Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-20

an average per county of 40. The ag-
gregate appropriations for five years
prior to 1904 was. for repairs of bridges
1888. 0S9. for new bridges S239.113. a total
for the five years of 1852. 202. or an aver
age annual appropriation of S114.41I.
The total aggregate appropriations for
highways and bridges for the year 1904
was $1,244,316. Taking this total ana
the average appropriation for bridges
for the five preceding years we can OBJ
tain an approximately correct percent
age of the annual appropriations which
wore used for bridges in 1904. And the
same would be true for any other year
We find that the average per cent. of
the total appropriations for 1904. which
was raised for bridges would be 9-Z-lo.
The total appropriations for highways
and bridges for 1904 was S114,4U and
the average per county would be S',loi.
Note that. these figures include all
bridges of all lengths and descriptions
that are now supported by our cities
towns and plantations. The cost for all
bridges forty or more feet in length
would be much less than $7,15t.
(TabIcs; 3 and c will be found abovco
T have other interesting figures,
showing entire state valuations for lSo'
arranged by counties, with the t0t3l
numbcr of polls and last population
with these figures l expect to be able
f, convince you that the state can
easily take care of these bridges With
out materially increasing the burden ol
taxation for any municipality and can
IS easily take care of all bridges as oil
those forty or more feet in length.
4 state tax OF 1-2 mill would give
on The valuation of 1904. Sl6S,3Z1. the
total estimated appropriation lof
bridges for 1904, as already given was
S114,417.
The state tax Of II mill would give
rs on the valuation of the State as
SCISSORS for 1904 not dincluding wild
lands etc a total Of 1884, l61. By extend
ing the assessment so as to include
the nearly s300OO,0Co of wild lands and
according to assessors valuation OF
1904 would give US an additional $'4'"
nasing = total state tax of $91, 626. This
amount would in all p-oba bility, take
care of the State bridges 40 feet OF
more in length The assessors report
for 1906 shows the net increase IN VAL
nation of estates in cities. towns, etc,
so. $50 56l ana the Same Itpoi : s'iioN D
an increase in the valuation of wild
lands of S1,GSS.415. This increase at the
same rate of taxation, would give us
an additional S10]i. making total, at
| the rate of i mill on the last valua-
| ton of $9S ESQ. BY slight increase on
the rate proposed or say the rate of z
mill per year. would. feel certain. take
care of all bridges in the State 10 feet
or more in length. If this could be
made to cover period of years the re-
suits would be far better in my opinion
than to cover one or more years to a
time, but whether it costs Il. !. or l
mill it will not in the end cost the State
one cent more than it does today. 1t is
estimated that the cost to the State to
| support bridges would be s15O.O00. l
have shown you by figures quoted. as
near as figures can be made to show.
what the probable expense would be.
The taking over by the State of these
bridges does not increase taxation. but,
on the other hand it tends to Tighten
the burden of the taxation OF the aver