Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-29
FOR GOOD ROADS.
How Mayor P|aisteds $4,000 Bond Issue Project
Is Viewed by Leading Citizens.

ar opportunity to vote on the park
question" which involves the purchas 80
Of on" or more pieces Of property by
the city. the property to be converted
into public parks or Fairgrounds. and
upon the following question in addi-
ton:
"Sh1ll the Mayor and city treasurer
be authorized to issue and sell bonds OF
the city upon such time and bearing
such rat" of interest not exceeding
three and onc-half per cent. per annum.
as may be hereafter determined by the
city council to an amount not exceed
ing $40 600. tn" same to he expended
upon permanent improvements to tie
country roads"
believing that the citizens Of An
gusta were not thoroughly acquainted
with the details Of the good roads
scheme. representative Of the Journal
interviewed several of our prominent
citizens. former mayors ana other
officials and business men about the
city. Some Of those who were APP
preached were heartily in favor of the
plan as presented in Mayor Frederick
w Plaistcds address delivered before
the city council Monday evening. and
which was reported in full in the jour
nal the morning following. While
many of the citizens interviewed by tho
Journal representative W"rc Inclined
to view the project with favor. as has
been said. there were others who were
opposed to the plan as set forth in the
Mayors address.
T:richy SUMMARIZED tho objections to
the good roads scheme are as follows:
fD The problem Of making good
roads is admitted to be a WCighty one
and one that requires long and careful
planning.
CD In his address. in which tie
proposed plan was set forth. Mayor
Plaistrd recommended that the bonds
for $4,000 be issued upon 25-ycar
payment basis. 1t is suggested by
several citizens that the payment of
tho bonds should begin in the i'm
mediate future. next year for instance"
IS The saving from the appropriation
made for repairs of the highways
viii IN it is proposed to maCadamizc.
should be sufficient to make payments
unon the bond issue each year.
() Several citizens question the ade
uIdcy Of the proposed bond issue. The
cost Of maradamizing roads is much
Croatcr than usually estimated. and it
is question whether or not tn" sum
named by the Mayor would he
sufficient and satisfactory to tho peo-
rlc.
The three questions contained above
were submitted to Mayor PlaSted
yesterday, and in reply. the Mayor
said.
Il do not claim that my plan for
giving the city ofr,Augustay. improved
c"untr; roads originated with my
self. II has been tried successfully
in MasSa chuSettS and New York and
throughout many Western states. 1t
is to my mind purely business propo-
Sition and as such should be ConSid-
cred by our citizens. J know of no
better way of making iii" city of Au-
custa bigger and better and buster
than by inaugurating system of per
manent improvements on our country
roads.
at is not selfish proposition. We
will he doing something for poSterity
as well as for ourselves Not only viii
the present generation receive benefits
which this plan ContempiatcS giving 10
our people, but those who come after
us will have reason. believe. for graf
itude at the stand our pcopl" have
taken today. Instead of being n bur
den to he borne by post"rlty It VIII hc
a gift. for these good roads which ""
build can he paid for ont of the say
ingS from money now expended annu-
ally in temporary repairs. The inter
est on $4,000 bonds Mt 81 per cent.
will amount to $lf00 annually. We
can then create sinking fund by de
posting $1,000 4 year, and $1,000 year
drawing o. per cont. compound inter
cst annually. will in - years amount
to more than $i00o0. the amount of
the bond issue.
Now. the present cost Of maintain
ing in their present miserable condi-
ton. these rs miles Of country high
ways which 1t is proposed to maCad-
amize permanently is on an average
$4,000 per year. The experience Of
wears i'm Massachusetts has shown
that their broad maCadam highways
NAV he maintained at $50 per year per
mile. and in that stat" the roads ar"
from t6 to - feet width of macadam.
"Jn the city of Augusta the cost of
maintenance would he loss, bui even ~
that figure the cost would amount only
IN $1,000 on the 26 miles of trunk line.
This would mean a net saving of AT
least $1,000 year. The interest on the
bonds. $1,000. and the $1,000 set aside
for the sinking fund each year amounts
to but $4,000. SO that IT tn" end Of -
wears. when the bonds become due. tho
roads will he paid for without one ad-
ditional cent of taxation upon the peo-
pic"
The Journal interviewed many Of the
nrominent citizens of Augusta regard
| ing the enterprise, and some of them
gave their opinions for publication.
Thomas J. Lynch said There is
much merit in the proposition outlined
i, Mayor Plaisted's address to the city
government in proposing the issuing
of 10000 of bonds to be used in the
permanent building of trunk roads out
Of the city to the adjoining town lines
| rho difference in the amount expended
| o,cb vcar on these trunk lines and the
interest on bonds. If set aside would
,.,. for the bonds at maturity. protid-
~, tbev were 2O-ycar bonds. Augusta
L -,