Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-17

nov machinery like road machines
which reitrly take the place of the old
Cushioned hoe and we use iron for
bridges instead of wood. But there has
been 10 general advance during the
years of our, Statehood III the art ot
road building.
Mr.. Haihcs Then W'nt on and smoke
Of the burden OF taxation" about
which much is Icing :-ald. But which
was comparatively slight t" orr NUM-
cipal burdens. lie said that the state
ANA the county paid about %%4 mills ON
the dollar. Put we nay - mills on me
dollar 10 our Cwn municipalities, con-
tihueu IL. speaker lie aid that Of inns
amount not uor" tadn one dollar N nVe
Is paid for our highways ana We gel
the least return i'll vaiue 't!"m Surh eN-
ncntliture than from any ,ther tNptndi-
| ture of the mUniclpality.
Mr. HaineS pointed out To the COM
| pl;ttne that the ~" odd towns or Name
| nave no one 10 20 to on this most I'M
| p,rtalt Question for scientific advice
.:nd inforn.ation The sole, tncn have -
| rely ON their own Judgment ana thrlr
| experience III improved road bui!'iih% IS
| !I.1l't IL. Iit S'lhi "a = 80
| about $500. one Il year III stat" taxes,
| and said that it is apnat"nE thal III ~
| hr1t.r yyai- ,.uull til" stat be- b"neht"o
| by 50 small Il sum than i'N tSta"liSii'iiS
| I hi.!w:v commissioner. Mho VIII de-
| yotr his time in iookin@ after the bu!id-
| ~. If highways. IL" considered that me
| uror,r method e going ab'ut TINS vital
| nuest;on was ny conducting an educa-
| ,ior..l campaign and the most feasible
| vay was by The creation Of STATE
highway commissioners
He said thu the municipal officers
| did no; know how tNpCnd the money
received for Improvement and repairs
NJ reads 10 TIE best advantage. And
brought ont thu. of ;he $,Goo now paid
in taxes III th, cuti". state nf Maine
lh"ul S1"no. Nrv Wen; IA the highways
of the towns If the state, bHt on ac-
count of the lac; OF Competent ana
-'liI!,d men. this sum Gid rot so as fan
Is it should.
Although the speal-'r believed that ~
vas uul pusSI!l,. for Maine to follow
ne lead ST by New York PrnnsyI-
"ania and other large and wealthy
states. it couid Al least afford to rX-
"rovc and make them permanent. He
asa that in 1895 H. Introduced Il bill
into the legislature and argued it..
passage. but a tina: time sentiment
was not in favor of the improved type
II road building AMI the hill failed T.
receive a passage.
MI Hanes thought that the appoint
nVrt q Il high way commission for two
Years WOIld b" safe cape riment ana
that he 0ulG cam MS salary of $500
:lGnv times o"cr as hC would be in
consultation with over ;,13 towns on the
matter OF roads. He SAID further that
some might think thar this was merely
he creation Cf a new office with
| lucrative salary attached. But he con-
sidercd that the stat wanted 4 COM
petent and Il skilled nlali to fill that
office and not \ cheap man who would
make Il traV"sry OF the Office. In his
Judgment the State would save q bunch
{ money by appointing such 4 com
missioner. In cOnclusIon Mr.. Hainec
aid their he WoIid recommend that tn.
committee arrange 20 nave the commits
~i"ntr i'll laying out ana arpropriatins
thc reads built undr.' this $4,000 an
nua' appropriation COR tho improve
ln"nt 81 state roads.
Hon. +. :. Adams Of BoWlloin. repre-
SCnting the state Association Of county
commissioners was in favor Of the bill:
i'm tn" main. bat he considered it not
absolutely essential that 4 civil engin-
CONTINUED on page 81