The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-05-26
Somerset Roads.

Somerset County citizens write to the
Secretary of the State Board of Agricul-
ture, in reply TO inquiries about highways
as follows:
ST ALBANS-It would seem that no
more legislation is now needed IN road
matters; a practical administration or
execution of laws now in force will give
very good roads. The provisions giving
the secretary of the Board OF Agriculture
certain funds TO use tor the purpose OF
information and instruction in practical
road building and repairing, will be OF
value in connection with institute work,
and does away with the neeo of any
State commission. which is not desired
by the people generally. The matter OF
drainage Is OF the greatest importance,
TOR with out il roads can not be maintain
ed and kept in repair, even with great
expense. Prevention OF the drifting OF
snow should be looked after careful y
s by removing bushes and heavy fences
in certain localities II fences must be
had, wlIe fences are desirable. In
many situations, board fences are the
best investment towns can make IN the
matter OF prevention OF drifting OF snow
No device or machinery or appliance can
be said to be best for breaking alb roads
the situation, width of road required.
amount of travel, etc. make different
devices or appliances necessary for dit
ierent places. Keeping the snow from
drifting into the highways is of the great
est Importance; then break as wide a
road as is required for the travel, as soon
as possible after the storm.
s. II. GOODWIN, (Member)
ST. ALBANs-As a general thing in
this town we have too high and too
narrow roads. Roads, in my opinion.
should be of good width, with bitches
well cleaned out, and road made slight
ly oval from ditch to ditch. AS to leg
islaton, would say think the State
would do well TO make a law compelling
men to work or pay their tax, and then
give the towns a chance to do as they
saw fit about the toad-buiiding AS
to State highway commission, | would
say land II is also the sentiment OF the
town that | think the State has salarled
officials enough as it is, and | don't
believe that any honest man would try
to put the building of our roads into a
mans hands that did not know anything
about the different sois that our roads
are composed of | claim that the
old district sys; EN- would be far prefer
able to that. But we have had way
for two years past that worked very we'll
Our Surveyors were appointed ana given
so much money, and it WAS to be workt d
out at such time, and all that was not
worked at that time, was returned to the
selectmen and then to the collector, and
collected in the money tax; and we
could see that our roads improved. |
claim that man in his district knows
his road better and can repair it where
it is most needed better than a stranger
can.
P. w. LIBBY, Commissioner.
RIPLEY-1n regard to roads, there
are number of opinions as to building
same. | think that in our rural districts,
where there is great amount of low
swamp land to contend with. the roads
should be opened and filled with small
stones. The best time to work the roads
in my mind. is as early in spring as pos
sble. | never had any experience with
rollers. We treak our roads with large
round stick under the sled, eight feet
long. Think there should be something
done by the State Legislature for the
Improvement of our public highways.
G. w. CHADBoURNE, Commissioner.
SKowHEGAN-I do not believe in a
State commissioner and am not partial
toward the law just gone into effect,
providing for town commissioners. Too
much money is applied to paying salaries
when 1t should be applied to actual work
in thoroughly repairing the worst places
first, and continuing on this line right
along. Frequent culverts and deep ditch
es TO carry off surplus water; scraping
out and filling the road bed with stone,
then covering with sufficient gravel or
dirt. in the miry places, are the most
essential features connected with road
making
S. F. EMERSON
PTTsFIELD-In regard to road build
ing, should say State highway commits
sion would be a nice thing. | think.
country roads should be built up higher
and wider with road machine or graded
up with gravel. l. would recommend
gravel if it could be had. as clay and
loan roads are very bad in the spring
when the frost is coming out. think
the best season to build roads with road
machine is in May and June Then they
have all summer TO get settled in and
the frost does not work as badly on them
as it does on roads built in the fall
think that at least 50 per cent of the
money re ceived in each town from the
taxation of bicycles should be expended
for the improvement of highways.
have never had any experience with
snow rollers
A. T. RANDALL. COMMITS soner