Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-27

breaches. The cost Of building new
BOAT with the necessary slips and
approaches would cost about $685."
at the present prices for labor and
material. The proposition has gone
beyond the limit of these two mu-
inequalities The conditions have been
brought about by the revolution IN
travel by the automobile. TheSe
two municipalities should not be
compelled to bear the burden locally
because Of the State wide conditions.
Mayor J. Edward Drake Of Bath
said that there was no question but
that new ferry and slips were
needed and that these things We're
not needed for Bath and "oolwich
buy Tor the people who travel by au-
tomob!le between Portland and
hochland.
F. ". Carleton Of Woolvich. one o.
the directors OF the Peoples Ferry
Company. said that ne believed the
right kind of boat would cost $50. :
600 and the slips and approaches
100000 more. The proposed boat
would be no longer and wider and
would have double the capacity.
Attorney Clidden told the commit :
tee that he did not believe that there
wouI. he the leas, opposition to the
State taking over the ferry and that
the traffic is now kept down on ac-
count of the inadequate facilities.
DR.. Clarence A. Peaslee. a former
member of the House and Chairman
of the board Of aldermen OF Bath,
said that he USE. the ferry great
deal and he has heard complaints
from people tina: have been obliged
to wait III order to got aboard the
ferry Some have had to wait from
two to four hours. He had seen IS
automobiles waiting in line for their
turn. The older the boat the less
automobiles she Will be able TO car
Iy.' said DR.. Peasiec IN conclusion
Henry r. White. president of the
Bath common council. after explain
ing that the ferry is the link in the
state highway between Portland and
Rockland, said 1haf he had often
heard autoists say that they have
been obliged to wait for two and
one-half hours before they could get
their connection with the ferry. He
did not think that Bath and WOOL
wich should be called upon to bear
the burden OF supporting this ferry
wher. they receive no benefit from it..
He did not think that there would be
a person in Bath who would oppose
the State taking over the ferry and
would be satisfied to have the rates
regulated by the Public Utilities
Commission.
DR.. W. W. Kershner. president of
the Bath Chamber of Commerce.
thought that it would be absolutely
necessary to have a night service
and in the height Of the season there
is a congestion nearly every "A hours
in the day.
w. S. Newell. one of the superin-
tendents of the Bath Iron Works.
thought it advisable that a steel boat
should be procured. 4 steel boat
ought to last IS or so years. while a
wooden boat would have to be re-
paired to keep it in shape. He
thought that a new boat ought to
take care of the traffic in the rush
hours. The present approaches to the
ferry are bad.
It's like throwing money down
rat hole at the present time on this
ferry proposition" said Mr.. Newell
Frank 3. Nichols Of Bath was the
last speaker. He said that he did not
have much to add to what had be- Il
said by the preceding speakers. but
the ferry boat and the slips were a
disgrace to the State OF Maine. The
ferry disrupts the whole arrange
ment of the great highway that ex-
tends from Woolwich to Rockland.
When questioned by Rep. Holley of
North Arson. member Of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Nichols said that he did
not think that there would be any
opposition in the city of Bath to the
State taking over the ferry and that
he believed that all would be salts
fled at the rates fixed by the Public
Utilities Commission. He also
thought that new boat with proper
would be self-sustaining
at moderate fare.
Mr.. Glidden said that neither the
city of Bath nor the town Of Wool
wich were in the market to make any
money out of the State in the sale OF
this ferry boat.
You will not find these two mu-
inequalities profiteers in any way"
said Mr. Glidden.