Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-20
AUGUSTA LOCALS
GOOD ROADS
City Endorses Cham
Der Commerce Plan
For Construction of Permanent Good
Highways to Attract People to
Aueusta-Other Matters at City
Council Session Monday Evening


Chamber of Commerce are to join
hands in the working out Of a policy
of permanent good roads that will
help to wonderful degree the bust
ness interests and the general pros.
perity of the Capital City. This mat
ter was brought before the regular
meeting of the city council on Mon
day evening at City hall oy the COM
mittee on roads appointed from the
newly organized Chamber of Com
merce. and at the conclusion of the
meeting the council passed vote that
the sentiment of the body be that ii
approve of the plan as outlined and
take future action when the definite
plan is presented. This motion was
made by Alderman Charles A. Brooks
and was passed unanimously.
The plan as formulated by the
Chamber of Commerce roads commit
tee was presented at the joint meeting
of the aldermen and common council
by Albert w. Brooks, chairman of the
committee. Briefly, it contemplates
putting in good condition Immediately
eight of the important roads that lead
to Augusta, stretch of about 81 miles,
at an estimated cost of $4,000 per mile
or a total cost of about $42 0G0. These
roads as designated for consideration
by the Chamber of Commerce commit
tee are the Hallowell road, Western
avenue Mt. Vernon avenue. West River
road, Bangor road, North Belfast ave-
nvfa
the Thomaston road.
The Importance of taking such step
and then of following it UP by keeping
the roads in good condition so that peo-
pie from the outlying districts might
be attracted to Augusta AS their nat
ural trading center was emphasized
Mr. Brooks spoke Of the appointment
of a number of committees of the
Chamber of Commerce, he pointed out
that we have here beautiful city of
which we all should be proud He
stated that the appointment of com
mittees on advertising, on good roads
and on housing, seemed to him to be
in logical order, for first we want tc
advertise our city, then to build good
roads that the people from outside
districts may easily come here, and
then to provide proper housing facili.
ties to take care of thu people who
come to Augusta.
Without criticising in the least de-
gree the present city government
Mr.. Brooks stated that the present
road policy of the city is an eXpen-
sive method and that economy does
not lie in the direction of the policy
of makeshifts He stated that %
years ago he was a member Of the
Augusta city council and he told OF
what would have been saved to the
city with vastly better results by the
adoption then of such a policy as is
onw being worked out. He stated
that no person from Augustus sur
rounding towns would now drive to
Augusta for pleasure. if they could
go to Waterville at near the same
mileage. AS for example, he cited
the town of Palermo, and stated that
the people there now use Waterville
as their market on account Of the
superior roads, and so a large por-
ton of the trade that used to come
to Augusta now goes to other direc-
lions because Our roads are in such
a wretched condition. And he spoke
of the ridicule of Maine roads from
tourists from other states who come
to this state to pass the summer
p onths.
The conclusions reached by tho
committee from the Chamber of
~ ~ Lai ,o1o he
resurfacing Of the p miles of road
this year with four inches of gravel,
next year with two inches. and there
after for an indefinite period the
roads could be kept in condition by
patrol and dragging, Two methods
of financing this project were sueA
gested by Mr.. Brooks: First, by the
issuance of bonds; or. second, by
financing it through a corporation
extending through the period of five
years.
Street Engineer Paul Simpson is
in favor Of the proposition
and he read a portion OF his report
in which he asked that some per-
manent work. might be done each
season. E. A. Hussey spoke Of the
need of good roads to Augusta, and
Arthur n. Soule and Dr. W. H. Har-
.ris of the Chamber Of Commerce
committee also spoke in behalf of
the proposed plan. Another method
Of financing such a project. by the
formation of a road district, was sug-
gested by Councilman Lester M
Hart.
The entire matter was given
thorough discussion by the City Gov
eminent and the Chamber of Com
merce committee and the sentiment
was unanimous for the building of
permanent good roads. It was voted
that Mayor Martin and chairman
Nash of the highway committee ap-
point one man from the City Coun-
Gil highway committee for making
such survey of these roads.
A number of other important mat
tiers were brought before last even
ings session Of the City Council. A
of men who reside on Glen
don street appeared in behalf of the
petition asking that that street be
accepted by the city as a public
highway, and an order to that effect
was passed in concurrence.
The petition Of r. V. Pease asking
that the North Parish church which
for some time has been abandoned,
be condemned as a nuisapce. was
brought up>for atcion by the NUM-
cipal officers and upon mtooin Of AL
defman ]. o, Blanchette it was voted
that said property be condemned
Mayor Martin appointed Alderman
Blanchettte and Charles A. Brooks