The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-07-10
| Al OR|OUS FOURTH AS OBSERVED
|HF PEOPLE OF SOMERSET COUNTY
wood Has Big Crowd New Portland Dedi-
[,tss ridge--Norridg gewock and Madison

anu pSihdhcHCe' II was designed
the best in the United States and the
field construction Will compare fav-
orably With the same standard II
is not a cheap bridge but he didn't
want cheap bridges but a permanent
serYiceable one. He recalled that he
was working on the State Bridge Con
struction before the World War when
his daily wages We're $40. and now
they were paying for the same kind
of work from $1.00 to $1.30 per hour
and whereas formerly cement was 90
or 65 cents per barrel, it was over So
today. In closing Mr. Edwards said
at gives me much pleasure to pre-
sent to the town and to the people of
this village this new bridge"
In his remarks of acceptance. DR..
Fratt said that the present assemb-
ling was for two purposes: First to
dedicate this magnificent bridge, and
second to commemorate this indie
pendence Day. AS result of the
Declaration of independence came the
Constitution of the United States and
its emblem the flag of our country.
then the constitution of each state
and all of these things go to make
an independent people.
Hon. Frank H. Holley prefaced his
remarks by saying he felt that he
should call the audience Home people
as he could call about half of the
audience by their first names and
wished he Gould the other half He
had worked for the new bridge be-
cause of the great burden of taxation
on the town and also for friendship
and now Il can hardly retain my joy
fulness." We have met to dedicate a
bridge of permanent construction and
it is appropriate that it should be
dedicated on a day that symbolizes
permahency. PermanenCy is the
program of the day. In 1914 the
state was parolling 1900 miles and
today more than 5000 miles and the
idea is to keep permanent roads. Not
only is the state building permanent
roads and bridges but it is doing
something towards making permanent
youths. Three and one-third mills
from the state is set aside for educa-
tion and in 1921, 1870 of that raised by
direct taxation was spent for educa-
ton. Maine is constructing perma-
nent characters. $4,000 was set
aside for rehabilitation fund that is
fer instructing men. heads of families
injured in the war and no, longer able
to work at their professions, to do
something else by giving free instruc-
tion. That is permanent construe-
ton.
NORRIDGEWOCK FOURTH OF JULY
CELEBRATION
With ideal Fourth of July weather
the celebration at Norridgewock was
in every way a wonderful success ex-
cepting on the financial basis. Every
one was remarking that the celebra-
ton was the best ever in town which
pleases the committee in charge as
they had worked hard to make the
affair a success Never were more
people in town during the day but as
there were celebrations in several OF
the nearby towns the crowds seemed
to move from one town to another and
so many moved straight by the park
IN the afternoon that the financial end
of the event suffered rather than
made big gain as everyone had hop
ed to do. Anyway there was not a
dull moment from the time the cele-
bration was scheduled to commence
at $50 a. m. until after the street
dance in the evening and the people
of good old Norridgewock showed that
even though they had suffered and lost
by the recent big fire which nearly
wiped out the town that they were
not without courage and were trying
hard to help replace what had been
lost. Instead of making gain they
1nl1
Forgetting the gloomy side here is
what took place during the day and
after reading it let's give the mon OF
our town credit for the great day and
also extend the invitation to all who
enjoyed the day with MS to come
again and bring their friends. There
may be some benefit affair later to
nelp out this organization which
should be freely patronzed. The
parade was advertised to start al 30
a. m. and at that time il did start
The parade was a credit 10 any town
and the efforts of those who aid any
thing TO help out were greatly ap-
preciated. Skowhegan did every
thing possible to help out and among
other things the Skowhegan Band and
tho Boy Scouts Fife and Drum Corps
gave splendid music for the parade
and at the races for a sum far below
their regular price The parade was
formed as follows: Skowhegan Band;
Boy Scouts Fife and Drum Corps
temporary fire engine; Jewett Can.
cry float: fancy team. (Uncle Sam
and wife,; Rose Shoe float; fantas-
tic car; Bracket & Russell float; fan
tastiC team; Green Cross car; Grange
foat fancy team representing "6@
PARTY; Gipsey team; fancy ear
Thompson Potato Field Float,
Spauldings Fantastic Float; Fantas-
tic Trotting Horse outfit; Boy Scout
Float Percival's Fantastic Tractor
Float. Holt & Hight's Buick cars; and
last but not least the Elephant The
marshall of the day was William
Soule and he was ably assisted by
clown and a town crier. The hrst
prize was given the Norridgewock
Shoe Company, whose float was big
white shoe covered with over hVe
thousand red. white and blue hand
made roses. The float was mounted on
a u,b{nb wac aOtirplV hidden but