Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-15
MAj..c. B. DAY A on
THE PROPOSED KEN
NEBEC RIVER ROAD


weii-known commercial traveller, called
at the Journal Office Friday afternoon to
invite the entire force to attend the hear
ing on Thursday, Jan. %. before the
State Highway Commission at the State
House on the matter of locating the
State highway through the Bay road
from Bowdoinham and along the Kenne-
bee river road through Richmond and
South Gardiner, to Gardiner, instead Of by
the old Post road from Brunswick to
Gardiner, several miles west Of the river.
Said the major:
1.-The whole town 81 Richmond will BE-
here. / mean it. The only people to be
allowed to stay at home that day will be
one druggist and one doctor. All the
stores. both shoe factories, the box fac
tory and all other places Of business will
be closed and the people are Coming to
Augusta.
You see, we did not dream at the other
hearing that any but the River road,
with its beautiful scenery, would be
chosen and hence we were not represent
ed as we might have been. Now. we're
coming, Father Abraham. 100000 strong.
THE people of Richmond and South
Gardiner have been hearing that 1t will
cost 100000 more to build the road by
the river route-and they will have to
be shown!
1--WE have heard that gravel, which is
a very necessary article in the proper
building of highways, is lacking almost
entirely along our route. Why, man
alive, we have enough gravel in sight to
build to the moon and it is conveniently
located Not haul will be over two
miles, the various beds are continuous
along the route and easily accessible. We
have experts who will show their lOca-
ton and the quality of the gravel. They
have been to every one of them and are
posted.
"As to the people to be accommodated,
we can show at least three and half
to one in favor of the River route. just
look at the thriving settlement at South
Gardner. Stop at the Richmond Camp.
ground. with its 81 cottages and its sum-
mer colony of over 400 people. Most OF
the cottagers come early and stay late.
Think of the hundreds Of people in Dres-
den who will be users of the river route
and the hundreds more of summer visit
ors who flock early in every season to
Dresden and other places on the river.
Then there's the people between Rich
mond and Bowdoinham and the beautifui
scenery of the Merrymeeting Bay road.
which the Bowdoinham people largely
favor Yes, three and half to one Is
not too large a percentage. A liberal
figure for those accommodated by the
Post road line would be 1000.
"Of course these railroad crossings In
Gardiner are ugly. things. but by no
means impossible to avoid, as has been
stated by some Take the two below
South Gardiner new stretch of road.
one-third of a mile long, west Of the
present railroad track will eliminate the
crossings. Take the two at South Gar
diner. the overhead and the one in the
village. A stretch of new road only two
thirds of mile in length. also west OF
the railroad track. will eliminate those.
Better roads in both cases. too. That
would leave only the farward's Road
crossing and the one in Bowdoinham vii
lage. from Brunswick to Gardiner. And
no 100000 extra cost. believe me.
s"These are only part of the arguments
we are prepared to make at the coming
hearing when we present our petition for
the location of the highway by the Bay
and Kennebec River roads. We have
more, all good ones. And that is why all
business will be suspended on Thursday
Jan. %. in Richmond. Sagadahoc county,
state of Maine, and all hands HE them
selves to Augusta and back up these ar
guments.
1--WE issue a cordial invitation to every
one interested to attend, with special
one to YOU Goodbye. must go out and
try to sell a few groceries"
And the hustling major was gone.
Then along came former Secretary OF
state ]. E. Alexander of Richmond. He
was told what Major Day had said aboh
the whole town of Richmond coming up
to the hearing, to which he said:
eyes. that is right and am not sure
we can keep the one doctor and one
druerist at home on that day. We must
have that road along the Kennebec."
And he left to catch an electric.
II will evidently be some hearing.