Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-08
DAILY KENNEBEc JOURNAL. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER

he would vote for the river route.
Plans shown on a small scale in a
newspaper, or any other way, look
entirely different from what they do
right ON the ground. We had made
arrangements with the Maine Gen.
trail railroad, II they went this way.
to put bridge angling across and
eliminate two wicked curves in
front of my home where two auto
mobiles loaded with people have gone
down in this 30-foot cut. 1t would
have accommodated the business
section Of this village. been a better
approach and cost $4,000 less.
l was surprised that Highway
Commissioner Murray of Bangor
voted against this proposition. and
not surprised at Innes and Mclean.
as Of course Innes Is Baxter ap-
pointee, and the Baxter outfit have
been death on the Bath Woolwich
bridge from the start, and Innes has
evidently been influenced by them in
his attitude toward me and the
bridge. 1t would be interesting for
Mr.. Innes to publish what he had
ever done before he was appointed
on the State Highway Commission,
to warrant Bakers putting him on
there to spend millions for the State
of Maine. My candid opinion is that
he is about as fit to be on this State
Highway commission as Hades is fit
for n powder-house.
Why Brewster Appointed Mclean
Much to my disappointment and
think to the detriment of the Ken
nebec bridge proposition, Governor
Brewster appointed Mr.. Mclean one
of the directors to build the KeDne-
bee bridge. Twas never more sur
prised, and his action there as a
member of the board Is tust what |
would expect. Forrest Bond. candi-
date for Senator from Lincoln Coun-
ty. who was an interested, enthusiasts
tic worker for the Kennebec bridge,
and a member of the legislative high
way and bridge committee, and from
locality vitality Interested. would
have been a much better man and
saved the State q lot of money
Governor Brewster stubbed his toe
when he put Mayor Mclean on there;
many people down this section of the
State felt as l did about it. | asked
Governor Brewster why he appoint
ed MIR. Mclean: he said he put him
on to represent the opposition; that
II was customary. ! told him ! didn't
think 1t was helpful to put man on
to construct anything he didn't be-
lieve in. / think this practice Is
meant to apply when you are investi-
eating a proposition to see whether
1t should be done or not, and not
when legislative body has voted
unanimously for 1t, and seven to one
! had voted in the referendum. | think
people through the State of Maine
want men put on to build a bridge,
| and not hamper it or increase, the ex-
pense.
AT the legislative hearing for the
richmond bridge. Mr.. Mclean used
the most misleading tactics. He
came before the committee with en-
glneers, with just figures for a bridge
! across the kennebec at Richmond
with a proposition to divert all the
travel. highway and railway, over
boutten miles Of the toughest and
most expensive territory where an
other expensive bridge had to he
quit across Eastern River which is
naVlgable. and requiring a draw
iuchmond Bridge is an entirely diff
Lefent project from the Bath bridge
Bath is where both Lincoln and Sag
adahoc counties wanted this bridge
and We're vitality interested. These
richmond opponents have offended n
/ good part of both these counties
| which would have to participate In
/ me cost Of bridge built here under
/ the regular bridge act It is true
! that / have said that a moderate cost
( bridge at Richmond for highway
/ travel would be helpful. It has been
/ handled in a very unbusinesslike and
! awkward manner from start to fin
! ish.
Triad ~ Eoal
want you to look at the idea of
man aspiring to be governor, I'M
/ oertaklns to induce committee by
presenting Just small portion of
me actual expense and hoping to fool
| them by leaving out this enornous
! expense OF highways and railways
bridging the Eastern river and di
| verting the travel over thirteen miles
or detour. Is a man qualified to be
! governor who would put such a pro-
position up to legislative commit
tees! He didn't fool me with this
proposition, as / had gunned all the
nils. fished all the brooks and built
an the bridges on Eastern river that
nave been built in recent years. and
mad the pleasure Of cross exan,in-
! ing him and his engineers before This
| committee. Mr.. Mclean shook so
oelore L was through with him that
ne dropped a document containing
Ex-Governor Bakers letter from
winch he was quoting, which stated
the Bath Woolwich bridge might cost
slo'0O0,o00 and made statements so
incorrect, regarding me. that tho
chairman had to call upon him 70
correct them. l don't know how h,
ever expected to fool Senator CIvde
smith, chairman for the Highway
ana Bridge committee, one of the
apiest and best men for this state ~
Maine that 1T has ever been nv rood
fortune to meet during two terms IF
| legislature us VI
Mayor Mclean and his law mart
nefs We're not able to fool the men of
! TINS large and intelligent body of
legislators who had the interests of
thelr constituents at heart How
sliiy this proposition is is best H.
lustrated by the fact that Mavor Nc.
Lean ana his law partners had work
ca at TWO terms of the Legislatures
ana nave never been able to get one
vote to any committee in the Senate
or House of Representatives during
that time. Do you think a man is Of
| SuDernatOrial timber who ,,.;,l 80,