Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-05
FACTIONS MANIFEST

The first skirmish preliminary TOT
the Kennebec bridge battle In the
Sind Maine Legislature took place
at issue being whether or not a COM
mission of five persons shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor to investi-
gate and make report to the Legis-
lature not later than March 1st rel
alive to the construction Of a COM
binatioa railroad and highway bridgai
over the Kennerec river.
1t WAC a real engagement with ver>
bal shots that struck at the very
he. IT of the whole bridi propositions
and the So of the encounter will
be reported to the Legislature by the
ways and bridges committee, befol :,
who the hearing was held. /
The forces favoring the appoint-
ment OF such misc.5n . rep-l
resented by Mayor Ernest L. Nc
Lean Of Augusta. who pointed out.
that this particular piece of legisla-
ton is impartial as between the two
proposed sites for the bridge, the
Bath and the Richmond location. 1t
Is in order that the Legislature may
be provided with information per.
tanning to both sites that this con,..
mission is sought, Mayor Mclean
asserted.
That there is no need Of such X
commission because Of the fact that
reliable data has already been OBJ
tanned by the best of bridge enpi-
neers. was the contention of Sena.
tor Frank w. Carton Of Sagadahoc.
sponsor for the Bath bridge project,
and Senator Frederick w. Hinckley
of Cunt ,rland
Mayor Mclean of Augusta -
Ernest L. Mclean, mayor of Au-
Susta, appeared for the proponents
OF the resolve introduced in the Leg
lslature by Representative White Of
Bowdoinham.
The White resolve also specifies
that the commission shall fnvesti-
gate and report on the relative
merits of the Bath location and the
Richmond location, so-called, q, O..
site for the proposed bridge.
Mr.. Mclean, at the outset, made it !
plain that the resolve does not f..vori
either site more than the other. butt
asks simply that the legislature be |
provided with information pertain.
ing to both.
The great majority of people no !
convinced, he said, of the need of a.
bridge across the Kennebec some .
where south of Gardiner, but that ,
the most II 'ortant question is the (.
one of location. This, he argued, !
must be determined by an impartial, /
unbiased committee. Entering In
to tho question of location. in turn.
are the factors of the effect of the
bridge on river navigation at tn.
and at Richmond: the cost, the
river current: the approaches: the.
use of the bridge for both high
way and railrOau purposes; the
question of whether a free or toll
bridge should be built; and tn cost.
of maintenance.
Mr.. Mclean referred to state
ments made this morning 80 Rich
mond before a Legislative delega-
ton by Major S. c. Godfrey OF ~os-
ton, U. S. District engineer, relative
to numerous questions of naviga. ION
which must be decided, in which the ;
government is interested. He point
ed out shat the volume of river traf-
flc at Bath is larger than that at
Richmond and that that diffe. ence
has bearing on the choice of loca- /
ton. e-- !
In surrort OF his nlea for the ap- !
pointment of a bridge commiss.o on, :
Mr.. Mclean quoted at length from
a letter written by former Governor .
Baxter under date of April II. 1924.
Continued on Page 2-col. 81 !,