Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-25

QuahaugS found Wlhln these areas are
likely to be the direct cause of a dan
gerous epidemic of typhoid.
Even though in our opinion the
financial loss to the public from the
destruction of this public fishery by the
dumping of the city sewage into the
water is not less than 100000 annually
the public health is of greater conse
4uence and should not be jeopardized,
as is the fact under present conditions
by use of quahaugs and clans from
such polluted areas.
There was brief discussion at the
close of DR.. Fields remarks. after
which the delegates adjourned for
luncheon. .-,.
The third and final session opened at
+. NJ, with prayer by Rabbi Phin-
cas- Israeli of the Congregation Adath
Jeshurun Of this city. following which
Gov Guild made a few preliminary re-
marks in which he dwelt upon the sue
cess Of the two previous sessions.
The gathering this afternoon was
considerably larger than that of the
morning and prominent among those
present We're persons connected with
the automobile business as well as en-
thusiastic followers of motoring, the
topic for the session being "Highways
and Their Use"
Harold Parker, chairman of the
Massachusetts, commission was intro
duced aS the first speaker of the ses-
sion and his remarks We're in part as
follows:
The Public Highways.
The state of Massachusetts was one
of the first to consider seriously the
question of building it's roads under
the authority and care Of trained men.
The Legislature, feeling the need press
ing upon the people, outlined plan by
which a commission of three suitable
men vas appointed to take charge OF
and build certain lines of road through
out the state. The commission has now
been in existence about Is years and it
has built in that time nearly 500 miles
of thoroughly well devised stone or
gravel roads. 1t has taken charge of
the construction of several hundred
miles of town highways which have
been built under its direction and su
ervision but which still remain town
ways.
Under this law the commission has
authority to build any road which is
petitiOncd for by the selectmen Of
towns of the mayor and aldermen of
cities and from it's determination no
appeal can be made. This commission
has experimental for several years in
the use of tar, pitch, asphalt and oil
in surfacing and even building roads.
and il is not yet prepared to say what
material if any of those now expert
mented with will become the material
for a permanent road structure. That
the automobile has introduced who'll
ly new condition is undoubtedly true.
1t is also undoubtedly true that it has
caused the revolution of the theory OF
the macadam road.
| have often been amazed that the
people OF New England, who have the
reputation of being intelligent and of
spending their money judiciously,
should permit n system to exist which
practically wastes the largest part of
tie money which is spent in building
and maintaining their highways.
The conclusions which arrive at are
briefly as follows: That centralized
control in every state, of its main lines
of thoroughfares Is absolutely essential.
That a uniform method of control and
construction must be adopted and car
ried out by intelligent and trained men.
That all such authority should be alb
soiutely free from any political influ-
ence whatever. That the persons in
charge should be continued in charge
during good behavior SO that q force
OF trained men should be developed and
maintained
From data on file in this office 1t is
safe to say that in the country dis
trct., of Massachusetts alone a half
million dollars a year abe spent in the
care of their roads by the towns them
selves. 1t is safe to say that at least
half this amount is worse than wasted.
How much wiser it would be If this
same amount OF money were expend-
ed intellIgently, for. in the majority of
towns in this state. fairly good road
material can be obtained and where
now, 1t is neglected, and where used
put on improperly A better system
would make not only passable but good
roads even without greater expendi-
ture of money. What is true in Massa-
chustAtts Is true to q greater or less ex-
tent in all Of, the other New England
states.
A paper on THE Trunk Lines of
Highways in New England" by James
IT, Macdonald. commissioner of high
ways of Connecticut followed. the
speaker pointing out the most popular
routes OF the present day as well as
those used many years ago.
He advocated joint action by the
states in providing for a broad through
track from New York City to the White
and Green mountains. as we'll as to
Maine and noted what had been done
in Massachusetts and Connecticut in
Perfecting popular routes of travel.
The last address was by Former Gov
Nahum j. Bachelor of New Hamp-
shire, master of the National Grange,
Patrons of Husbandry. who spoke at
length on Automobiles and Their
Regulation
His remarks In part were as follows: