Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-21

sections, until great network COW
cred the entire State. 1t was not IN
tended to build a trunk line Az miles
out in. the country and spur u
bring the town out there"
Our best people are here today. the
life and sineW of the town and state
the people who will have to furnish
the money to build the roads. we
don't blame the Pond road people FOR
trying to get a good road. We are al
friends and neighbors. But can the
rights and advantages of Richmond
village be ignored?
Commission-What is the population
of Richmond?
MaXwell-About $500.
Com.-On account of that population.
barred from receiving help from the
State through the village?
Maxwell-Surely. Our village streets
are good. And we have piece OF
State Aid road there about HOO feet
long. crushed stone and tarvia, with
continuous gravel road on the end, to-
ward Richmond Corner.
Asked by Chief Engineer Sargent II
his village route wouldn't give two
grade crossings, he said yes. but that
two-thirds Of the autos anyway went
where they would cross two grade
crossings. seeming not to mind the
crossings if they could only get to and
through the thickly settled portion OF
the town. Can easily go straight to
Bowdoinham and not go near the grade
crossings, if they so wish.
FIJI eYnPnSe
and will take care of the road through
the village. That's why we are here.
Well have ours done when you Uhe
Commission) get there.
Answering Newell. said Richmonds
proposed route would eliminate these
crossings.
On Cross
Counsel Knight, in beginning cross
examination endeavored to work back
the witness story of the lost counsel
on the Post road and limited that wit
ness had himself become lost in his
wanderings about the same road
Asked as to his Richmond population
figures, Mr. Maxwell insisted that $500
was correct. Admitted census said
210O. but asserted that census people
admitted an error of $50 people ana
the shoe factories had brought in more
than enough to make up the balance
SaWmill now down but will run this
year. Denied that village streets were
too narrow for safe travel. Said II tie
streets along this route We're improved.
the people would use the route. regard
less of where the Trunk line went.
1oi no nTOn0Sp1
electric road in which he was at one
time interested, by stating that IT'S To-
cation out from the village was because
of the proposed extension to Sabattus
and Lewiston. Think the Post road
route, with a side road from town OUT
to the Corner would not bring more
trade to village but would hurt what
it now has. Would also hurt the tour
list business and the large summer cos
onies along the river. Would adVo-
cate the river route at all times, re-
CARELESS of the expense.
There are only one or two bridges in
town along the river line over l. feet,
but the people will fix them
knight-How do We know it?
Maxwell--Well, here's 500 of them
that will back that assertion.
knight-Do you feel qualified 70
speak for the people of Richmond?
Maxwell-Well. l served them II
years as selectman and there always
seemed to enough to re-elect me. Judg-
ing from that and the way they have
come up here with me, I guess they
feel pretty well toward me.
Questioned as to what Richmond
did toward the proposition to vote
funds for the building of the Bay
bridge, Mr. Maxwell said the people
got into a wrangle and after it was
over it was decided the town had not
voted the appropriation. Said he had
himself offered to shoulder $500 of
the towns share-but no go. But, if
hadn't resigned at that time. the
people would have voted that money,
sure as you're alive.
The commission at this point en-
tered the arena and announced that
this line of examination was rather
outside the question, was being taken
out of the other fellows time and
must cease.
Counsel stated he was simply at
tempting to ascertain if the people
would back him (Maxwell.)
Richmond people stand
up, if you will back me- And the
same three quarters of the crowd were
on their feet in a jiffy.
Counsel Weber objected to this
spectacular sort of evidence. why, l
could have brought over a trainload
of people from Lewiston if I'd paid
for it,"
Com.-Anyone can come who wish.
After the clouds had been brushed
aside, Counsel Weber asked if any
body from across the river would be
accommodated by this route, without
bridges and was told for the same
distance as those across the pond
along the Post road" Said the Post
road would fail to accommodate all on
the west of the river. referring to
Browns Point, Center's Point, the
campground, etc. A large section must
use the River road anyway.
Other Testimony
Counsel Newell then called George
Brennan, Richmond, a road builder Of
40 years experience, seven or eight
years of it on State road work. Had
examined the Post and River routes.
Found 159 residences on River road
from South Gardiner to Bowdoinham,
excluding the villages. The Post road,
from the first r. F. D. box out of Gar
diner to Bowdoinham had 100 resi-