Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-29
The Good Roads Question.

be permanent economies. The question
is by no means a new one. The import
ance OF the subject was called to the
attention of the voters of Name ny
Governor Hill, and has been very AMY
urged upon the local public by various
mayors in years past, notably by fio"'
j. Manchester Haynes in the very ai'
address he delivered before the CITY
council at the time of his first inaus-
uration as mayor of Augusta. con-
siderable amount Of work mas aireduy
been accomplished along these lnes'
hrt much more remains to be done.
The Journal in discussing this question
some months ago. expressed the opin-
ion that if repairs and improvements
mara made upon our highways with
crushed stone exclusively the city
wouId eventually be a large gamer by
THE nolicy. We think no good citizen
will question the desirability Of good
roads OF the great advantages which
accrue to a community from having
them. So far as Mayor Plaisted has
emphasized the Importance of such up
to-date highways the Journal is in en-
tire accord with him.
The Journal has believed in the mi
tial preparation of comprehensive
plan by a capable road engineer upon
which all work whether large or small.
may be conducted In this way no hap
hazard work will be done; but all will
fit into definite scheme of road
improvement.
gravel policy abandoned and work up
on the highways conducted with
crushed stone exclusively. Rock is
abundant and cheap in this city, and
while the policy we suggest would. UNI
doubtedly entail temporary increase
of expense, we believe that it would in
a few years be justified by results, and
prove a permanent economy. If these
results cannot be obtained as economi-
cally in other ways then by all means
let us have the bond issue.
Those who are sincerely in favor of
better roads, will agree that any means
that Will best secure good system of
modern highways will speedily justify
itself in practical results.
We know that by pursuing a well
defined plan. and adopting modern
methods Of construction, many commu-
mites in New England, with no greater
wealth or population than Augusta
have developed highways that would
put those of our city to shame. We
know. for experience has taught us
this if nothing more, that the tempo
rizing and inCoherent methods of deal
ing with our highways in times
past have been both expensive
and unsatisfactory. We have no
doubt. as we stated in our last dis
cussion Of this question, that money
enough had been frittered away in road
repairs and improvements which were
of not a character to endure, to pro-
vide every part of our city with good
system of macadam roads. To our
mind the time to begin the work of
highway improvement is right now.
Let the work we are doing from day
to day, and from year to year be OF Il
nf -
character If this policy should be
adopted now. in connection with plan
as definite and well considered rs that
upon which our sewer construction
has been carried forward for number
of wears past. we believe the City's
road work during the next decade
could be made to show surprising and
gratifying results.
The arguments in favor of the pro-
posed loan are:
First-That we should get the pro-
posed improvements now.
Second-That by carrying them
forward upon large scale they could
be done at a minimum Of expense.
Third-That the saving in annual
repairs would pay the interest on the
investment.
There is much to be said in favor of
these arguments 1t would of course
be of some advantage and the consid-
Grafton of this matter would be facili-
tated if it were possible to obtain, even
approximately some idea of the amount
of work that could be accomplished in
the construction of good roads with
the amount it is proposed to raise. 10
do this however, would involve the
preparation of plans and specifications.
and the calling for bids upon them,
all of which would consume valuable
time that would be needed in the
actual work of construction.
In connection with this subject 1t
should be said that the city Is, first OF
all in very great need of suitable stor-