Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-21

, is located at Bath, and no engineers
rave given testimony as to the es-
Inmates of he construction of this
bridge.
1T is 22SO feet across the Kenncbec
river at Bath and $40 feet across the
river at Richmond. II the distance
is an important factor in the build
ing of this bridge as to the number
of piers, spans and the amount of
Asteel to be required, it is apparent
that the bridge at Richmond will
cost about one third as much as the
bridge at Bath. And if the construc-
ton of the bridge at Bath and at
I 100000 and S3.000.O00, Richmond
should have considera ton from a fin
ancial point of view"
Cheaper to Build at Richmond
| Mr.. Leigh contended that it was
| apparent, although no figures of an
/ accurate or authentic nature had
| been presented as to the probable
| cost of the proposed bridge at Bath.
| that Il bridge at Richmond would
| not cost more than "A third as much.
| This would make possible reduced
] rental to the railroad. all of which
| would serve as an inducement for
the road to build across from Wis
casset to Dresden and connect with
! the bridge. This he felt was logical.
If. as had been stated. the Eastern
river could be bridged by the COM
/ pany for $25O.OOO.
! At the outside, he said, the diff
! ference in travel from Wiscasset to
| Brunswick by way of Richmond
| would be only about half an hour
| longer than by way of Bath.
| He called attention to the fact
that the Lewiston Chamber of Com
merce had taken steps urging that a
| direct State highway he built from
that city to Richmond and Dresden,
which he thought indicates the SEN
! timent in that vicinity.
The main desire of the Richmond
| people at this time was to have the
Legislature enact the resolve provid-
ing for commission to investigate
, aud report to the next Legislature
! as to the place and ACCESSIBILITY of
a bridge. He wanted Il commission
of unprecedented men. He comment
ed on the fact that no engineer had
been present and no actual figures
presented as to the proba BILE cost of
this proposed bridge at Bath.
Propose Toll Bridge
S. T. kimball of Roclkland, ap-
peared in favor of the act to in
corporate the Maine Kennebec
bridge. with Alfred X. Ames of
! Machias. Elmer S. Bird, S. II. KIM
ball and William S. White of Rock
| land, Walter l.. Gray of South Paris.
Hannibal II. Hamlin of Ellsworth
and Frederic o. Eaton of Rumford,
rs lncorpOratorS.
This is frankly a bushes propo-
CT f0,. fNlI l,,,Jrr
ney kimball. land the bill was in
| bill does not antagonize the resolve
| introduced by Senator Carleton of
] Sagadahoc county providing that the
bridge should be built by the State.
This idea of a toll bridge has been
under active consideration for over
| Il year, The bill provides that the
! location of the bridge shall be at
| Bath. If the Carelton resolve pass
Is. this bill dies. This bill certainly
is not dangerous to the proposition
! of Senator Carleton.
| I'VE believe that there is a ne
CesSity for the bridge. This measure
/ Will give the people an opportunity
to travel on a bridge rather than on
| a fcrr! at the same rate Of toll. and
this rate cannot be raised without
, tIit toHStlt vi llic IuDlIC
| commission"
I; Believe It Good Business
| Mr. kimbal told the committee
! that he and his associates believed
this was 4 good business PROPOSE
| ton; that they reached this decision
( through an understanding of the
savings which could be made by
private construction and operation
' under state construction. This say
! ing WAS estimated at from - to -
. pc" cent. There was this further in
favor of their proposition. that
| there would be no waiting two 10
/ five Years for the bridge. Once the
Law WAS enacted giving them auth
i ority to build the bridge they would
start preliminary work and continue
! until the structure was in use.
Appearing for the Richmond
! Chamber OF Commerce and Others
! Sanford l.. FoGg of Augusta. OPP
| posed the granting of this charter.
! He said it looked to him like Il stock
| jobbing proposition. 1t was indcfi-
| mite and did not appeal to him rs
! beneficial to the state. He said that
| he was opposed to toll bridges as Il
| general proposition. but if one was
! to be authorized he felt all the in
| tercsts of the state should be safe
| guarded.
Mr.. Foss then appeared for the
would be incorporators of the toll
bridge 1T Richmond. lie said this
was Il sane and safe proposition in
! which the rights of the people were
: fully protected and in which there
| was no hint of stock iobbing
He also stated in answer to a
! question by Senator Carleton that he
had been told by a man connected
i with the Maine Central that if that
company could have its way it would
bridge the river at Richmond at it's
, own expense.