Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-01
The Bath WoolWich
Ferry Hearing, Bath,
I .arpelv Attended

! Bath, Me-, Oct. SO-Tne nearing On
Friday at Bath before the State
Highway Commission on the matter
of the increased fares and curtalt-
ment of the evening service on the
State ferry between Bath and Wool
wick and largely attended. people
being present from all the surround
ing places and as far west as Port
land. with letters from the Chambers
sof Commerce of Augusta. Auburn.
Bangor, Belfast, Lewiston and other
places. Corporation Counsel Walter
8. Glidden handled the case for the
petitioners and Deputy Attorney
General Fred F. Lewrence appeared
for the States interests.
Mr. Glidden said the matter was
simply request for an equalization
of the fare rates. SO that the con-
slant user might have some adyan-
tage over a traveller crossing the fer
ry once or twice season; also that
the evening service should be con-
unued until Dec. l at least. some
thinking it should be retained as long
as the roads are open.
Mr. Lawrence stated that the COM
mission was confronted by two prob
lens: 1, to give the public satisfac-
tory service: and 2. to pay the bills
for the operation of the ferry. The
balance sheet for the eight months
during which it had been operated by
the State shows a deficit of nearly
$500 and the commission feels that
the remaining months of the fiscal
year will continue to increase that
loss. The closing of the evening
service had been customary during
operation under the former manage
ment and the commission was not
taking away from the public any
thing which it had formerly enjoyed.
The commission was open to sugges-
lions as to how the income could be
increased but the commission felt
that its duty to the taxpayers should
require that the deficit be kept as low
as possible.
Paul D. Sargent. chief engineer OF
the State Highway Commission,
stated that every other part of
the commissions equipment was
kept on business basis. that
depreciation was charged off ev-
cry year. and he felt that the
ferry should be run as nearly as pos
sible on business basis. In other
words, the ferry ought to pay for
itself
Petitions for the things asked were
presented from Bath, Boothbay,
Woolwich. Damariscotta, Wiscasset
Thomaston and other places. Bel
fast city government and Chamber OF
Commerce sent a telegram. Personal
representatives of the, Portland
, Chamber of Commerce and State
Chamber of Commerce and Industrial
League were present and also speak
ers from the entire section interested
! After the hearing on the State
ferry matter Secretary Fuller OF
the Chamber of Commerce dis
cussed with Mr. Sargent OF
, the Highway Commission the regu-
! lations requiring loads of hay cross
; ing the ferry after 9 A. NJ. to be COW
cred with tarpaulin. Mr. Sargent was
! shown that sometimes it was a hard
| ship for the farmer to reach the ferry
| by that hour and that the cost of 3
| tarpaulin for the individual farme,
was prohibitive. Mr.. Fuller suggest
| ed that it would aid the farmers
greatly if the commission could pro-
, vide a tarpaulin on the ferry to cover
| the regulation and Mr.. Sargent
! agreed to see what could be done and
| if possible, to secure a tarpaulin to be
kept on the ferry all the time.