The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-02
A Word to the Citizens and Taxpayers of
Belfast and Northport.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL Having
read an article which appeared in The Republic
can Journal under the head of "a Word to
The Citizens and Taxpayers of Belfast" and
thinking that the readers of this article would
Ike to know to whom Mr.. Coombs referred
as "a certain gentleman from Northport,"
will state few facts in relation to Little River
bridge. Knowing the condition of the bridge,
the large amount of traffic by automobiles and
teams over the same; also the blind approaches
which lead to the bridge, and fearing an acct
dent and possible loss Of life, petitioned the
County Commissioners for change of location
and wider bridge. l had on that petition the
names of some of the largest taxpayers in Bel
fast and Northport, and they all knew the con-
ditions at Little River. We had hearing in
July. 1918, at which the County Commissioners
granted my petition previous to which notice
had been posted for thirty days. as required by
law, 1t was impossible to build the bridge in
1918 account of raising the money for the
same and adjusting the land damages, In 1914
the money was raised by Northport and Bel
fast, but for some reason the change was not
made, SO the money went into the general fund.
In 1915 the money was raised over again by
Northport, but the time which was allowed by
law to build the bridge had expired the previ-
Gus December, so the town of Northport and
City of Belfast were not obliged to build the
bridge. learned they did not intend to make
the change that year, and fearing an accident
and perhaps a lawsuit, petitioned the County
Commissioners to serve notice on Northport
and Belfast to make the change. and if not
made in reasonable length of time for them
to appoint an agent to do the work.
This notice was served and we met the
County Commissioners. Northport and Bel
fast agreed to build the bridge, provided the
Commissioners would not appoint agent, land
went so far as to buy bridge which laid in the
grass at Little River all summer.
In September the County Commissioners
met at Little River to act upon petition sign
ed by Mr.. Coombs, five of the City Government
of Belfast, and two of the Selectmen of North.
port, but owing to the fact that the petition
was illegally drawn, meeting could not be lie.
galIy held. The County Commissioners have
the power to lay out County road although
the land-own have the right to take an ap-
peal from land damages and location. but in
this case no appeal was taken. No one else
has this power, and wish to state here that
l have no pull with the County Commission
political or otherwise.
As to saving Northport and Belfast thous-
ands of dollars. cannot agree with Mr.
Coombs in this case My experience has been
that it is more expensive to tear out old work
and build new than it is to build in a new To-
cation, besides, in this case, obstructng the
travel for four months.
If Mr. Coombs had been so anxious to do a
good job and save such large amount of
money, he would have had the abuttments
built on different part of the location, and
the fill made of something besides granite at
159 per ton, besides percentage of 10 per
cent on the job, when the fill could have been
money in the County.
If Mr.. COMBS had wanted to give the tax
payers of Belfast business administration, he
would have built the bridge in the summer, as
he promised, had plan of the bridge drawn,
bids advertised for. specifications drawn and
the contractor caused to give..a bond. under
stand nothing of this kind has been DONE do
understand that Mr.. Coombs told Mr.. Snow
(the man who built the bridge) that as he, Mr..
Snow knew more about building bridges than
he (Mr. Coombs) did, to go ahead and build the
abuttments. and bring in his bill, and he would
see that it was paid. l would like to ask the
taxpayers if this is business.
CHARLES o. DICKEY,
"Tbe Gentleman from Northport !"