Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-12


There vas very interesting meeting Of
Capital Gfanse. Saturday evening. At which
an unusual amount Of business vas sranaaes-
ed -Four new member we're received, an
essay vas read BY W. P. Anterior, Esd, Of
HalloveIl. followed by discussion which oc-
cupied half an hour. but which could profit
ably have been continued longer had is not
been for the lateness of the hour At which i,
vas opened.
The essay of Mr.. Atherton was a veil
written paper on the improvement of our
country highways. being the same that vas
read before the State Pathological Society at
its late meeting At Damariscottz- This viii
appear in the next volume of Transaction. Of
that Society, and for this reason We cannot
publish it in full, but are allowed to present
brief abstract. The old system
Of working out the taxes upon the highway,
Mr.. Atherton said, is one so faulty, 50 full
Of hopelessness for anything that is endure
BILE or plessurable in road improvement, that
it should be discarded At once and forever,
by every town where the conditions will
possibly allow of it, and 4 new system in
sugurated which shall work a change for the
better. Mr.. Atherton pictured the faulty
manner in which country roads were built
and repaired under the old system as one
which gave no satisfactory return for the
money expended. A portion Of the money
each year should be expended for thorough
construction of roads, rather than its tenn
porary and imperfect repairs. The subject
was then considered from three heads LIST,
Roads, at least all main thoroughfares,
should be constructed on the plan
of durability; 2nd. they should
be made Just as beautiful and attractive as
time and money will allow; 3D., with a view
to increase of valuation of property, or in
other words As good fences make good neigh
bors. so good roads tend to make smiling
and prosperous towns. Macadamized roads
can be thought of only for the more wealthy
towns or cities, as its cost is about $1,000 per
mile but while this cost is beyond that Of
most towns, they need not tolerate poor
roads. Roads should be turnpiked so that
the centre Of travel should be three feet
above the bitches, which should be wide and
deep enough to carry away all surplus water.
These bitches should be kept open and
clean at all times. If necessary the road
bed should be thoroughly underdrained. In
the centre of the road crushed or broken stone
TO the depth Of ten inches should be filed in.
covered with gravel, and the shoulders of the
road bed each side of travel should receive
the scrapings from the cutters.
The beauty and attractiveness Of the high
wav was next considered, and in this portion
of his essay Mr.. Atherton was exceedingly
happy in its presentation. Thousands OF
people use our highways expressly for pur-
poses Of pleasure riding. hence they should
be made beautiful and attractive by the use
of trees, and the roadside should not be
made acceptable for the depoht Of stones,
rubbish or litter. Roads in the country
could be made beautiful at slight expense,
and this expense should be laid out in such
directions As would give beautiful and charm
ing avenues and drives through and over
which SO many people ride for health
and pleasure. Finally roads should be so
constructed that they will bring profit to
the town and the real estate along which
they pass. Money is freely invested in rail-
roads, in widening and deepening the chan
nels OF our rivers, in manufacturing enter
prises with view to bring trade into and in
crease the population of towns; why should
it not be spent to improve our highways and
thus bring ultimate prosperity to the towns
and their inhabitants. Patronage and bust
ness will flow into towns that have good
roads; for such roads are a standing testi-
mony to the ambition, enterprise and deter
mined character of its people, anil in SUCH
towns business is quite sure to be successful,
In the discussion which followed many
good points were brought. Mr.. }. 5. Hobbs
alluded to the good work snre to be done in
embellishing our highways through the tree
planting and other work Of Arbor Day; some
sensible views on the building and repairs Of
roads were made by Columbus Cottle who
has had great experience as Street Commits
,ioner and who built about mile of macad-
amized road for the city of Hallowell, last
year. Referring to the statement Of Mr..
Hobbs that he thought the surface of many
country roads too high, narrow and round
ing. and would have them more level !;
Mr.. Cottle said that it was impossible to have
a good road if the surface was how. because
good drainage could not be obtained with
a low road-bed. Water WAS the great OBJ
stacle to making good road. 1t must be
got rid Of and to do so there must be ample
side bitches. Where there were poor roads
in the country it would always be fund that
the drains and bitches were grass-grown and
clogged up. Remarks were also made by
J.H. Yeatsn, Mr.. Atherton, c. W. Fletcher
s. L. Boardman, A. ID. Russell, the master,
C. J. House, and others. On next Saturday
evening an essay will be read by j. S Hobbs,