Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-22
Augusta-B Road

Augusta Belfast Road
Continued from Page one)
Maine senate, appeared before the
highway commission Thursday in
regard to the proposed improve
ments Of the highway between Au-
gusta and Belfast.
Mr.. Buzzell brought signed con-
tracts for rocks and gravel needed
for the highway between Belfast and
Liberty. Mr.. Webber had pledges in
| the form of legal contracts from peo-
pie living along the highway from
| the Augusta line to Branch Mills.
| Included In these was the contract
given by the selectmen of China to
| furnish $4,000 yards of gravel Mr..
Buzzell had pledges for $1,000 yards
| of gravel. also rock; Mr.. Weber for
| $4,000 yards of gravel and 1900
\ tons OF rock. 1t was estimated that
| the amount pledged and ready for
use OF rock and gravel is more than
| sufficient to build the highway, all
free. Also free camp sites at all
strategic points on the route were OBJ
taned, all free.
These Unusual concessions are
something new in this state, which
usually pays for both rocks and
gravel-as high as 80 cents yard
for gravel has been paid IN some in
| stances. The commission is said to
! consider this an unheard of demon
! stration of cooperation and would
mean saving to the state of more
that $4,000.
These pledges. which are drawn
| and signed in the form of contracts
contain this proviso: provided, how
| ever, that this gift, both as to ma
| terial and the use of camp sites,
shall not be operative unless the
state of Maine shall begin construc-
ton on some part of this road during
| the year 1925, and shall continue the
! construction each year in due course
until the construction of the said
road until completed"
| In addressing the commission Mr..
Webber said:
I'VE know full well something of
the predicament in which the high
way department finds itself due to
this lack of finances, we know also
I that this is not due to any fault OF
the commission. 1t must be some
what embarrassing to you to be ask
| ed continually to start projects for
which there are not sufficient funds
available, but we are not here today
| to embarrass you in this way but to
| work with you to help you solve a
| problem which must some day be
| solved and with this thought only in
our minds and with no idea of any
attempt to force this project upon
| you we have come here today with a
/ proposal which we feel merits your
| careful consideration.
'It was from stories which we
have heard of prices having been ad-
vanced in some sections, to some
times more than double their proper
| values for rocks and gravel and
other basic materials which hap
pened to be the only source of sup
| ply within an easy hauling distince
to the point of construction that led
| to the idea tina IL during this period
of restricted construction a real and
substantial offer of a gift for road
building purposes of enough material
! to construct this road it's entire
length to proper width and depth
were offered you that you might
have good cause to reconsider your
decision and that such a move might
offset and be an answer to some OF
your reasons for not starting this
| piOJeCI OuIllS ILLS Cdiciiudi ycdl.
| This is the reason that such a
proposition was put before these
property owners and their spirit is
all legally drawn and binding and
granting to the State without charge
raw material such as rock and
stone, picked and ready for hauling,
gravel of the finest grade in guam
titles of many thousands of cubic
yards, camp sites for construction
and storage purposes, water, fuel
and shelter, to the value of many
| thousands of dollars. At rough
estimate it would seem that even at
"a very low valuation these materials
could be appraised at $4,000 dol
| lars, we think that their qualities
are sufficient If not we have still
| further protected you by O. fixed and
exceedingly low price for further
| needs.
"These contracts have been care
! fully and legally drawn. and real
and proper owners have signed them
and only one restriction clause has
been included in them and that is
that the gift is contingent upon the
starting of this work during the call
endar year of 1925. We doubt II
ever, in the last twenty years his
tory of road building in Maine, a
finer spirit Of cooperation has been
shown or IL ever the Highway De-
partment has been given finer and
more liberal offer.
I'VE are now coming to the final
analysis of our side of the case. We
have made the fair claim that these
gifts Of materials must mean saw
| ing in the cost of this road of at
least $4,000 or to put it another
| way, If you will reverse your deci-
sion that 1t would be unwise to at
tempt to start this year and begin
| construction at an early date. You
will thereby save the State at least
$4,000.
| 'Is such a saving not worth while,
is such a spirit as these people are
| showing not worth fostering, is such
an example of unselfishness not
worth rewarding and can you not
grant us a favorable decision and a
| definite date as to when YOU will
commence this construction"
The members of the Commission
and Chief Engineer Sargent assured
the petitioners of their appreciation
of the splendid spirit shown by the
residents along this highway. Also
that If in any feasible way the mon
ey may be obtained and income be
anticipated they would endeavor to
begin construction on this highway
this year. They are to have O sur
vey made of the gravel and rocks
available, right away. They reiter-
ate their previous opinion that they
consider this one of the most i'm
portant links in the system that is