Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-05
Committee Hearings
WAYS AND eRipcEs

Committee Hearings
WAYS AND BRIDGES
Senator Stevens presided at the
| Friday afternoon session Of the
| ways and bridges committee, in the
absence Of Chairman Adams.
| Rep. Tilden of Hallowell spoke
for the resolve asking $1,000 for each
of 1921 and 1922 for completing the
road in Winthrop leading from Sears
Corner to the Wayne line. serving
the North Wayne and people OF
other towns. The heavy trucks have
cut the road to pieces and the mar
| row places need widening. Win
throp has spent much money on it.
1t is about three miles long. The
town and the North Wayne Tool
Co.. which uses it extensively, will
assist with money.
Selectman Edw. Bullock, C.. F.
Donnell. C. w. Brown and F. d.
Erskine of Windsor all spoke for
the resolve carrying $500 to aid that
town in repairing and maintaining
u road leading to Somerville. Wind
sor has but IT'S polls: valuation,
! 100000: a 40 mills tax rate: no
debt. The town will raise something
toward the work, as $500 won't COM
plete it. About two miles long.
The town has IS miles Of road. Som
erville has a numbering operation
that will send 100000 to 100000
feet of lumber over this year and
, it should be repaired. The town
cannot do 1t.
Senator Thompson of Knox ask
ed for $3.50 to aid Gushing to COM
plete a piece Of State road. The
place depends on its summer visit
| ors and is behind financially with
! school. roads, etc.
Luther Maddocks of Bootl1bay
Harbor conducted the case for the
resolve in favor Of the Kennebec
Bridge Co., which asks $4,000 for a
preliminary survey for bridge to
! cross the Kennebec above Bath. He
explained that it was necessary to
have such survey in order to in
terest the government in the mat
| ter. The Highway Commission has
estimated that the sum will make
the necessary survey. .
People of the section east of the
Kennebec are very anxious for a
bridge. as the transportation across
the river at Bath is very slow and
vcxatious. 1t cannot accommodate
the travel and people will not
! come there. Many have to drive to
Gardiner bridge, about 60 miles
: I'm rfh ter1n hot
Central, to say nothing of the pas
scngerT, apd the State ferry often in
summer has people waiting to cross
for three or four hours.
Senator Thompson said that any,
one living east of the river knew
I tho situation. He had rather walk
to Togus and back three times, than
! make the trip home to Rockland.
: The government has control of
tidewaters and will not look at any
. proposition that has not been sur
veyed.
Senator Clark of Lincoln said his
people were greatly interested and
wanted the bridge. The appropria-
ton for a survey would be very
pleasing to them.
Rep. Gilmore Of Camden said the
eastern section had advantages but
lacked the proper transportation. It
has, beautiful scenery but poor way
to get to. it. Was transportation
suitable, many more people would
build summer places along the
coast line and bring more valuation
to the State.
Rep. Dram Of Bristol voiced the
same sentiments and favored the
survey appropriation.
Judge Emery Of Camden said 1t
|. was a means to an end-to interest
the government in the matter and
render financial aid. He thought
bridge would eventually carry
railroad to places not now served.
Senator Baxter asked as to how
long it took to interest the govern
ment in the Portsmouth bridge and
how much he would involve the
State Of Maine in the Kennebec
bridge project.
Mr.. Emery said 1t would be the
beginning of something concrete and
$4,000 was a small sum for such an
investment II we don't start now,
AiucI wall WV JScAcs PSAA0PS AVh6
err.
Asked II the Maine Central was
interested, Mr.. Maddocks said 1t
couldn't pay its daily bills and was
now in no shape to help.
Rep. Spear Of Rockport said he
thought the people Of that section
were entitled to consideration from
the State to the extent Of $1,000.
F. E. Ware Of Whitefeld thought
that $4,000 would be useless for
such a survey: 1t would cost far
more. The Maine Central had sur
veyed and we should make them
take half the cost and then go to
the government.
Mr.. Maddocks read a letter from
Pres. Mcdonald Of the Maine Gen.
trail saying the road had never made
but scattered examinations and not
a complete survey and that work
should be done thoroughly, without
use Of such data as now at hand.
DR.. jackson Of Jefferson favored the
resolve.