Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-03-22
Hancock-Sullivan Bridge.


ferry way between Sullivan and
Hancock. l fail to conceive what
facts and arguments were brought
to bear upon an intelligent commit
tee of the legislature (if it be fact)
composed of members from different
sections of the State to induce them
to make such an appropriation for
the purpose stated l will venture to
assert that you cannot find paral-
lei case in the State of Maine on our
highways where there is such dis
proportion between an expenditure
and the necessity therefor.
Our bridges are part of our
highway system, and should be sub
ject to the same general policy.
Our entire road system was
originally built under that provision
of the constitution which declares
that private property may be taken
for public purposes when public
necessity required it. Now what
great public necessity exists in this
case that will take private property
in the form of taxes from more than
100, 900 taxpayers in this State, a
part of them doubly taxed, without
a single returning benefit? Is it a
II
little wealth and with $4,000 miles
of road to support?
l am we'll aware. that the money
for roads has been distributed over
the State for roads largely under
the pressure of legal and political
influence, with little regard 10
justice to all sections. Representa-
tives are human, and are anxious
% No
encies, and so often seek for the
largest appropriation possible for
their section, regardless of their
duty to the State.
Now let us see what this ap-
preparation to facilitate travel
between a few sparsely set
tied towns in the eastern corner of
the State, would do in roads con-
struction. 1t would heavily gravel
1875 miles at $4,000 per mile, or
build over eighteen miles of first
class roads at $4,000 per mile.
With SO many poor roads in the
State, can we afford it? If like ap-
preparations were equally dis
tributed over the State for the bet
ter accommodation of public travel,
it would bankrupt the State.
Our municipal taxes in a majority
of small towns have more than
doubled within the last twenty-five
years, and are still rising. One
town in this county has reached the
fifty mill rate and others are yearly
approaching it.
Now, who are paying a large, and
| will add, unjust share of the taxes?
The farmers, whom all the nation
seems worried about just at present.
The highbrOws have examined the
body of agriculture and declared it
sick and needing the tenderest care,
and the most powerful restoratives.
Do we propose to tie more millstones
around the necks of farmers and
drop them into the sea? The hun
dreds of abandoned farms in this
State begin to tell their story, and
hundreds more thrown on the
markets emphasize the condition of
agriculture in this State.
Hundreds of farmers in this
State are sacrificing one-tenth of
their annual income for taxes, while
scores of others in the various in
dustries, professions and offices,
earning twice the average income of
the farmers, are paying little more
than a poll tax And this in
State where fair play is set forth as
the ideal rule of democracy.
J. M. HUTCHINS.
North Penobscot.
To the Editor of The American:
i am an old subscriber to The
American, and interested in every
thing in it, and especially interested
in the towns in Hancock county. l
have been reading of the Hancock
Sullivan bridge. l was pleased that
they wanted a bridge across the
river. | think it will make little
difference in the shipping, but look
at. the conveniences of 1t to others
Look at the eastern towns of Han
cock county. Think of how many
miles of travel it will save them,
even to Washington county; then,
again, think of the miles of travel
it will save to the public on the
western side of the river There
are very few, if any, large vessels or
steamers that the bridge will inter-
fere with, and of course there will
be draw" in the bridge.
l heard man say in Waldo
county that the bridge is only to &C
cOmmOdate the summer visitors. l
do not owe the summer people any
grudge. l think they pay their way,
and are benefit to any country
town. Let the country people fit
their homes for the occupancy of the
city people and take them into their
homes for season. The city people
do not expect Vanderbilt residence
in the country. They want good
food, a comfortable place to sleep,
with good air, and not too many
knick-knacks in their rooms to catch
the dust. They like quiet and rest
from the dust and turmoil of the
cities, lunch to take fishing, hunt
ing or picnicking, plenty of milk,
butter, fish, eggs, chicken, fowl,
more than the hearty heavy meals.
/ think the Hancock Sullivan
bridge will be the greatest boom
for Hancock county that it has had