Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-10
FAvORS RICHMOND
As WANTS BRIDGE
4 FEASIBLE PLAN

Boothbay Harbor. Dec. S-(Special)
Hon. Luther Aiaddocks of this town
formerly state senator. In a state
ment today said that II there IL q
bridge across the Kennebec river In
the near future, he sees no way to
get 1t than to locate 1t at Richmond.
'"The time for the biennial legislat-
ture IL now at hand when the Ken
nebec bridge will be a subject for
diaeHssion." continued Mr.. Maddocks.
ANY one has a right and duty to
express an opinion and I, having
been identified with the case from the
start, feel a deep interest in its fu-
ture history.
Il will discuss briefly these propo-
sitions: First, the natural conditions
at Bath. "a study Of the map of the
survey OF the river bottom hascon-
WINGED me that that site Ia impracti-
cable, for these reasons: The depth
OF water and soft mud. What the
chart shows is 100 feet from lower
water mark to the rock bottom. At
least 80 feet will have to be added to
that, making the piers, nine in num-
bers $50 feet from top to bottom. No
OhC DCCItlS ~ huO" lOW "luc the pier
foundation must. be. IL the draw Is
bridge, 1t would add 100 feet more
for the piers which support the draw.
1t may be an engineering possibility,
but the financial end IL, will the leg
islature appropriate In any way a
sum sufficient to pay the bill-does
the income in sight warrant such an
outlay? 1t would be q fine thing to
have this expensive bridge and no
one would be more pleased to see 1t
than /, but I have given up all hope
that 1t will happen. Te me it seems
useless to waste time asking for
something most people think will
never be granted.
1.-THE approaches are q very expen-
sive proposition from q railroad en-
gineer's standpoint. If we have a
bridge in the near future, see nc
way to get it than to locate it at
Richmond. A recent survey has
shown that the conditions are favor
able. with Fl feet of water and a
favorable bottom. with distance OF
800 feet in length and seasily ap-
preached. The railroad will find the
bridge. wherever 1t Is built, so am
creditably informed They might
build a road from Dresden t. Wis
casset. eight miles in length. This
has all been surveyed and there Is
no guess work about 1t. A RESPONSE
BILE party has offered in writing to
build this bridge complete for one
million, forty thousand dollars. Cost
no doubt will be reduced by compel
tive bids.
TT is estimated that more state OF
Maine people would be Accommodated
at Richmond than at Bath, as the
majority of the population are ada
cent to and north of the Richmond
bridge.
1.-THE legislature may refuse to
grant any appropriation for bridge
at any place on the Kennebec. then
why not grant charter to response
BILE parties to form a corporation fol-
toll bridge, issue bonds, the state
to guarantee the interest and have
the right to take over the bridge in n
stated time and make il free. From
the money from tolls after paying UP
running expenses, the balance or as
much as Is necessary. may be applied
to the interest on bonds.
ut might be wise to have a COM
nlittee appointed who are not in any
way interested sin either location to
look over the whole situation and
submit to the legislature their re-
Communications from an unprecedented
standpoint.
ut is so important matter that
we can afford neither to put 1T off
nor get into trouble over the loca-
tion of a bridge which we must have
four years have already elapsed since
the agitation to build q bridge across
the kennebec river was started
These delays are expensive-Knox
and Lincoln counties are held back
for the want of it. I do not expect
any personal benefit, as do not ex-
pee. to live eighty years mere to en-
10y public improvements"