Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-28
Maine Good Roads Situation
Subject Of Magazine Article.
me Corporations Which Were Or.
ganlzed During Week.

saturday morning shortly after i
anu upon investigation a live
was found in the big waste box
"A mana chemical and one stream NJ
water extinguished it. The origin of tho
IRE is somewhat Of a mystery tbo,,,,h
several causes are suspected by the en-
pioSea. II seems most likely that an
oiS cioth' used to clean a typewriter,
must nave been thrown into a waste
oasKet and thence found it's way to the
Dox IN the cellar and spontaneous COM
oustion did the rest. Very little dam
age was DONE
The Good Roads Magazine for Ja,u-
airy contains short but interesting ar
t1cle concerning the good road sjtua
tion In Maine, which is not found in
any report. It is reproduced here:
FROM Paul D. Sargent. commission
er CT highways. comes the information
that o3' towns of the State Of Maine
made appropriations for road building
curing the year 1906, and that these
amounted to s128,GO0 A number of the
towns failed to so use the money an
propriated. 1t is thought that the final
returns will show that about 80 towns
nave spent about $780, 600 for road MAX
ing in the year.
some of the difficulties in the way of
learning what has been done by the
diHerent towns may be seen by the
light OF the fact that the admnistra-
ton OF the work, under existing State
laws, is entrusted to 16 boards of coun-
ty commissioners. These inspect, ac-
cept or reject roads which the several
towns may have constructed. Only
eight Of these boards have sent in their
reports, and these are in the old style,
which says merely that the work has
been examined, and, in the opinion of
the board, conforms with the require
ments of the statutes, and the board
recommends that - dollars be paid
to the town.
1.-THE Legislature, which convenes in
January. will appropriate the money
necessary to meet these claims for last
years work. This will require about
500, 700.
The commissioner of highways Will
recommend to this session of the Leg
lslature the enactment of a new State
road law, to include the creation of a
State highway department which shall
have supervision of the appOrtiOnment
and the outlay of all State road funds.
He will ask for an appropriation Of
100000 per annum, also. for the pur-
pose of making good roads"
A second article from the same mag
azine reviews the situation very brief
ly and is as follows:
"On March %. 1901, the Legislature
of this State adopted a measure which
provided that any city or town may re-
ceive from the State treasury one-half
Of the sum actually appropriated and
expended on State roads. At first the
maximum amount to be paid to any
town by the State was fixed at 800, but
in 1903 the Legislature increased this
amount to 5000 and in 1905 to $500.
'This aid is not to e extended to any
town unless it has expended at least
800 exclusive of and in addition to the
amount regularly raised in such town
for highway and bridge purposes. and
not then until the county commission
ers shall have inspected the roads 50
improved and certified to the Cover
nor and Council the sum which the
town is entitled to receive from the
State.
"An act approved March "a. 1905. pro-
vided for the appointment or a state
highway commissioner. His duties
were to investigate road conditions and
to collect and disseminate information
on this subject. 1t does not appear from
this law that he is authorized to direct
or to approve the construction of ROADS
which receive State aid.
There are 25.52S miles of public roads
in this State. but it is impossible to as
certain the mileage or roads improved
through State aid. 1t may be of inter-
oct ro note. however, that there are
2226 miles of road in this State surfaced
with gravel and 81 miles with stohe'
which indicates that about per cent.
of the roads have been improved.
"The first State aid appropriation was
made in 1901 and amounted to Slo,Wo.
The total appropriations up to and IN
Guiding 1905 amount to s11S,OOO."
Insurance Commissioner Carr. VINO
is in New York on business trip Is
expected to return today.
Tho following corporations have filed
their certificates of organization at the
Office Of the secretary or state
The Offenhemier Electric Co, organ
lied at Augusta for the purpose OF
manufacturing electrical apparatus.
with $500. 900 capital stock. of which
nothing is paid in. Offers: President
and treasurer J. Berry of Augusta.
certificate filed Jan. rs. 1907.
Uetrie Salvage Co.. organized at
Portland for the purpose of manufac-
turing and dealing in salvage and
wrecking machinery, with 100000 capt.
tai stock, Of which nothing is paid IN.
Officers: President. James E. Manter OF
Portland; treasurer. Clarence E. Eaton
of Portland. Certificate filed Jan. 3d.
1907.
The Ouitshivering Underwear Co..
oreanizsd at Portland for the purpose