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

+. 3. Sprague said three farms were
practically all gravel, ~ and miles
from Rowdoinham.
Wonderland you've been hauling
gravel from Bowdoin to Topsham?
Sprague-True. A little wire pulling. He
explained later by saying the selectmen
were interested in the gravel pits.
Plummer-Bowdoinham not my Tops
ham.
c. II. Alexander. road commissioner of
Topsham. knew of good gravel pits east
ly accessible. Built roads for three
years. Enough gravel broken rock, field
spar. to build the road in sight. Quality
excellent.
Answering Webbers inquiry. said Luce
pits % to 50 rods from road. Others
about 100 rods. Pits are now open.
L. G. Smith of the feldspar mines said
the company had $1,000 tons of feldspar
waste which it would be glad to donate
toward building the road. 1t worked
well. Our road is about 1-3 miles from
the travelled road and is a good road.
We built it ourselves. Valuation along
the Mallett road is not anywhere near
as great as the other. On Mallett, $780,
Middlesex road. s11l .165.
f. W. Mallett, chairman of Topsham
selectmen, said the values as given are
from the town books. l favor the Mid
dlesex road. I live on the Mallett road.
Webber-"Most of the valuation near
the village" Yes
Richmond's Side Of Story
Counsel Charles D. Newell of Richmond
announced the list of witnesses from
Richmond, of whom former State Senator
Noble Maxwell of that town was first
called. Mr.. Maxwell made an excellent
witness, being we'll posted on all things
concerning the town, having for II years
been it's first selectman and having work
ed early and late for the interests of that
town. His testimony was to the point
and the several little tits with counsel
furnished fun for the crowd.
Noble Maxwell of Richmond
In 1913 at the Trunk Line hearing four
or five only were present to favor the
Bay and River route. The natural con-
ditions were too we'll known to require
a big crowd to come here and support
that route. The Pond road people were
counsel. in order to create in the COM
missions mind the imaginary need of
the Pond Road route
An amusing account of cOunsel's trip
over the proposed route, the difficulties
he encountered and the loneliness he felt,
together with the WEAKNESS in making his
way through such a region, until, arriv-
ing at Iron Mine hill and finally his own
town of" Gardiner, he. found he had for
gotten how to reach the main road in
Farmingdale-had fallen down.
we were obliged to accept the route
and made up our minds to be pleas
ant and to accept such changes as
might be necessary. But then came
rumors of a decided change, out to
the Post road. We inquired and found
it to be a fact. We didn't think that
Richmond, with all her advantages
and size. beauties and business, would
be left out. Richmond has a splendid
fire department. fine schools, is the
best lighted town l know of and has
a 24-hour ferry. Why. thousands Of
tourists have come up the river in
order to cross the Richmond ferry,
the ferry at Bath being closed at
night.
More farmers would be accommo-
dated, the valuation of that section is
greater, every condition favors the
River route from Richmond to Bow
doinham. There can be no easier piece
of road to build in the State. Four
miles to 'Harward's and not a hill. A
bad place the other side of Harward's
can be drained and would be as good
as any. You'll find only about 800 feet
of ledge in the route. Hobbs hill is
the only one, and you can do that ION
high" The Stuart gravel is the best l
ever saw and I've seen some gravel,
having been in the business for 20
years and furnishing alone in Boston
about 100000 tons per year.
The River road is the natural way
of travel and the travel mostly goes
that way. Going the other way, you'll
need a guide to find it and a pair Of
caulk shoes on your autos.
The needed changes on the River
road will be in the grade crossings
and can be made with little expense,
probably not over $1,000.
. l am not at liberty to mention
Names but l am certain that the
Maine Central will be glad to assist
to some extent in order to be rid of
the grade crossings. The hills on this
route are not very bad. And the cost
of removing the material from the
tops and filling in the bottom places
will be no more than to move it else
where.
Think of the number of people
every summer at the Richmond camp
ground. Iceboro and other places.
Think of the travelling men who live
in and who come to Maine. Many Of
them have their autos and travel the
State over, coming to and passing
through Bowdoinham. Richmond. Gar
diner. en- route to other places.
When the Highway bill was before
the Legislature it was understood by
all that the intention was that the
cities and towns were to be connected
first by the great trunk lines and later
We would build up through the other