Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-16

4 principal feature of the February
meeting Of the city council Monday
evening was a review by Mayor New
bert Of the work which has been done
in the city during the past municipal
year. The text Of the review, which was
read by Mayor Newbert in joint con-
vention, follows:
Gentlemen Of the City Council:
At this time when the municipal year
is near its close. deem it of import
ance to lay before you a review of ths
work We have done. Such a grouping
of the main features of the admins
tration was made for the first time a
year ago. Were this done annually. the
city would have better knowledge of
affairs.
The statement herewith submitted has
no striking feature. 1t reflects never
theless. our honest effort to serve the
city.
Highway Department.
The total appropriation for highways
this year was s2o99S, divided as fol-
lows: Western District $500: Eastern
District, $500; special, 5000: State road,
1855 The special appropriation was
for the rclaying Of the stone block
paving on Water street, Market square.
Cony square, Bridge square and in front
of City hall. Ont of the $500 for the
Eastern district comes the commission
ers salary of 500. Equipment also
comes out Of it. This Year the Fast
ern district bought a new road ma
chine. costing sr25: q road roller cost
ing 500: Boston grader. costing $50;
l Ideal road drag, costing $50; While
nearly 500 was spent on repairs tor
the stone crushtr. This equipment, cost
ing $40. aided to the salary OF the
commissioner, meant at the start S2Ooo
out of the small appropriation. leaving
$3.50 for maintenance and construction
on Sc miles of country highways and
nine miles Of city streets.
For the Western highway district the
appropriation OF $500 is altogether too
small in view Of the streets and high
ways to be maintained. Out OF this
sum at the start comes the salary of
the commissioner of s1l0o; equipment, in
Guiding road machinery and repairs; al
so equipment for oiling and cleaning
streets. amounting to sl562.4 As: sanitary
service, including disposal of rubbish and
care of dump, s991.eo; Office equipment
and EXPENSE. se04 80 These items total
AolS.;5. leaving from the appropriation
S5oSl..5 FOR maintenance and construc-
zion over 10 miles of highways and
streets on the west side OF the Ken
! nebec river.
AS an answer to any cry OF eXtraTa-
sance in connection with the highway
department. it may be of value TO kno"
that Augusta ranks low among Maine
cities in the cost of supporting its high
vays The following table is illumin1
ing as showing the wide difference IT
| cost per mile Of construction and mann
tenance unon tine highways or certain
Maine cities
Cost pc mile OF highway eonstruc-
ton and maintenance, 1913: Portland
s12Sc: Riiaeford. SEES; Bangor. 1872
wcsthrook. s7i6: Waterville, Si1; Bath
$50; Rccklanc, sts7: Augusta. 49,; All
burn, $3.50
Construction and Maintenance.
Our country highways comprise 90 miles
NJ nillv reads. expensive and hard tt
keep in condition. The work done or
|
! both districts, cost about $500 This
! figures a little less than $40 a mile. pe-
! ing s47la for the East side and 800 f"f
the West side. the cost per mile peli's
nracttcallv the same as between the two
| districts
! State Aid Road.
The appropriation made by the city
n q
by nearly 500 any previous appropra-
ton for this purpose. The amount re-
| ceived from the State on the basis OF
our appropriation was sl76s.>2. The cost
| Of construction amounted to SN1l.e0 The
met cost to the city was S;&l.'S. rms
fine stretch OF highway was built on
the West River road. The work began
at the junction OF Monroe street and
! Northern avenue and extended mortimer
ly about three fourths Of mile. ME
work was done by the city in accordance
| with State specifications and under state
supervision. The construction is of sra-
vel the first 1900 feet being the N-drain
| tvpe of construction. The travelled way
IL Is feet in width, the road having a
total width between the cutters of =
feet. This section of State road prsic-
tically links Water street with the me
gravel and dirt road leading from Au-
gusta to Waterville. and replaces very
bad piece OF highway.
Highway Special.
The appropriation in this department
was $500 and was made for the purpose
OF corApleting the work on Water street.
The work done comprised the relaying
in cement grout OF the old stone oiock
having on the north end Of Water St,
Bridge square. east end OF kenneoec
bridge. Cony and Market squares, The
work is permanent. the surface attrac-
tive and clean. The contract was let
to the Hassam Paving Co. OF Worces-
ter. Mass, and cost S71ac. per square
yard In all. 62sS square yards OF this
pavement were laid. The total cost OF
the construction was s4sIo.11. The por-
t,cn Of the L. A. & W. St. Ry. was
sS4s 40 leaving a net cost to the city OF
sslsa. 81.
City Streets.
Much work has been done on city
streets. The general up-keep OF Is
miles of streets is no small matter and
Of necessity costs money.
The largest piece of work done on
the East side was the resurfacing OF
Stone Street. covering a distance of