The Republican journal., 1921-10-27
Along a Coast of Delight

Dedication of memorial bridge in the
Maine city of Belfast calls attention else
where to the steps now in progress and
in prospect for the improvement of one
of the most remarkable of drives in all
the world. 1t begins on the North Shore
of Massachusetts, with its myriad beau
ties, and thence follows the beaches, with
their unobstructed outlook over the broad
Atlantic, to cross New Hampshire and
southern Maine, sweep by the placid
waters of sland-sentinelled Casco Bay
and reach the Kennebec at Bath. From
there it extends eastward past inlet and
estuary until it swerves to the north on
the shore of Penobscot Bay, and spreads
before the eye of the traveller prospect
of sea and curving coast on the one hand
and blue capped hills on the other, a
scenic panorama equallcd in beauty by
few if any coastwise regions in our own
country or in lands beyond the seas. And
there are similar attractions in the
stretches beyond that extend this high
way along coast of delight until it
reaches Frenchman's. Bay Obviously
| the improvement OF this drive, hundreds
of miles in lenth, is matter of more
than local concern
The bridge at Belfast is a memorial to
the soldiers of Waldo County who died in
the World War. 1t is not the only bridge
of the kind designed in memory of New
England lads. There is in process of con-
Struction the great bridge at Portsmouth
which Will serve to commemorate the
valor of boys of New Hampshire and of
Maine. 1t is appropriate that the two
States and the Federal Government
should unite in this undertaking. The
great structure linking New Hampshire
and Maine and the lesser structure at
Belfast will be enduring monuments. 1t
is fitting that in these sea board States
there should be such bridges, standing
firmly against the onward sweep of tide
and current, typifying the strength and
nobility of the young men who met death
on foreign fields. And it is not deroga-
tory to their purpose as memorials to
point out the value of these bridges to
the living. That value is enhanced many
fold by the fact that in addition to pro-
noting transportation for commercial
purposes they add to the pleasure and
| inspiration to be obtained from scenic
charm and grandeur.
There are other opportunities for bridge
building along this New England Shore
Drive. The spanning of the Kennebec at
Bath has been seriously proposed, and is
feasible from an engineering standpoint.
Whether the time will soon come when it
may be brought about, in view Of the
great cost it would involve is, of course,
another question. Such bridge, pre-.
sumabiy to accommodate both highway
and railroad travel, would be mighty
asset in restoring prosperity to a section
of the Pine Tree State which has suffered
through the passing of old-time indus.
tries. While the Kennebec bridge may
be an improvement that will not come
soon, the Maine folk should not defel
lesser undertakings needed to improv,
their share of this drive through thre,
States. 1t is poor policy to expose th'
traveller to the perils of rough and rock,
roads a few miles from a bridge cost
ing hundreds of thousands of dollars NJ
reasonable effort should be spared t.
make the drive alongshore from Bostol
to Bar Harbor of uniform excellence
Maine has made commendab Bile recor
in building modern highways. 1t is to b
assumed that those along the coast viii
receive the attention that their import
ance Trants.-5oston Transcript