Bids for hauling clay and sand to Merrill Hill, the site of the reservoir now under construction, were opened at the office of the Board of Water Commissioners. The contract to haul about 1300 cubic yards of sand from lots of land Nos. 6 and 7, Gamage avenue, to the reservoir, was given to B. Morrison of Lewiston who offered to do the job for 57½ cents a load. The contract to haul about 700 cubic yards of clay from the land of F. R. Conant & Co., Washington street, to the reservoir, was given to Hastings and Hasty, their bid being $1.20 per load.

50 years ago, 1957

The legislative Committee on State Government in Augusta took up two questions: Should Maine have an official state dog and, if so, should it be the Chinook? Sen. Dow (R-Waldoboro) noted that Maine has an official bird – the chickadee – and an official flower – the pine cone. He said he can’t see why there shouldn’t be an official dog. He’d just as soon have an official cat, or an official bull or any animal “that brings as much fame to Maine as the Chinook has.” The Chinook, a large dog with a golden tan or honey-colored coat, is bred only by Perry Greene of Waldoboro, erstwhile world’s champion axeman.

25 years ago, 1982

Effective May 1, tolls on the Maine Turnpike will go up 25 percent for passenger cars and 35 percent for most commercial vehicles. The toll increases, the first since 1958, were designed to bolster the Department of Transportation’s depleted highway fund by $4.7 million a year, and to help repay $8.5 million in federal highway assistance. Under the new schedule, the toll for passenger cars for the 100-mile full-length trip between York and Augusta will climb from $2.15 to $2.70. The same trip for trucks of four axles will be from $6 to $7.50 and from $6 to $8.10 for trucks of five or more axles.