The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-13
GOSPEL OF GOOD ROADS.
Committee Report Unanimously in Favor
of the Bill Providing Cor a Highway
Commissioner Appointed by the Gov
ernor.
Especial to the PRESS. J


Augusta, Me-, March 12.-It will be re-
mem bered that the State Board of Trade
and the Maine Division of the League of
American Wheelmen united in the move
ment to secure highway commission to
help educate the people in the matter OF
the construction of good roads. Other
states have such commissions, and they
are entirely satisfactory. A good road in
course of time pays foI itself over and
over again in the saving of time, and
wear and tear on horses and vehicles.
So the friends OF this measure argue that
it Is in the interest of true economy. 1t
entails only small actual outlay on the
part of the state, andsit is hoped that, If
1t becomes law,it may result in the in
PRODUCTION of better methods of road
building. The bill has been amendeds by
the judiciary comimttee to provide for
one commissioner instead of three. AS
amended, the bill, which was unanimous
ly reported, provides:
Section 1.-The Governor, with the adj
vice and consent of the Council, within
thirty days after approval of this act,
shall appoint a suitable person, as CONF
missioner of highways; who shall hold
his office for the term of two years, and
until his successor is appointed and
qualified, and he shall receive an an
nual salary of $500, and in addition
thereto the actual amount paid out for
his travelling expenses within this state,
and such other expenses not exceeding
$500 annually, as may be incurred in the
executing OF the duties of his Office as
hereinafter porvided, the same TO be ap-
poyed by the Governor and Council.
Section 2.-Said commissioner of high
WAYS shall be provided with an Office at
the State Capitol, 1t shall be the duty
OF said commissioner to compile Stats
tics relating to the public ways in the
cities an d towns of the state, and to
make such investigation relating thereto
as he shall deem expedient, in order to
secure better and more improved high
wasy in the state. 1t shall be his duty,
by means of maps, charts, cuts, draw
Jugs, prints, publications printed or
written articles, lectures or otherw ise, to
isseminats knowledge throughout the
state concerning the9best known meth
DDS for the building and maintaining of
highways, including bridges and side
walks, in the cities and towns of the
state, and particularly to impart such
inform ation, in manner as aforesaid to
the county commissioners of counties,
the street commissioners of cities the
selectmen of towns, and other municipal
officers whose duties it may be to have
the care and management of the expeudi-
ture of money and the building and
keeping in repair of the highways in the
state. Said commissioner shall hold
each year, under the auspices of the
county commissioners, meeting in each
county for the open discussion of q ues-
tions relating to the building and main
tanning of public ways, of which due no
tic shall be givensthroughout the coun-
uy by the said county com missioners.
Other sections provide that the COM
missioner shall make annual reports. and
that town and county officers shall fur
nish to him desired information.