The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-01-22
A Concrete Bridge for Belfast

A mass meeting was held in the Arm
ory Monday evening to discuss the ques-
ton of new concrete bridge to take the
place of the old wooden structure.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor C. w. Wescott, who briefly and
clearly explained the bridge question.
He remarked that Mr.. Lewis B. Jones,
the bridge engineer present from Angus
ia, said it was the largest bridge hearing
he had ever attended. Mr.. Wescott gave
his audience the credit of being awake to
their own and their city's affairs in ad-
vancement, progress and growth. He
aptly said: "There is tide in the affairs
of men, which taken at it's flood leads on
to fortune" The present opportunity
means great deal for Belfast. We have
the privilege of having a new S275, 900
cement bridge with the Federal Govern
ment willing to pay one-half; the State
and county 60 per cent of the other half,
leaving the city to pay only $3.50 This
does not include Belfast's part of the
State and county taxes. The county can
float its debt, but the city's part must be
raised by direct taxation. This can be
done in the next two years. 1t may be
hard for few, but the majority can pay
and soon forget it. He referred to the
condition of the bridge and of the efforts
made for new structure. Federal, State
and County aid coming at this particular
time is one of the greatest opportunities
Belfast has ever had. He then introduce
ed Engineer Jones, who had but recently
made an official examination of the
bridge.
Mr.. Jones remarked that the Belfast
bridge had become joke at their State
department. In fact it is called "Busy
BuzzelPs Belfast Bridge" Your repre-
sentative has been working for bridge
improvements ever since 1917 and now
has Gov. Milliken attending your bridge
hearings in Augusta. He explained the
weak points in the present structure and
said it would cost Belfast at least 81. 500
yearly to keep it up. He intimated that
it would be advisable to build on the
present location which would require a
structure 104O feet long, 20 feet roadway
and feet walk, with an electrically
operated draw. The cost of maintenance
would be only for paint on the draw.
The State engineers have estimated the
cost of Befast's bridge from the new one
connecting Mount Desert with the main
land. 1t is now completed at the cost of
S118, 900 and is about half the size of Bel
fast's. He urged that Belfast get at the
work as soon as possible as there was no
time to be lost in applying for Federal
and State aid
Representative Buzzell admitted that
he had done all he could and was willing
to continue his efforts for the new struct-
ure. Using single dollars for thousands
he reduced the proposition to a horse
trade illustration, the principle of which
even children could understand. His re-
marks were to the point and he was Civ
en- an ovation.
/ O. E. Frost, one of the city's largest
tax payers, spoke favorably of the propo-
sition, complimented Mayor Wescott for
his energy and expressed his willingness
to pay this extra tax and even more, if
necessary.
Robert F. Dunton referred to Mayor
/ Wescott's indomitable energy in making
! the school building possible when every
other effort had failed. This was done
with sentiment and pride It was now
! the duty of the tax payers to back the
present project, which would be a good
investment and also increase the vaiua-
tion of all real estate.
Messrs. Herbert H. Stevens, Morris l..
Slugg and DR.. W. L. West were called
from the audience and sanctioned all that
| had been said and urged that the under
taking be made at once. Local labor will
be employed at an estimated cost of $40,
! 600, which will remain in Belfast.
I In calling for the vote for the bridge,
Mayor Wescott said it did not in any way
concern the change of location. The vote
was 346 yes to 10 no.
Mayor Wescott then announced the
following committee to take up the loca-
ton question:: E. A. Sherman, O. E.
Frost, H. C. Buzzell, Walter B. Dutch,
Fred R. Poor, R. L. Cooper, V. A. Sim
mons, r. H. Howes, L. A. Payson, Ros-
coe Black. They met after the meeting
and again Tuesday forenoon in confer
ence with engineer Jones' After visit
ing the present location and the site at
the foot of Main street the committee
reported in favor of the present location
The water channel at the foot of Main
street is 300 feet and the depth % feet,
whereas the channel at the old location is
only 40 feet wide and IA feet deep The
change would make an increase of about
$1O0, 600 in cost. The Main street ioca-
ii on would necessitate 700 feet of steel
superstructure which would bring a per-
manent added expense to the city over
the concrete as contemplated on the old
site. A concrete structure would not hold