President George C. Chase of Bates College, announced yesterday that Andrew Carnegie has promised to contribute $50,000 toward the endowment fund of Bates College when $100,000 shall have been raised for the same purpose by friends of the college. The proposition is to raise $150,000 to be added to the endowment fund and the subscriptions already have been received from a number of sources.

50 Years Ago, 1955

The State Police statewide roadblock system for the New Year’s holiday has drawn more public attention than any enforcement action since last summer’s crackdown on unsafe driving, Gov. Muskie said.

His office has received many comments since the announcement last night, all of them favorable, the governor said.

The roadblocks will go into action at 6 p.m. tomorrow for an indefinite period. Every driver arriving at one may expect to be stopped and checked for violations.

Every available trooper will be on highway patrol and roadblock duty over the weekend, Chief Robert Mars said.

The New Year’s drive is an effort to better Maine’s comparatively favorable record over Christmas weekend, when one highway death occurred. More than 600 died in traffic accidents nationwide.

25 Years Ago, 1980

• While the nation debates the economic effects of the minimum wage requirement, another mandatory hike – raising the minimum wage from $3.10 to $3.35 an hour – will go into effect Thursday.

• This is the last day of the year 1980. It has been an eventful year for the United States, and, with 52 Americans held hostage in Iran, a year of embarrassment in the eyes of the civilized world. The old year held many disappointments, but it was not without achievements and progress. It could have been much worse. HAPPY NEW YEAR!