Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-21
REPORT OF HIGHWAY, SEWER
and Street LIGHTING DEPTS,

men by Street Commissioner b. f.
Jose is Of especial interest this year
in view of the great amount of work
accomplished by the department UNI
,. der his efficient direction. 1t is a
well known fact that this Depart
ment maintainsa high standard, and
1t Is evident that it is to be kept this
: way while it is under Mr.. Joses SUI
pervision.
| Gardiner, Maine,
December 81, 1925.
To the Honorable Mayor and Board
| Of Alderme:.. -
Gentlemen:
| Herewith submitted is a report of
the Highway, Sewer and Street
Lighting Departments.
The Highway Department was
confronted the very first of the con-
struction season this year with the
need of putting the equipment in
serviceable condition and supple
menting the additional units sum-
cient to carry on the work advanta-
geously.
The policy Of carrying on the work
was arranged to relieve the major
itv There were exceptions to this
policy however as there were places
that were no main thoroughfares,
where dangerous and practically i'm
passable conditions existed that re-
quired immediate attention.
In July the City Council ordered
the enforcing of regulations regard
ing the opening of City streets. This
order went into effect August 1st,
am to date has been twenty-four
permits issued, requiring a deposit
of s1S6.17.
A portion of the business section
of Water street was rebuilt from Il
joint fund created by the State and
City by placing refaced granite
blocks on a cement concrete base.
Barron Brothers and True Of Lewis
ton were the successful bidders, and
were awarded the contract on June
80, 1924. Their price was s2S1 per
square yard for total of 6136.71
square yards.
Gravel for surfacing was obtained
from the bank leased by the City
FIR n the Gardiner ate and from a
pit owned by Norris Potter and To-
Gated in South Gardiner Gravel sur
facing was done on Brunswick av-
enue. Maple, Spring. West, Adams.
Bridge. Water, Spruce, Dennis and
Gannerd Streets and Libby Hill,
Weeks and Marson Roads, and River
avenue. The most OF the gravel sur
facing done on w Street was fin
anced from a fund received from the
State as a Third Glass Highway
Fund.
AS the most travelled streets are
only gravel surfaced Il 'ar product
was used to penetrate and hold these
surfaces that the maintenance charge
might be reduced and the dust nui-
sance. that is disliked by the travel
ing public and people living along
the streets removed. This method
OF surface treating was done on
Brunswick. Lincoln and Dresden
avenues and Bridge. Church, High
WINTER. Spring. Water. Dennis.
Cchool, Central. Washington. Beech,
Fremont and Plummer streets.
On streets where the traffic was
not heavy calcium chloride vas ap-
piled as means Of keeping the road
surface from being blown away in
dust. This method was used on
Dresden and River avenues, and
Pleasant, Autumn, Mt. Vernon. Neal.
Liberty. Spring, Prospect. Kingsbury,
RUNNER, Washington and Maple
streets.
Corrugated metal pipe outlets were
Installed on River avenue. Autumn,
West and Ash streets and Marston,
Libby Hill. Capen and Weeks roads.
A cast iron pipe culvert was in
stalled on Lincoln avenue.
The first of this year there re-
mained approximately $4,000 linear
feet of plank sidewalk Of varying
width. The cost of building plank
walks. as compared with gravel or
cinders, Is prohibitive even when the
progressive step OF making a foun-
dation of gravel or cinders on Lin
coin. Brunswick, Dresden. Maine and
Harrison avenues and Neal, West
/ High, Spring. Chestnut. Autumn,
Plaisted. Central. Maple. Eingsbury.
PlYmmer, Elm and Clinton streets.
A set of steps was completely re-
built on Prospect street.
Cement concrete walks were con-
structid on Winter. Water Dennis
and Vine streets and Brunswick ave-
nue..
Cobble cutters were constructed
on Brunswick and Dresden avenues
and Winter. Bridge and School
streets.
Harrison avenue. Fountain, Water
and Plummer streets and Fillmore
place to allow shurface water to en-
ter natural water courses. that had
previously been entered into covered
courses.
Sewer work consisted of changing
the previously existing drop inlets to
The main sewer along the portion of
Water street where the pavement was
rebuilt, into catch basins and placing
sewer traps to remove the disagree
able condition caused by. offensive
odors coming from the main sewer.
Street Lights
The distribution of street. illumina-
ton has been changed by removing
some light. installing new lights at
new locations and changing the can
die power of others.
The last contract the city had with
| the Central Maine Power Co. expired
on April l, 1920. The city Is now en-
deavoring to arrange for a new con-
tract on more attractive terms. Dur
, ing this year there have been seven
petitions received fer street lights.
Recommendations
Data obtained where the climatic
and traffic conditions are identical for
| the several types proves beyond a
doubt that 1t is more economical to
construct rigid and semi-rigid surfaces
, than gravel. even though the gravel
be surface treated.
Among the rigid types that have
peen extensively constructed in differ
ent sections Of Maine are the REIN