Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-24
BELFAST HIGHWAY
lContinued from Page Onel

from Augusta to Belfast, he spoke of
the needs of the northern part OF
Kennebec and Waldo counties and
pointed out the fact that any high
way separated by more than twenty
miles from another highway could
not be classed as parallel route.
Mr.. Tebbetts also showed that such
a route would greatly benefit all Of
Somerset county and would be of
great benefit to tourists from Canada
and the provinces.
Clyde r. Chapman of Belfast was
next called upon and asked to give
some idea Of the sentiment Of the
people of Belfast and Waldo counties
and spoke at some length, on the
needs and benefits which would be
derived from highway routed in
accordance with the petition. He re-
ferred to the Commissions traffic
census which he felt would show
which was the popular route and
spoke of. the fine and populous dis
trict which 1t would serve. He stat
ed that he could not speak officially
for all of the citizens of Belfast and
nearby towns but he assumed that a
very large majority of them favored
the routing as laid out in the petit
ton. In referring to the controversy
over the exact routing on the Water
vile end of the highway, he stated
that he felt that this matter was one
which should properly be decided by
the highway engineers. His remarks
were followed by applause.
Other speakers in favor Of the pc
tition were DIR. A. M. Small Of Free
dom, Mr.. A. l.. Clark of Knox and
Mr.. Kent of Benton.
Mr.. Foster pointed out that the size
Of the assemblage indicated the great
interest and need for an outlet from
Quebec and the central part of Maine
to the coast, he stressed the fact that
no attempt was made o bring a large
crowd to Augusta and that most Of
the people who attended did so be-
cause Of their whole hearted interest
in this proposed highway.
Mr.. Peabody, chairman of the high
way commission, asked If there was
any opposition or anything to be said
in rebuttal to the arguments offered
and George r. Weber Of Augusta
was given an opportunity to speak
and after thanking the petitioners for
the interest which they had shown in
the good roads movement in Maine,
but that in view of the statements
that had been made by some of the
proponents that he found it neces-
sary as a citizen of Maine to oppose
and contradict some of the testimony
offered. .
Mr.. Webber's remarks were as fol-
lows: You have stated that your
proposed highway would better serve
the people of Maine, an Examination
of the maps which most of you have
would show you that for the greatest
good of the greatest number and pro-
vided that only one road can be built
that it should be routed from Angus
ia by the way of South China, Pa
lermo, Liberty and Belmont, such a
route would better serve at least two
thirds of Kennebec county and all Of
Cumberland, York. Oxford, Andres
coggin and Franklin counties. I say
1t would. better serve them because
1t would be considerably shorter
route for them while on the other
hand your proposed, highway would
better serve Somerset county and
one third of Kennebec county which
has only a population of about $4,000
against a population of over 100000
people better served by the Augusta
Belfast route"
Mr.. Weber also pointed out that
as far as tourist traffic was concern
ed over 80 percent of Names tourist
business comes across the New
Hampshire line and that a highway
from Augusta to Belfast would give
them choice of routes either UP the
coast line or up the Kennebec river
an dthat If the trunk line from Port
land by the way of Gray and Lewis
ton were extended to the coast that
the distance in mileage would be but
few miles difference than crossing
the Kennebec river at Bath.
"In an area IS miles long and 4S
miles wide totaling over four thous-
and square miles and now totally un-
served by any properly built high
way 1t would seem that there was not
a need for one road but for many and
hope that some day we will see not
only a road from Waterville to Bel
fast according to your petitions but a
highway from Augusta to Belfast, a
highway from Rockland to Belfast
and tie brought down from Win
slow along the shores of China lake