Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-26
Automobiles and Good Roads.

in all parts of the country has been a
factor of no small importance in the
crusade for good roads which is now
being waged in intelligent and
systematic fashion both here in Maine
and in many of her sister states.
Liberal appropriation was made by
last winters Legislature in this State
for State aid to towns which are dis
posed to do something for themselves
in this matter Of permanently i'm
proved highways, and over in New
Hampshire similar action was taken.
In that state $125,000 was APP
propriated, and Of this $4,000 is to be
spent upon a continuous state road
from the Massachusetts, line to
Laconia which is at the north end Of
Lake Winnipesaukee. This is to be
part Of a through highway from
Boston to Mt Washington and it is
frankly admitted that it is chiefly for
the benefit Of automobiles, though Of
course it will be a public highway and
everybody along the line will profit
from its construction. The Massa-
chusctts part Of the road is already
built and there are many long
stretches Of good road on the New
Hampshirr side. The state money
will BE- used to build connecting links
between these, and the towns through
which these highways will pass will
also appropriate their proportionatc
part Of the money for its construction
ana will maintain their respective sec
tipns after it is built.
There is much to recommend this
idea of a continuous stretch of
permanently improved highway in
each state, such as is being built in
Massachusetts ana New hampshire
ana many have felt that it would be 4
wiser policy here in Maine to build
from Kittery to Bangor or along the
coast line, instead of having the
individual towns build short stretches
here ana there However, the latter
policy has been adopted and Of course
it ha.s the advantage Of giving us some
good road in almost every town in the
State, ana it is the ultimate expecta
tiOn that in the course of years these
will All be connected 50 that All fire.
quently Travelled roads in Maine, east
ana west and north and south, along
the coast line ana northward far into
the interior, will be good roads.
Down in Rhode Island, however, it
seems that this idea Of good roads
does in almost all the other states.
That is, they probably have no objcc-
ton to better highways as such, but
their objection comes from the fact
that improved highways will mean
more automobiles travelling over them.
a few days ago at a special election
Of taxpayers in the prosperous town Of
Kingston, II. l.. they voted down a
proposition for the construction of a
macadam road through the town. The
project was promoted by an improve
mcnt society which offered Il cash
sum Of several thousand dollars
toward dcfrayinE the cost. The sentf
ment antagnnistic to Improvement
which prevailed i'm the meeting was
expressed by one Of the speakers who
said that he did not object to the
building of good roads if the inhab-
itant+ Of the town could use them with
comfort. as was formerly the case. but
that now citizens wer" driven off the
roads, or had to dodge about to avoid
bringNrun over by automobiles oc-
cupicd by persons having no regard
for tn" law or for the safety Of others
using the highways.
1t is interesting to observe the COM
mcnt on these conflicting opinions. A
New DIX newspaper cDlllIntIluS tIt
New Hampshire movement saying
that 4 continuous automobile highway
will no doubt increase the number of
visitors to the White mountain region
materially and the summer boarder is
the most important industry in the
state" In addition, the farmers Of the
Mcrrimac valley will have this smooth
highway over which to haul crops to
market and supplies home the whole
year around. the autOing season last
ing but half the time. A good road,
this newspaper points out, more than
doubles the load which Il team can
draw. 50 that the residents of the
towns through which the road passes
will get returns not merely in COM
fort but i'm cash value for their eX-
prnditures from the day the road is
completed. New York is urged to
follow the New Hampshire example.
A western newspaper, however, is
of the opinion that the fear and hostil-