Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-17
THE FORMER MAYOR
MAKES STATEMENT
ON BRIDGE QUESTION
Augusta, Maine, May Is. 1915.

Augusta, Maine, May Is. 1915
To the Editor Of the Kennebec Jour-
nall
After the very fair and able state
ment Of the facts in relation to the
the rebuilding Of Kennebec Bridge by
former City Solicitor Mclean in Fri
days Journal, nothing really is left
to be said The letter from Mayor
Viles in the Journal Of Saturday adds
nothing nor will it tend to serve the
City at this particular time. Suit has
been brought to compel the Electric
Road to do what it has refused to do.
10 PREJUDICE the case now before It's
merits have been finally passed upon
and determined by a competent tri-
ounal can only mislead and do harm.
Mayor viles says, Nothing was
collected of the Street Railroad Com
pany and we are now proceeding to
collect their proportionate part Of the
expense"
The plain facts about this bridge
matter are these: 1t was determined
IN August that Kennebec Bridge was
unsafe and must be at once rebuilt.
Ihere was neither time nor inclina-
ton for litigation pending the begin
ning Of the work. The City and the
Road worked along together and the
construction was fastened. After the
completion of the work a bill was
rendered by the City for one-half the
ccst OF the construction. Payment
was delayed, then finally refused.
fepruary 18th l reported in detail the
cost Of the bridge to the City Coun-
Gil and in connection said: Il have
sent to the management Of the L. A
q W. st. Ry. bill for $6,245.25, being
just one-half the total cost of the re-
construction Of the bridge. I believe
the bill is Just and that the stree,
railroad should pay it. Certainly this
prldge, which has been so long used
by this Company without expense, is.
as important to the railroad as to rs.
1t is not asking too much when we
demand OF this great corporation that
II pear its share in maintaing this
structure. Morally, 1 feel entirely
justified in my position as Mayor Of
this city. Legally, trust l am right in
maintaining this position even at the
cost of litigation. Not only should
the city be thus reimbursed in part
for this expensive undertaking, but
the principle should be established
for all time as to the street railroads
responsibility in the up-keep Of Ken
nebec Bridge"
The Road persisting in it's refusa!
to pay its proportional part of the
cost. it was decided to bring suit. In
consequence City Solicitor Mclean
was authorized and directed to take
the legal steps to that end. This was
done. The case is now pending before
the Utilities Commission.
Augusta is a going concern. and
this matter OF necessity went over 10
the new administration. Although
Mr.. Mclean brought the suit, it be-
came the official duty of City So
ter, and ] believe the city's interests
are in competent hands.
The L. a. & w St. Ry. has inter-
posed a purely technical motion. The
merits of the case are not yet in evil
dence. Even though this technical
motion be sustained, the City should .
have recourse to the courts, thus
compelling this corporation to DE-
what it should be ready and willing
to do. In the meantime no official Of
the City, whose duty it is to press
this suit to a successful conclusion,
should PREJUDICE the case.
Z + NFWPERT