Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-31
RICHMOND BOARD
OF TRADE HAS word
ON KENNEbEC BRIDGE

(Speciai to the kcnnebec JournaD
richmond. Mar. 3O-The Richmond
Board OF Trade addresses a letter TO
the members of the Legislature, call
ing attention to the fairness ana
complete information with when the
project for Il bridge across the Ken
rnDec at this place was presented. In
view Of that 1T is thought but falr
for the Legislature to assume Rlch-
mond desires that body to have be-
fore it as complete information with
respect to the proposed bridge at
Bath.
It is urged that the need of
bridge here must be admitted. The
Board would also submit that there
is need of O bridge two and ha1
miles above the Guy of Bath at Tele-
graph Point, where it might be con-
structed, according to the figures OIL
DR.. Waddell, for the sum of Sl,066,
900 which would serve the travelling
public equally as well as u bridge at
Bath proper The Board contends
that both the bridge at Richmond
and one at. Telegraph Point would
be self supporting from tolls, and
both would cost but S1,60O,O00 as
compared with the S3,000,00O project
at Bath.
The Board contends this added eX
pense would be incurred for the BEN
eft of the Maine Central Railroad
and the citizens living in the con-
sestcd areas Of Bath and the village
Of WoolWich; that Maine 50 would
finance bridge expenditure for the
railroad over Il period of so years to
the amount of at least Sl,65O,00O
without other security than the bare
contract with the railroad. that the
State provides the bridge bonds must
be retired in 80 years, yet here is
contract covering a period OF 80 years
on a bridge subjected to the very
81 eat strain of railroad transporta-
ton. We are wondering if it has
been determined how much the life
of this bridge as highway PROJECT
Will be shortened by its being COM
bined with u railway bridge
The Board does not criticise the
railroad, assuming that it has been
forced into this project. No repre-
sentative of the railroad attended the
hearing. 1t suggests that the State
il this railroad bridge is to be built
finance the project to the amount
that would be required to build at
Telegraph Point and let bridge dis
trict be formed to take over the ball
ance of the cost. Attention is called
to the proposed local makeup of the
board that would have the handling
OF this State project and asks among
other things why the Highway Com
mission becomes a minority on that
board.
1t sees that the adoption of the
railroad bridge at Bath means the
indefinite postponement of the bridge
at Richmond. step which would
not receive the approval of the State
at large, when it is realized that two
| hrHpac a fravoliror rll,h1in
twice as well as the three-million
dollar bridge at Bath might be built
for half the expense.
Accompanying the statement Of the
Richmond Board of Trade are ques-
lions from which the following are
taken:
DO you know that it is possible
to build bridge at Telegraph Point.
Bath, for 81 066,000?"
DO you know that such a bridge
could be maintained without a draw?
That its maintenance exclusive of
draw would not be one third as much
as the bridge at the lower cross
ing?" DO YOU know how many
grade crossings there are in the
built-up portion of Bath" whether
any of these are to be removed; that
approaches to the lower crossing are
through a congested portion of the
CITY L ne law makers are asked IL
they know what is to be done with
this approaching traffic in the con-
gested streets when the draw is open:
know that the draw in the summer
will be opened 16 times daily to
permit steamers to pass through;
know that the shipping interests are
opposed to a bridge at the lower
crossing; that a bridge at that place
might seriously injure the Bath Iron
Works; why pay three millions for
one bridge involving a great many
uncertainties when two without these
uncertainties can be built for prac-
ticallY one half the amount?"
1t is thought here that IL the law
makers and their constituents over
the State may understand the real
situation there will be hesitancy
about undertaking. the lower cross
ing bridge at Bath with all the eX-
pense and uncertainty attending it.