Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-17


State Of Maine cannot afford to lose
It, The manufacturers throughout
the whole State, or to quite an extent
In the western part of the State. the
western half ana extending into the
eastern half. use these lines all the
time. 4
, We need the line between Portland
and Boston. The railroads are not
in a position to take care of fall the
traffic.
We need the line between Portland
and New York. 1T is possible that
we may in some future time-in tho
near future-secure the Merchant
and Mariners Line, on account of the
facilities offered at that pier. which
would carry goods from the State of
Maine to the Middle South, to Nor
folk and to Philadelphia. At the
present time railroad shipments to
those points are very diffifiicult and
very expensive.
In the middle South the State Of
Maine comes in competition with man.
ufacturers Of the South. of Pennsyl-
vania and through all the Central
West. With the railroad line facili-
ties only. we would be at a great dis
advantage, but with the water lines
we are placed on a better basis At
Norway and up in that section they are
shipping goods at the present time to
California in competition with goods
made in St. Louis. They can do it on
account of the reduced freight rates
which they secure by lines which use
this pier.
/ do not think the State Of Maine
should take a chance on this pier going
down. L wish l had the letter to read
that the engineer who investigated the
ease wrote to the Governor. 1t was
read in the House yesterday morning.
Perhaps he would be willing to read it.
That would bring the situation in re-
gard TO the danger Of the condition
there forcibly to our attention. 1
think We should vote this money.
Mr.. BREWSTER Of Cumberland:
Mr.. President. in view of what the
senator from Waldo has said regarding
the possible geographical prejudice
that we may entertain in favor of this
matter l shall not give you my own
opinion in regard to this matter. or at
least support it by reasons which have
moved me, other than to say that / do
feel very strongly that it is for the
benefit not only of the State but Of
the whole State.
But ! do think that the senator's
should have before them in deciding
this matter certain impartial evidence
that has been given on it. In the first
place, an opinion which might be
charged with prejudice nasmuch az il
is the opinion of the engineers of the
commission, although they are the
employees Of the State in this work
and they have their professional stand
ing and reputation at stake in any
opinion which they render. and they
arc men of very high standing in their
profossio3. This was a part of the
evidence which the committee had to
90 upon. the opinion Of the engineers
Of the commission in regard to condi-
tons at Franklin wharf.
THE seriousness of the cituation at
the old Franklin wharf was brought
rome most forcibly a few weeks ago
when large section of the pile wharf
at shed No. at the Grand Trunk ter
Enal. adjoining the State pier, col
lapsed and fell into the water almost
without warning. About $50 men
were employed at the time I'm handling
freight in this Grand Trunk shed and
it was little short of a miracle that no
lives were lost. The collapse was due
to the destruction of the piles by ma.
rine worms. ! personally examined a
number of the piles removed after the
accident: many of these had been al
lust above the harbor bottom. A sim
lar condition exists at the old Frank
lin wharf portion of the State pier.
lhere. in addition to rotten tinbers
and decayed piless we find that already
the piles have been extensively eaten
by marine worms and that this de-
structlon is steadily proceeding,
Franklin wharf is much older struc-
ture than the Grand Trunk wharf
which failed. ard it's condition has be-
come extremely serious. Franklin
wharf is used for passenger traffic as
we'll as for freight business Hun
dreds of passengers daily make use of
the wharf in addition to the freight
handlers who arc constantly EMPLOYED
IN handling freight. The danger is
imminent. At any time in the normal
course OF business. the wharf may fall
IN just the way that the Grand Trunk
wharf failed. In the event of such a..
disaster 1t is highly probable that loss
or life will occur. especially as the
passenger business brings many more
people on the wharf. and women ind
children are less likely to save them
selves than are HUSKY longshoremen"
That is the official opinion of the
engineers employed in this matter. In
addition to that, and before giving one
hecn rendered on this matter of a far
moro impartial nature, l want to sneak
Tor moment of the veto message in
winch reference is made to a letter
from one member of the State pier
commission in which it had been said
mat the use of the wharf might con-
dnuc through August, from which the
inference in the veto message was
made that tho situation could not be
so serious since one member of the
commission had indicated that that
use might continue for that period l
think in justice to the member of the
commission who wrote the letter to
which reference was made. it is due
you that you should hear the remain
ing portion of the paragraph referring
to that matter. on which apparently
some portion of the Executive action
was based. After saying that the
Eastern Steamship Company "have ad-
rised us that in no event will they