Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-22
Committees Busy Wednesday

here alluded to what he called the mis-
erly policy" of Governor Milliken in re-
gard to bridges and highways.
Others who appeared If favor OF the
resolve were A. Z. Whitney. Ernest Ora
ham and Charles Paine of Bar Harbor,
Jerome II. Knowles of Northeast Harbor
and Rep. Joseph D. Phillips OF South
west Harbor also spoke for the resolve.
Judge Elvingten P. Spinney Of North
Berwick conducted the case for the
proponents of the resolve approprtating
$4,000 in 1917 and like amount IN
1918 for the construction of high
way extending through the towns OF
Wells. Berwick and North Berwick. He
explained that the towns could not
raise the. money without State aid, that
it was a continuation Of highway con-
struction provided for by the state or
New Hampshire and on the direct line
of traffic from Portsmouth to Portland.
The witnesses called by him not only
testified as to the financial condition of
the towns but said that the road was
the only through highway which would
shorten distance and avoid toll bridges
and that the roads were in miserable
condition for automobiles.
Those who appeared in favor of the
measure were State Treasurer Joseph
w. Simpson of York, EX-State Senator
B. A. Hurd of North Berwick. Rep. FL
mer E. Billings of North Berwick, Frank
Knight, selectman of North Berwick,
Edgar Wentworth, road commissioner of
Berwick, and Hon. Edward F. Gowell of
Berwick of the first councillor district.
Hon. Edward w. Wheeler of Bruns-
wick and County Attorney Edward w.
Bridgham of Bath appeared for the
towns of West Brunswick and Bath in
connection with the act to repeal the
private and special act relating to the
Bull Rock bridge on the New Mead
ows river. Senator Baxter of Sagada-
hoe withdrew the bill as the acts men
toned had already been repealed.
There was an interesting hearing up
on the resolve appropriating money to
aid in repairing and improving the
State aid road in the town of Phipps-
burg, leading from Winnegance bridge
to Small Point and commonly known
as the middle road" EX-State Senator
Charles V. Minott of Phippsburg con-
Quoted the case and explained the need
of the appropriation of $4,000. Dr. A.
+. Williams of Phippsburg, chairman
of the Sagadahoc Republican commit
tee, explained that his town was de-
pendent upon summer visitors and that
they could not come in numbers I'M
less there were roads that were pass
able for automobiles. J. H. Stacy of
Popham said this his town was $4,000
! in debt. He told how when the federal
government wished to transport troops
from Fort Williams to the fortifica-
lions there it was unable to do so be-
! cause the so automobiles required
could not get through the roads of
Popham.
Judge William n. Titus of Alma ap-
peared for the proponents of the re-
solve appropriating $4,000 for the towns
of Alma and Newcastle in connection
with the rebuilding of a bridge across
the Sheepscot river, contingent upon
certain appropriations being made by
the towns of Alma and Newcastle. He
explained the locality, the condition of
struction and said that both towns
were united and ready to do their
share.
| Rep. Edwin w. Ellis of Gardiner in
PRODUCED the case for the resolve ap-
propriating $1,000 for each of the years
1917 and 1918 for repairs and mainte-
nance of the Gardiner and Randolph
conducted the case for the proponents
of the measure and Rep. Clarke of
Randolph also appeared for it.