Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-22

greatest outlay for repairs and enquire
as to the cause-whether from deIec-
tive construction or from excessive
traffic or from both. These two facts
determined, would be of great value In |
outlining future permanent lmpr oVe-
Inents We should know what con- |
struction had failed and for what
trait provision must be made 1hese
remarks as to records of expense might |
well 1e applied to bridge maintenance
and to sidewalks.
In a gre II many towns one appro-
priaticn Is made for al! three items ana
che general account, which Is nothing
more than a record of orders drawn
against the appropriation, Is kept l.
| one has recourse to the ills referred TO
| Cn this account, many times nothing
tappearS on them to show where the
| labor vas performed or material used.
Woula you approve of such method
Iof accounting in your manufacturing
establishments? Why then for high
| way work? This Is simply the cost
| ystem used in many mills and indus
| tries to show cost of production, ap-
| Piled to our roads.
Not the least value to be received
from such reports, if published and eX
| changed by towns through Il
central office would be the stimu-
| lus of competition resulting when Il
| commissioner in one town learned that
| mis- neighbor i'll the next had produced
| results equal to those shown by him.
self n a less cost. This idea of com
| petition produces good results on rail-
| road work or in similar industries
| where several foremen have the same
| general class Of work to do.
| But in these cases general Superin-
| tenGence and inspection are had, and
the foremen are responsible to such
| Superintendent and he in turn to the
| manager and directors. The appica-
| ton Of such a system to highway work
| would produce best results only when
some such system of responsibility and
| authority obtained.
| What organization IN his STATE
could we more logically expect to
appreciate the value of business
:n2thods as applied to road building
than the Maine State Board Of Trade?
| May we not expect each member of
this organization to use his influence in
his home town or city to bring about
results SO much needed?
1t may be interesting to this bolri 10
know some of the factors which it APP
| pears to me enter into the problem Of
| good roads from the practical poiLt of
| view, and some of the inVestiga tons
undertaken and in contemplation.
| In The first place we must ascertain
| our road mileage and the character Of
| the roads. We must learn how this
| mileage is distributed in relation to
| area, population and assessed valua-
ton. We must find out the amount Of
| money annually appropriated for the
| maintenance or Improvement of roads
| in the different towns and municipali-
| ties. We must learn how tire burden Of
| taxation for road purposes compares
| in different sections of the State.
From these conditions we may be
| able to draw conclusions as TO whether
| iii all or any of our towns much per-
| manent Improvement may reasona bly,
| be expected without some system of
| state aid. From the fact that we al
| ready have in operation state road
| law granting aid to towns it may DO
| taken IS evidence that We have already
| decided that permanent improvement
| cannot come i'll a majority of our towns
| through their own unaided effort
If we have accepted state aid for
| road building as u principle let US make
! sure that We have a wise and just law.
| Let MS inquire from towns that have
| taken advantage of our law what sat
| iEfaction has resulted from its use. And
| from those towns that have not accept
| ed its provisions what objections they
| find to the law. From both Glasses OF
| towns suggestions might be received
| that would materially assist in fran
| ing new l.iw il such seems to be nee
| cssary.
| We shonld also make a study of all
| state aid laws now in operation to learn
if any are better suited to meet cpndi-
| tions III our State than the one we are
| now working under.
| | have not as yet been able to make
snch study but from a limited ac
| Quaintance with some Of the systems
now i'll operation I believe some law
which would give larger
| percentage of aid to the
| poorer towns than it would to to the
| financially strong towns would accom-
pliSh the most good in The shortest time
| fhr all fcerned. New Hampshire
passed such law last February ard |
| as 4 result 1872 Of her 23I towns and
| cities have applied for state aid this |
| Year. |
| In setting forth the advantages Of i'm |
proved roads Tor our farmers. our traders. |
| our city dwcllers, our railroads and |
hotels. for it can be shown that they viii |
| benefit practically every class Of our citi- |
| Gems. il appears to me that it would rot |
| be amiSs to lrIuire Of those in our neigh |
boring states who have had ten or Il |
dozen years experience in using i'm |
proved roads If practice will bear out |
| tn, 0retiCal arguments in their behalf. Is |
| 1t net proper to ask the farmers Of |
Nj Massachusetts,, New Jersey or Connect
cut who live On he line of improved state
| road to tell us what benefit. if any. they |
believe improved roads have brought |
them? Have real estate values in
creased. Have they found it possible to |
| market produce every day in the year
| thu rcby taking advantage OF high mar
| kcts? Have they found that they can haul |
larger loads thereby reducing the cost OF |
transporting produce to market, necesSi- |
tLtins fewer trips and consequently Civ |
ing more time for HON" duties and rec
| reation" Have their facilities for attend
| ing church, lectures and social entertain |
ments been increased? Have their chill |