Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-30
AUGUSTA BRIDGE
CONTINUED from Page One)

that an inspection of the bridge be
made by Chief Engineer VIM. NJ.
Black. of the commissions stan, CITY
Engineer He5ry f. Hill of Augusta
and an enginder to represent the rail-
way company report to be made at a
meeting of the same parties at 10 A.
Nj. Thursday, Jan. IS at the State
House.
Those present were: Commission
ers Charles E. Quincy, Herbert M.
Trafton and Albert Greenlaw, Clerk
George F. Giddings. Stenographer
Ruel c. Hanks, Mayor Sanford L.
Fogg, City Solicitor Melville Z. Saw
telle and City Engineer Henry +.
Hill of Augusta, and General Man
ager Alfred Sweeney. General Freight
Agent r. Z. Halliday and Supt. G. w.
Bowie of the Androscoggin and Ken
nebec Electric Railway.
1t developed that the Public Util-
tiles Commission, following the hear
ing of April 9. 1918 offered recon-
mendations to the city of Augusta
that it have removed I'll poles and
wires of the telephone and electric
light companies from the bridge, that
snow be kept at inches depth. for
traffic purposes and that traffic be
regulated, the bridge also to be
strengthened.
These recommendations were ac-
copied by formal vote of the city gov
eminent and the requirements were
met by the city. 1t was stated by
Manager Sweeney of the railway,
that, while the company. had never
received any order from the commits
sion, the company had at once ord
cred it's traffic so regulated as to
comply with the requirements and
that it had since SO been done.
The points brought out by Mayor
E'ogg. City Solicitor Sawtelle and
City Engineer Hill were to the effect
that conditions as to traffic during
the past three years have very ma
terially changed. Whereas motor
tons average, they may today be from
to II or Is tons. That automobile
traffic has greatly increased and that
the railroad freight traffic was being
done with heavier cars, which il run
over the bridge during the heavy
travel might be cause of danger.
Both Engineers Black and Hill
thought that the railway company
had not strengthened the bridge as it
should be to stand up under this re-
cent heavy travel.
1t was also the request Of the City
of Augusta that the strengthening Of
the bridge to be done now be done at
the expense of the Androscoggin &,
kennebec.
Manager Sweeney of the railway
thought that undue alarm was felt
by the city officials and asserted that
the railway had ever and consistent
ly complied with the requirements of
the recOrlme ndations of the Public
Utilities Commission of 1918. He did
rot believe that bridge condition de-
manded any action at this time and
asked that some notifications of the
old order" be made. SO that the road
could haul across the bridge an emp
~ or lightly loaded trailer with a
motor load, instead of being obliged
to leave on a siding and go back with
o motor car and thus make an extra
and non-paying trip.
Chairman Quincy of the commits
sion stated that it was evident that
all interested wished only for abso-
lutte safety and protection of the peo-
pie. The commissions previous
order-made by Commissioners B. F
Cleaves, VIM. B. Shelton and j. f
Bunker-had been left open and the
responsibility now fell upon the pres
ent members, a responsibility thai
they did not propose to shirk in the
slightest degree and a situation that
must and should be attended to al
once. The order for an examination
of the Augusta bridge then issued an
adjournment taken to 10 A. M. Jan
10.