Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-19
Communication Read At Meet
ing of City Government De-
clares Granite Supporting
Piers Will Probably Outlast
Iron Work of Structure

A letter from City Engineer Henry
f. Hill to Mayor Ernest l.. Mclean,
which was read at the regular meeting
OF the city government on Monday
night at City hall in connection with
the annual report of the city engineer,
is of interest as it gives information
with regard to the present condition
of the Kennebec bridge.
The letter says in part: "In reply
to Your request for more complete
report on the condition of the east pier
and the two abutments of the Kenne-
bee bridge. | take pleasure in saving
that all three are at present in good
condition. AS regards the abutments,
no apprehension whatever need be felt
They are both built of good quality
of masonry. well bonded. on secure
foundations. They will long outlast
the life of the ironwork.
'The masonry on the east pier is in
excellent condition. 1t is probable that
this masonry, like that in the west
pier, rests on sand and broken stone
Even if so, this material is quite eff
ficiently prevented from spreading. and
protected from the securing action of
the river by the old cofferdam and
rock-filled cribs surrounding the pier.
Should the river at any future time
start washing out under this pier. this
action. under proper supervision,
should readily be detected and meas
ures takes to stop it long before the
stability of the pier is endangered"
The communication further said
that the bridge at the present time is
in fine condition. in fact better than
it was in 1922 when Mr.. Fay of the
trnl1 -
Thorndike. bridge engineers of Boston
said: Our physical examination show
ed this bridge to be in excellent con-
dition."
The report of the engineer told in
detail of the work which has been done
during the year just passed. showing a
total length of 1880 feet of concrete
sidewalks. grading and surfacng on
estimates furnished for several pro-
posed projects in connection with the
city streets. and for various sewers.
Almshouse Project
The report of the visiting commit
tee to the almshouse was read and ac-
cepted. 1t was as follows: I'VE have
the honor to report the conditions good
at the City farm. We have found the
mousse TO De CREAM ana t1uy.
with the cooperation of the nurs-
ing committee of the Augusta Public
Health Association. Miss Marion Dib-
lee chairman, we have arranged for the
public health nurse to visit the farm
when required
1--WE recommend the purchase of a
cold mangle.
1--WE suggest that suitable old mag
azines from the Lithgow Library be
sent to the farm"
The report was signed by Marion
Hayden. Emelio Rancourt. Sarah W.
Beane. Jennie p. Moore, Mabel Conner
and Mrs. r. ]. Philbrick.
January Roll Of Accounts
Roll of accounts No. l. in the sum
Of $137,906.50 was presented and
passed. Included in the roll of &C.
counts is the sum of $S1,SS1.40 for
state tax and s9.587.0S county tax.
in addition to the sum of $4,000 for
interest on temporary loans. which
it is customary to pay at the time
the loan is maze.
Other business coming before the
meeting was:
The committee on Street Lights
reported ought to pass on orders pro-
viding for a street light on Wade
street, one ut tne corner OF SCnOOi
street and School street place and a
change in the location of the one
now placed at the corner of Jeffer-
son and Oxford streets. These re-
ports were received and the orders
were passed.
The city treasurer was authorized
to accept the sum of 500 from Liz
zie L. Pernette and a similar sum
from Addie w. Gay. to be used as
trust funds, the interest to be used
for the care of lots in Mount Pleas
ant cemetery. A similar sum was ac-
cepted from G. f. Pratt for the care
of a lot in Riverside cemetery.
An order providing for the install
near the O'Connor junk shop was
referred to the committee on fire de-
partment.
An order providing for street
light on Western Avenue in the hol-
low beyond the home of w. III. Gan
nett was referred to the committee
on Street Lights.
An, order originating In the COM
mon council providing for an extern
sion of the sewer from where it now
ends on Washington Street Extern
sion was passed.
An application by Patnaude and
Son for permission to run a pool
table was referred to the traffic COM
mittee which handles matters per-
tanning to licenses
Telephone and Telegraph Co. fer per-
n~l