Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-25

Orchard. Sanford, South Berwick,
Saco, Brunswick. Harpswell. Norway.
Fayette. East LiverTore, Monmouth.
ST. George, Thomnston, Manchester,
Pittston, Washington, Oakland, Bing-
ham, Madison. Arson. Norridgewock,
Mercer. Concord, Old Town. Hampden,
Glenburn. Macwahoc. Pressure Isle.
Foxcroft, Belfast, Detroit. Monson,
Oakfield. Fort Kent, st. Francis Plan
taticn, Rangeley, Van Buren,, Fort
Fairfield, Whitneyville, Machias, East
Machias. Calais. Baileyvilie, Barring
Eastport, Jackman, Charlotte. Wind
sor, China, Albion. Winslow. Benton,
Clinton, Vassalboro. Readfield, Vienna.
Nj. Vernon, Belgrade.
'In most Of these towns State road
construction occupied the attention OF
the commissioner. In some, however,
advice was given in relation To bridge
work rs well as to road work. and IN
some the work attended to was the
result of special appropriations by the
Legislature.
During the first three months of
1907 tile time of the commissioner was
almost wholly occupied in explaining
to members Of the Legislature and
others the provisions Of the bill which
was offered In the last report as a
basis for a new State road law.
Immediately after adjournment OF
the Legislature requests began to come
in from municipal officers for advice
concerning tho construction of State
roads. Beginning in the middle OF
April and continuing until the last of
November with the exception Of two
weeks in May and two weeks in June
when county road meetings were held.
from four to five days each week were
spent by the commissioner in visiting
towns and in looking after road and
bridge work for which the Legislature
made special appropriations.
an the last report a bill was offered
as & basis for new State road law.
Two well attended committee hearings
were held on the bill. The time Of the
first hearing was devoted to hearing
the proponents of the bill. Appearing
in behalf Of it were a committee of
the State Board Of Trade. a commit
tee Ct the State Grange and commit
tee Of the County Commissioners AS
ISOLATION OF the State. There were al
50 presented to the Legislature and re-
ferred to the committee 453 petitions
carrying 13s47 names representing
cities, towns and subordinate oranges
throughout the State asking for the
passage Of the bill.
AT the second hearing the oppo-
nents appeared These included rep
resentatives Of four cities and one
town. After being considered at sew
eral executive sessions OF the commit
tee the bill was finally reported to the
Legislature and unanimously passed
as law.
The law includes in general all the
provisions OF tho bill. The only part
that was materially changed was cut
ting down the amount Of the appro-
priution and the consequent reduction
in the amount of joint fund for the
several cities and towns. The amount
Of aid granted to towns with a vaIu-
alton of in excess Of 81 900, 600 was also
increased from 50 per cent. to IS per
cent. Of the amounts furnished by
those towns.
I'VE apprehend that most people
what any law means or how 1t works
than to try to find out for themselves
by ptrusinE the same. We realize that
It Is the function Of the court to ray
what any law means 50 that PROPOSE
tor will not b.. touched upon at this
time: We will attempt to explain some
OF the provisions of the new law and
procedure under the same.
Section two provides that the
main thoroushfare Of each town
which votes to build state road shall
be designated as State road. Also
that the majority of voters in any
town Of the municipal officers CT any
city may petition for a change in the
location Of the State road If they are
satisfied the road as designated is not
the main travelled thoroughfare in that
town. This section also provides that
the second State road may be laid out
In any town after the completion of the
first state road. Section three creates
the State highway department and pro-
videS for n state highway commits
sioncr. and assistant commissioner
enc clerk and oGt. steroGrapher
Sections four, five and six cover the
H-ancin! part Of the law.
Section four declares that each
town must Sc, aside from It's regular
appropriation for highways n certain
amount of money to be used in max
ing permanent improvements upon its
highways. and names the amounts
which each town must so set apart
Tho provisions Of this section also OK
tend C. u1!rSorporated townships
The idea meant to be conveyed In
this section IS that the amount Sc,
aside under II may oe used Tor the
permanent Improvement OF some
irad:Es line O! highway in the town
but necessarily the State road. This
Section works automatically.
IF. however. the town desires to
draw State aid 1t must according 20
section five make a special appropria-
ton equal TO 50 per cent of the
amount necs ssary tn be set aside ua-
der section focr. This specia! appro-
priation shall be made in addition to-
the amount regularly raised for the
maintenance Of highways. The sec
ton also provides that application for
State aid mus; be made to the State
highway department prior to April
fifteenth or the town will forfeit its
right to State aid that year