Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-18

Portsmouth side and needs at least
an attractive approach on the Maine
side, which this bridge at Bath would
not need. and this entire Portsmouth
bridge project being as long as the
proposed bridge at Bath, and being
about the same kind of structure
for about one half of its length as the
whelc bridge at Bath would be, it does
not seem as if this bridge at Bath
would cost twice as much as 1t would
to build this one at Portsmouth now.
hardly agree with the engineers
who estimate that it would be built
now for one half, but / am aware
that it can be built for a very much
less price; but if their opinion is cor
rect. I am certainly inclined think
that around s2,ooo.ooo.oO will build
bridge here.
They have very expensive draw
in the Portsmouth bridge, and when
you double the cost of this bridge at
the present time to get some idea OF
the cost Of this proposed bridge at
Bath, you double the cost Of this
draw, and al you need only one draw,
the extra cost could be applied to
some other part of the construction.
l do not claim from my knowledge
that this proposed Bath bridge can
be built for s2,0OO,O00OO, but l have
been building bridges for more than
forty years, not just this type Of a
bridge, but they are all built on the
same principle. and l am willing to
go on record that a good bridge can
be built here at Bath for from
s., 200, 100000 to $4,000, 100000. The life
of steel bridge in fresh water and
kept well painted is almost endless,
and the life of the foundation is
longer than the steel.
At the present time the ferry at Bat!
is collecting about $50,0a0,00 a year ir
tolls, a good part of which comes from
the all year residents, AID taxpayers,
and the balance from the summer poo-
pie. and considering the inconvenience
caused by these ferries and the draw
back they are to the development of
this large portion of Maine. it seems as
If II would be very good investment
for the State to pay the extra SAC, 10000 90
a year interest on this extra $1,000,000
of bonds, If the bridge should cost So
100000, for as have already ex-
planned the interest on 100000 is TAX
en- care of from the railroad rental, and
that is all the State would have to pay
out more than it is paying now on these
old ferries which are so detrimental in
every way to the interests of the State.
Not only that but it would be the best
investment the Maine Central Railroad
has made for long time, as they arc
handicapped in crossing and are de-
layed just the same as the other travel
is, and the prosperity and the good
service that our main transportation
company is able to render is Just as
necessary to the prosperity and dcvel-
opment of the State of Maine as any
other thing in it.
l know the knockers and calamity
hoWlers the parasites with which most
every locality is afflicted, will claim.
of course, which is true, that we will
be long time paying the bonds. 1t
would actually take about IS years.
These old ferries have been here about
IS years, and arc likely to be here %
more unless this bridge is built.
The Maine Central ferries have been
here 90 years or more, and it is fair to
infer they will be here IN Is years run
ming these ferries, unless this bridge
is built, and if these bonds are to be
paid from the deficit of one and the
rental of the other, the source from
which this payment comes will be here
at the end of the rs years, and if we
a hyiI aa nd
sure to by increasing :he prosperity
of the State and the business of the
Maine Central Railroad, they both will
certainly be better able to pay the
longer the payments are deferred.
Nothing has been said about Fed
oral aid. which no DOUBT We are en-
titled to and should get IF our Scna-
tors and Representatives are as smart
as they wish US to believe they are
when They come here and ask us to
re-clect them. | understand they had
$500.00o.00 Federal aid on the Ports
mouth bridge. but the proponents of
this bridge expect to put this bridge
project through this term Of the legis-
ture, and are afraid that if this Fed
eral aid is worked into the project il
will be used to delay this bridge, and
it has been delayed now about 40
years too long. If Federal aid can be
secured while the bridge is being con-
structed, Winch will take year and a
half or two years, it can be applied On
the States part to take UP the bonds
and make it that much easier for the
State, but the proponents of this bridge
a tn nd
oial aid to get this bridge project
through the legislature.
l have it from the very best authori-
ty such as Hiram RicNer Of Poland
springs and Mr.. Simpson, who used to
be our State Treasurer, both very
prominent hotel men and both in IA
Nor or bridge at Bath, that the sum-
NOR business had entirely changed with
the automobile method Of conveyance
that people do not go TO one place for
the season, but travel from one place
TO another, going along the Maine
coast perhaps east to Calais and back
up through the upper part of the State,
as 1t is not natural for the average per-
son who is travelling through new
country 10 go twice over the same
road, and | have no Goubt that the
comfort in travelling over this proposed
bridge compared with the inconyen-
icnce and expense Of this ferry. ana in
me opinion Of very many prominent
men, would increase The travel and
summer business enormously. ana
property on the whole Maine coast cast
and west would be a great deal more
in demand.