Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-13

Limited, OGDEESBCRG. y. Y.-Adv.
matter before the naval affairs COM
nittee Of the House OF Representa-
tiveS.
At this hearing. which was attend
ed by representatives OF the joint
commission, Secretary Daniels made
a very sploGdid statement, as to the
interest of the navy department in
this project"
The secretary presented to the COM
mittee a report from Admiral c. J.
Boush. Commandment, Portsmouth
Navy Yard. which SO we'll explained
the governments interest in the con-
strutc:on OF a new bridge that the re-
port was introduced into this report
IN full. I do not purpose to go very
extensively into the report made BY
The Conmandant OF the Kittery navy
yard any more than to state that the
bridge at the new point OF construc-
ton will reduce the distance from the
main point in Portsmouth to the Kit
terry navy yard about one-ha!f Al
,he present time it is something like
TWO miles. and by the proposed new
bridge the distance will be reduced to
about one mile. He stated to this COM
nnittee. as the commandment of the Kit
terry navy yards. that that would he
q direct saving TO the navy in tolls
ard rcUckage estimated as follows tire
figures being taken as ar average of
past expenditures. The sum total
Of these figures amounted 70 S5l3o4s
He also stated in this repo-, TO Sec
etary Daniels that the employees OF
the Kit,e-y navy yard living in Ports
mouth TO the number Of 1000 row 60
10 their worl: ard return over the
railroad. paving for their round fare
eleven cents. and he estimated the
cos, OF this for the year as $4,000;
that IS the estimated amount that
would be saved by the new bridge He
further states:
"A very important point in this
connection is the increased satistac-
ton and con,e.tnent on Tire part OF
the working force OF the navy yard
which, n Itself, has a vital bearing
upon the general efficiency OF the
work. II is understood that the en-
p.0yes have FOR some time besn err
deavor;ng 10 obtain free t-anspor,a-
ton from: Portsmouth 20 the navy
yard. The saving 10 the government
r. such increased satisfaction and
cortencment Will, 10 doubt be large.
hut i IS impossible 10 estimate il,
This yard has always had more or
less difficulty in obtaining an adequate
working force and this 5 believed 20
- due n part to is isolation. Fur
tlerraore. during severe weather in
the winter much time is lost. due to
delays ard stoppages OF ;ranspo-ca-
ton by rail and water. particularly
so during the past winter. This re-
suits n decided loss IL the navy ward
work. ard this would re eliminated
ty the free bridge as proposed. The
advantage TO the employees, them
selves. : considered a point OF great
in portarce in the consideration o: the
construction Of this Or d &c, and this
works indirectly 70 the advantage of
the government also"
TIE water transportation cos, 20 ,he
navy yard, on page :. % tbs report,
IS averaging about s3s.sI5, OF which
trey hope much might be saved. Then
II conclusion he states.
The corarandan: is OF the opinion
that new highway bridge SGch as
) proposed would be OF great ad-
vantage 10 the navy yard and It's
work. although the actual saving in
money cannot definitely be determined.
The potential advantages Of such
bridge would tie very great. TIE
swift. currents in the Piscata1ua river
make water transportation Difficult,
and dangerous
In conclusion this joint commission.
made up Of our highway commission
and the commissioners from New
Hampshire, state this:
The outcome of this hearing was
a recommendation BY the secretary
that the government: ought 20 parti-
cipate in the construction Of this
bridge 10 the extern, Of ons-th.rd Of
its cost"
Now l want 10 make an observation :
right there. TIE government a, the
present time Is operating the railroads
of the country and among those IA i
roads is the Boston Is Maine. We 10
ncc know but that the government will I;
retain the contro, and operation o. those
railroads. Wei. now. in view Of the
fact CO the uncertainty as to the "a l.
road problem n the future. and IN.
fact that they are opera ting those rail !
Yoads at the present time, wouli rot the
proper procedure be up 70 the United
States government 10 make proposals
to the states Of Maine and New Hamp-
shire rather than for the state % New
Hampshire TO make proposals. to the
Cnitel States government II the con-
clusion Of this commission is cerrfct
that this bri &c is insecure :ni una fe
for public ira Il, isn't il up 70 The
United ST .es government to make that
bridge; they are sending trains lasde /
with precious ICES over tha- bridge.
and il IL IL not st the eresen, time .
secure. as represented on pare X Of
this report, isn't il the United Staten
kovernmert Ia is al fault, not the
State OF Name
submit to Won that in view % the /
uncertainty # the railroad proposition :
Of this country that il might be wise no. (
20 re too hasty in pa ssine large sppro-
rriations for the construction O. rail- |
road and highway traffic bridge across /
the Piscataaua river.
Now. Mr.. President. this resolve i'm I
netiatel under discus ion sonten- |
plates the amending Of the State con- /