Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-05-27
HANCOCK ROAD HEARING.
Governor and Council Hear Protest
from Ellsworth and Hancock.

from Ellsworth and Hancock.
/ There was a long hearing before
the governor and council yesterday
= afternoon. on the route of the pro-
posed federal-aid highway between
Ellsworth and Hancock.
The State highway commission
| favors a new route, as already sew
eral times described in The
American, by way of High street, the
new Lamoine road and across the
country over an entirely new route
through the Thorsen Farms and en-
tering the present road near the foot
of McFarland's hill.
route and the present roads, ma
] jority of the people of Ellsworth and
Hancock favor either one or the
other of the old routes-that over
/ McFarland's hill or around it, many
inclining to the former because of
it's scenic beauty. Sentiment has
been Influenced, however, by the re-
ports circulated to the effect that it
was "new road or none" and that
the federal government would not
give aid unless the grade crossings
at Ellsworth and Washington juno
ton were avoided, as would be done
by the proposed new route
At the hearing, therefore, Engineer
Sargent, of the State highway COM
mission, was on the defensive for the
new route, with residents of Ellis
worth and Hancock arrayed against
him. The hearing for the opponents
of the new route was conducted by
Judge Harry L. Crabtree. Those be-
sides Mr.. Crabtree who spoke against
the proposed new route were Mayor
Lewis Hodgkins, Alderman Harold
V. Moore and Frank S. Sawyer of
Ellsworth; Lyle L. Brown, Calvin B.
Young, Howard w. Young, Fred E.
Miliken and Watson K Springer of
Hancock and j. Sherman Douglas of
Lamoine.
1t seemed to be clearly brought out
that the statements, "no road or
new road" and mo federal aid with
grade crossings" were propaganda,
circulated with the idea of gaining
endorsement of the new route by
Ellsworth and Hancock. Mr..
Springer of Hancock described a trip
over the proposed new route made
week. His companion, with hip
boots, was able to get through; he,
with knee boots, could not. This
to combat the report that the route
was not through a swamp. 1t was
also brought out, in meeting the
contention that the McFarland's hill
route was not feasible on account of
grade, that the proposed new route
crossed the top of the same hill at a
different point, and descended to the
present road by the very same
grade
A bid for construction of the new
road according to plans of the State
highway commission has been re-
ceived, at something like $4S,900,
but it was also brought out at the
hearing that this bid and contract
were on the unit yard basis, and
this, in connection with Engineer
Sargent's admission that he did not
know how deep the swamp was and
how much fill would be required,
makes the actual cost of construction
of the new road problematical.
No definite action, of course, was
taken by the governor and council
but the belief is entertained by the
/ Ellsworth and Hancock men present
at the hearing that they have given
! the governor and council some new
I light on the situation existing here,
and that there will be further consul
! tation with the federal department
before the new route is approved
and contract for it's construction
awarded.
/