Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-02

After the reading and acceptance Of
the treaSurer'S report and in which
Treasurer Blaisdell rendered his resg-
nation. a committee of five was APP
pointed by the chair to select the otli-
GERS for the ensuing year. Those chOs-
Ell as Il committee We're: G. F. Terry,
r. Fl. Union, c. II. Simpson, 5. 2.
Feiker and Mr.. Morrill,
Willie this committee was making
their selection of officers, Hon. w. r.
Hanes was called upon and responded
with = brief speech, in which he paid
a hish Tribute to the retiring president
T.. p. Mayo.
The committee then reported upon
the following officers:
President, NJ. +. Bartlett, Waterville;
treasurer, George r. Fuller. Oakland;
vice presidents for two years, Col. c.
A. Leighton. Wa,erville: DR.. e. l..
Jones, Watcrville; DR.. r. c. Thayer,
Watervilic: S. +. Felker. Clinton; Geo.
a. Ninnesar Oakland; G. +. Burleigh,
Augusta; Horace PuringtOn. Water
vile: f.. {. Wardwell, Waterville.
President NJ. f. Bartlett was then
called upon and said in part:
1T is with a great deal of reluct-
ancy that l considered the matter at
all, but with the assurance of friends
and other officers thai they would all
assist. was willing to accept the po-
sition for a time. l would suggest that
the other officers be instructed and be
empowered to fill all vacancies. The
success of the fair has been WONDER
full 1t has attracted the attention of
q h. a TO Of
We can make it greater success"
a paper prepared by Paul f. Sar-
gent highway commissioner. who was
unable to be present, was read by II.
l.. Eunt"n of Oakland. An abstract
follows:
The paper discussed in a thorough as
well as capable manner the good
roads question, telling the results of the
experience gained by the government
and pointing out the rapid advance
ment made in this direction during
recent years. saving that the people Of
Washington county prided themselves
on having as good roads as could be
found anywhere in the State.
A careful compilation of the avail
able inform ton, it said. had shown
the cost of ordinary country roads to
be a quarter of q dollar per ton mile
Over improved roads he estimated the
cost to be from one-fourth to one-third
of this, or about seven cents. Although
| if all roads were brought up to maxi
mum of efficiency. so that one horse
could do the work of four. or four
horses do four times as much as they
can at present. the paper Gid not
believe this would lessen the demand
| for horses or the number used. Better
TRANSPORTATION facilities always bring
out an increase of travel he said.
"and / am sure that improved high
ways would increase rather than di-
minsh ordinary wagon travel"
Mr. Sargent. in considering the first
thing to he done to secure Improvement
| in the highways of the rural districts
said that an investigation of the con-
diticrs as to roads in the State. made
! in 1906 had disclosed the fact that only
| 9 per cert. of the roads of the State
had been improved as to surface and
that 81 per cent. We're still surfaced
with the natural earth of which they
were constructed. BY a process Of
segregation. he said, it had been learn
ed that 7.6 per cent. of the total road
mileage of the State was in the cities
and the remainder in the rural dis