Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-08


! many times. The pamphlet states
that the estimate on the Bath-Wool-
witch bridge was guess work, that we
| had no authentic figures; a good deal
| like a letter that Ex-Governor Bax-
| ter circulated through the State of
| Maine, trying to brighten the people
! telling them that the figures were
! guesswork and this bridge was like
ly to cost $1O,OO0,000.
But they could not shake the con-
| fidence of the Legislature, nor of the
voters in the referendum, in the fig
ures made, of three million dollars,
| not only by the best engineers, but
assisted by the best contractors 1t
| was possible to obtain; and 1t is
gratifying to me today, In view of
all the unjust criticism made of me
and this figure, $3,OO0,000, to be able
| to state to you that the bridge has
| been let and is in the course of con-
| struction-both the super-structure
and substructure. within the appro-
| priation-and within a few dollars
of our first figures presented to the
| Legislature. l hope that this gang
of knockers from now on will have
J sense enough to go way back and
! sit down, and keep out of large and
important public questions. They
| have shown beyond a reasonable
| doubt that they are not to be re-
lied upon and are simply In the way
| of the progress and prosperity of
| this State of Maine. and at any time
ready to vent their spleen on any,
one who does not agree with them
at the expense of the State.
| Would Throw Out Best Bid
Since the referendum there has
been one way in particular to which
j., the opponents expected to defeat this
| bridge:-to get the bost beyond So
| 100000 or head off the bidders. When
the bids We're opened, we had just
one from the Foundation Company
of New Yorw, on unit price basis
within our appropriation. A unit
| price is so much for the material in
place, and the State has to take no
risk of the caissons and the difficulty
lof placing them. Many people are
apt to get this confused with force
account or day work, which is en-
trely different. Mr. Mclean wanted
to thro wthe bid out, was very en-
phatic and persistent about 1t, and
said that they should haze put in a
lump sum bid. l went to the Foun-
dation Company and got them to put
in lump sum bid, and the Governor
and Council would not sign a con-
tract on the unit price basis.
| When Mr.. Mclean found he could
not stop this bid and one or the
other had to be accepted he voted
for the very bid that he tried SC
emphatically to throw out. Six OF
the seven directors voted for the
same bid, but the Governor and Coun-
Gil insisted on paying $4,000 more
for the lump sum. This shows that
Mclean took a desperate chance to
stop the bridge-for we had adver-
tised everywhere. l knew this com
pany had taken more pains to in
| vestigate, were better equipped, and
have the reputation of being one OF
the best companies to do this kind
OF job, and were anxious for II.
knew that If these people got offend
ed and withdrew their bid it was
likely to hold up the bridge for ar
indefinite time. and Mclean either
knew or should have known It, An.
other one of McLean's efforts to head
or this bridge was to reduce oul
available 100000 to build it, by in.
sisting that the interest on the bonds
while the bridge was in the course
or construction, should be taken out
of the 100000 which they figured
would amount to between 500. 00(
and $3.50, 000-which being more lee.
way than We have. would have beer
likely to have held us up McLear
knew this or should have known IL
l went to Attorney General Ray.
mond Fellows. who took the stant
that the Legislature appropriated tht
S5,00o,OOO to build the bridge. and no
TO pay interest money; that thi.
should come from the earnings. Of
some other source. This is rather
fine question and the Attorney Gen.
eral, being good friend of the Bail
bridge proposition, and knowing il.
, Importance to this State, gave it tht
, benefit of the doubt-while Mclean
carrying along his usual tactics. in
. sisted on its being taken out in al
effort to defeat the bridge.
: Favored Longer Route
Another place to vent their spleer
at the expense OF this State, oc
: Cured in the laying out OF the high
way to connect the bridge with tn,
t Federal highway on the Woolwicl
: side. One route was laid out anC
recommended by the engineers alon.
the river,-the other was up over tn,
hills, longer, and costing as near al
they could estimate, $4,000 more
aside from injury to property con
sisting of three stores, two garages
and Post Office. They knew | favor,
ed the river route and because of 1t:
being near my home altho l had no
dollars worth Of property her,
that would be damaged, they wen
this back. awkward route to modif,
the already good curve with $50
foot radius, which is more than the!
. have almost anywhere else
The bridge directors voted three
:, to three: Innes, Murray and McLear
voted for the expensive route: Wood
Robbins, and myself voting for thu
other, Mr.. Lannigan being absent
Mr.. Lannigan told me twice he would
meet me here If possible to go over
this route. but he failed to appear
| felt that with Mr.. Lanigan's goot
! business ability. after looking II over