewer extends
from Kendall 10 Jefferson streets. dis
lance of 1850 feet. The total cost Of this
sewer was 81 .SS46S and assessments were
made amounting to ssS..3s. A sewer IS,
feet in length was built on Sewall street
from the outlet OF the Haynes pond to
Wade street. This sewer cost $7ao.1. AS
sessments were made on account Of this
sewer amounting to 1856.
\ short sewer was also constructed on
Cushman street to connect with the Lin
coin street sewer built last year This
sewer was as feet in length and COS:
sls9.0S. and assessments were made
against ahutters amounting to SOL. So
Repairs amounting to construction on the
lS-inch sewer at the outlet OF the Water
street sewer into Bond brook. cost
$50 81.
In all, Is catch basins were newly
built and several others rebuilt and re-
paired at a cost Of $92s. 70
Street Lights.
A number of street lights were installed
on petition in various parts Of the city.
Eleven cluster lights on ornamental iron
poles were installed on the same basis of
cost as those on Water street. One of
these lights was set at the junction OF
Green and Grove streets. displacing two