Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-05
Review of 1925
Completion of Commercial Street and
Cnnafnrf Sfatinn

Completion of Commercial Street and
Comfort Station
Commercial Street, which was not
quite completed in 1924 was complet-
ed early in 1925 at cost of $1,171.73
making the total cost of this splendid
improvement $15,350.30. This street
with its beautiful new comfort sta
ton is now not only one of the most
serviceable streets in the city but IS
also attractive. 1t not only solved for
us last year traffic problem which
otherwise, all concede, would have
been impossible of satisfactory solu-
ton, but furnished a parking space
which few cities can equal either in
adequacy or convenience.
The comfort station, which was in
process of construction when the
present city government assumed Of
fee, has also been completed. 1t will
be recalled that the city installed the
plumbing and heating but bore no
other part of the expense. The cost
to the city was $4,000. This build
ing has attracted much favorable
comment both from our citizens and
from visitors. While neither of the
foregoing improvements were inSti-
tuted by the present city government,
it saw to their completion and pro-
vided for substantial part of the
expense and therefore played an i'm
portant part in their construction.
Repairs to kennebec Bridge
More extensive repairs were made
on Kennebec Bridge during the year
1925 than in any year since its cree
tion with one exception.
ar1v in the vaar nIirSnapt an
order introduced by Alderman Hus-
sey, a splash board was erected the
| entire length of the northerly side of
the bridge. This protects pedestrians
on the north walk from being spat-
tered by the highway traffic. While
the expense of this Improvement was
not large it is one that has been
greatly appreciated.
1t had for some time been antici-
pated that the planking on the north
sidewalk and the stringers support
ing same would have to be renewed.
This was done last year at a cost Of
S672.00.
The extensive repairs to the west
pier of the bridge were wholly I'M
expected. I venture the opinion that
a great majority of our citizens know
nothing of this work and that those
nitude or seriousness. This is not
surprising in view of the fact that it
was an emergency calling for action
rather than words.
In view of the Importance of Ken
nebec Bridge to the community and
a need of a general understanding by
the public respecting it, it is impor.
tant that all our citizens should be
familiar with the repairs that were
made and the conditions that occas
toned them. This need is emphasize
ed by the concluding paragraph Of
Inspector Henry f. Hills 1925 report.
He says: "This bridge is now SO years
old, which is at least elderly as
bridges go. Increased care and vigil
lence are necessary as time goes on"
The occasion of the repairs is sue
cinctly stated by Mr.. Hill:
ION or about August IS of this
year, it was noticed that three large
stones, forming part of the bottom
course of the masonry on the up
stream side of the. west pier of our
bridge had dropped out of the pier
into the river. and that several more
stones were about to fall. 1nvestiga-
ton showed the surprising fact that
this pier, instead of being found
ed on concrete, as called for in the
plans and specifications, rests on
sand and crushed rock. The river
current, at times of freshet water. had
secured out this material. making
hole underneath the pier about six to
eight feet deep by from three to five
feet long, for the entire width of the
pier OF course this securing action,
if allowed to continue, would have ul-
timately destroyed the pier"
xx-d m aI n
made for the necessary repairs. Time
was of the essence not only because
of the urgent need of the repairs but
because the river was then low and
high water would both endanger the
pier and materially add to the eX-
pense. Work started on August Is
under the supervision of Mr.. Hill AND
was prosecuted with great energy UNI
til it's completion on September 10.
The total cost of the repairs was $4,-
249.67, one fourth Of which was borne
by the Androscoggin and Kennebec
Railway Company. A comprehensive
account of the occasion. cause and
extent of the repairs made, as well
as a brief history of the bridge and
it's predecessors. will be found in Mr..
Hills report. l recommend its care
full reading on the part of every citi-
zen.
City Hall improvements
Among the improvements for last
year was correction of the defec-
tive wiring of city hall. This need
you promptly recognized and i'm
mediately corrected. At the same
time substantial improvements were
made to the stage. The total cost
was $2,640.69. During the last three
years improvements and repairs
have been made on city hall to the
extent of s1O,757.99 The building
is now in excellent condition and
should require only the incidental
repairs during the present year.
Grove Street Armory
Last year the city acquired the
Grove street armory from the state.
1t lacked water and sewer connec-
tions and the basement without
concrete floor and walls, was not
only damp and announcement but
made it quite impossible to keep the
equipment froo from rust Sewer
and water connections have now