Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-15
MAYOR Mclean EMPHATICALLY
TAKES ISSUE WITH SPENCER ON
remarks ON BRIDGE PAINTING

no. great difficulty in ascertaining
this fact. At the time the bridge was
painted in 1914 and 1915 the wage
was about $3.50 per day. Since that
time the cost OF paint has more than
doubled.
"Mr. Spencer says ,one-half the
paint has dropped into the Kennebec
river. That statements just about
as true as his others. On the super
structure the paint would have to
fall on the bridge. There has been no
more scattering than would be ex-
pected. A thorough Job. filling every
seam with paint, would necessitate
some SCATTERING.
THE condition of the bridge at the
time the present paint job was I'M
dertaken was .deplorable. Reference
to an article in the Kennebec Journal
and Portland Press Herald under
date of September 10, 1928, will give
some idea of it's condition. I have
on my desk rust scale taken from
one OF the truss beams seven inches
long and five inches wide and weigh
ing seven and one-half ounces. This
scale resulted from painting over a
rusted surface without first cleaning
it. 1t illustrates the necessity of a
thorough cleaning job.
THAT there is no basis Of compari.
son between the present paint lob
and the former painting is obvious. In
the former paintings the cleaning was
done largely with wire brushes and
one coat of paint only was applied.
AS preliminary to the present
painting every particle of rust was
removed by chip hammers. scraping
and brushing with wire brushes, a
coat consisting largely Of red lead
tod
coat of paint, the paint in both in
stances complying with the speci-
fications of the State Highway Com
mission for bridge work. This Is the
first complete coat of red lead ap-
piled since the bridge was built in
1890
"Mr Spencer's inference that this
bridge could be painted by contract
for $500 at the present time is alb
surd. 1t never was painted for any
such sum. That sum would not begin
to pay for the paint for a two coat
job to say nothing of the labor. Sure
ly if the painting of kennebec bridge
was the insignificant matter-from a
pecuniary standpoint-that Mr..
Spencer intimates, it would not have
gone nine years without painting.
The painting of the bridge was con-
sidered two years ago. One coat
only was contemplated. The very
| large expense involved was one of
the substantial reasons why it was
not painted at that time.
1.-THE work is being done now by F.
II. Beale & Company on a ten per
cent cost plus basis. Under the con-
| ditionS / felt with the Highway Com
| mittee that these terms were un-
usually favorable. Five hundred
! dollars of the expense of the paint
| ing is to be borne by the Electra
| Railroad. With the exception Of the
| work done by the Hassam Company
! this is the first time, l believe, that
| the Railroad has shared any part of
| the expense of painting job.
II am at n loss to understand why
| Mr.. Spencer. public official speak
| ing to an assemblage of insurance
| men. should attempt to criticize work
! being done here in Augusta without
| having any knowledge whatsoever of
| the facts. Simple honesty would
| seem to condemn such utterances."