Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-04
95-YEAR-0LD EAST
PORT BRIDGE CAuS-
ING MUCH TROUBLE

PASSPORT, Me-, Sept. 3-Following
the recent meeting Of the city council
when the 95-year- old toll bridge came
up for an evenings discussion, and It
| was the general impression that the
| council voted to make it free to the
public after Oct. /. the principal topic
of discussion about the city this week
is the result of this meeting, and with
much difference in opinion as to the
advisability of doing away with the old
time custom of taking up tolls for the
coming year it would seem as If many
| thought that the council acted rightly
in the matter.
| 1t now appears that the charter for
auctioning off this some what antiquat-
ed structure has been extended for six
more years from the state capital so
| that in the event of the city not want
| ing to continue a free bridge after two
more years there may be a chance of
returning to the present system of talk
ing up tolls.
| There is one resident of the neigh
boring town of Perry who owns some
valuable property short distance
| from the toll bridge who is not in fav-
or of having the structure free to the
public for in the charter of nearly 50
years ago it is specially stated that all
members of the family and later own
| ers are exempt from all tolls and it is
| figured out that this amounts to a
| value of one thousand dollars to this
particular property so that in the event
of a free bridge the selling value Of
this house and farm will drop that
amount after Oct. LIST.
In hunting over the records for the
annual repairs to the almost century
old toll bridge it is known that there
is somewhat of a difference in actual
expenses and while perhaps 1t might
be stated that the average expenses in
recent years has not been far from
$780, it is also known that from 81 900
to S11OO has been expended on this
particular bridge when more than the
usual amount of labor was needed to
keep it open to the public, and last
years bidding for the yearly lease was
exactly 81 100. so that the bridge is not
a loser at the present time for the city.
| The records of the Monday night
meeting have been forwarded to Au-
guSta for consideration and If the con-
ditions are accepted it will not be
necessary for the city council to again
offer the yearly lease early in Septem-
Der. 1t is generally understood that
there are at least three residents who
are eager to bid in the bridge at public
auction as it is considered paying
proposition at the present figure. and
with an increasing number of autos
now owned in Eastport there is COM
Portable living for the toll keeper who
received a free rent and lights.
! After a careful canvass of the city
this week the News correspondent is
confident that the majority of the resi-
dents want free bridge when the
present lease expires Oct. l, hut it is
generally known that after the state
appropriat ton of two years when $4,000
will probably be paid in the Eastport
treasury there are many who think
| that the city will be a loser in the
| end. unless the coming representatives
| to the state legislature are willing to
make future appropriations, or per-
haps take over this ancient structure
and free the city later for repairs.
| The early decision of the state officials
is eagerly waited for and considerable
depends on just how they interpret the
recent decision of the city council.
Tolls will. however be taken up as
usual until Oct. I.