Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-05

den S Tour corners, thence northerly to
and over Eaton bridge so called, to
Ilconic or Waterville bridge at Water
VINE. The section selected upon which
10 make permanent Improvement be-
gins at the northerly end of the Sebas-
ticook (EatoD bridge and extends
towards Waterville about 1000 feet. An
electric railroad track is located along
the westerly side of this road. The
improvements desired and approved
were grading, draining and macadam-
izing.
The result Of the conference of New
England highway commissioners, held
IN boston in December for the purpose
OF uniform legislation, and of which
MI Sargent is secretary, is made pub
TIC IN the Maine report. FOR the first
tlme The following important re-
solves were passed:
Resolved, That if good roads are to
be built and maintained at any reason
able cost, II is essential that eXpendi-
lures for such work be made only after
proper study and upon plans and spec
iflcatiCns made by experienced experts
Under the present system, or lack of
system, Of local control and supervI-
sion~a great amount of money is was
ted. AS preliminary step in the right
direction we recommend that all the
main highways and thoroughfares out
side OF the thickly settled portions Of
the cities and towns be put as soon as
possible under the supervision of a
central control or authority of its en-
gineers; that all money spent thereon
be expended under the direction and
supervision of such central authority:
and that all money therefor be provid-
ed by the states, counties, cities or
towns i'll whole or in part by each, as
may be deemed advisable. The oues-
ton of maintenance is at least as i'm
poltant as that of original construc-
ton. We recommend that whenever
any money provided by the State has
been spent ON any highway, thereafter
such highway shall be repaired AM!
maintained under the direction and
supervision of the central authority
ana It's engineers; that provisions be
made by law to provide yearly the
necessary money this being done by
dividing the expense between the
state. county, city or town In such
way as seems best; and that part of
the money be provided from the fees
and fines collected under the laws of
the State relating to the registration
and operation of motor vehicles and
the licensing of the operators thereof
Resolved, That it is the opinion that
more than so per cent. eof the drainage
done to the main thoroughfares is oc-
c&sioncd by automobiles; that they dc
greater damage than other vehicles,
DrODDrt lOn4flIN of inft,
speed. their weight and their tires, and
also because of the great distance COW
cred by them; and we recommend that
graded registration fee. based upon
horse power, be imposed upon auto
mobiles, the fund to be used for the
construction and maintenance of the
main thoroughfares.
Resolved That the improvements of
the main thoroughfares of each state
should be planned to connect with the
main thoroughfareS of every other
state, and to provide good highways
on the principal lines of Interstate
travel.
Resolved, That all directions and re-
| Sulati)nS relative to the operation of
motor vehicles and to the speed of
such vehicles in particular ways and
| places should be posted conSpicuouSly
| on all roads or ways affected thereby
whether such directions and regula-
| items are in the nature of warnings of
| dangerous places or to call attention
| to the laws, and that all signs or de-
vices used for that purpose should be
| uniform in design. with characters of
sufficient size 10 be easily seen from
an approaching motor vehicle, the dis
| t!EctiNe features of such signs or de
| vices to lie at least four inches in
height
Resolved, that the present guide
| BOARD laws of the several states should
be strictly enforced, and city and town
| officers, whose duty it is to erect and
maintain such guide boards. should be
compelled to comply with the laws.
Resolved. that there should be in
each state Il uniform law relating to
! the widths of tires on all vehicles, and
| that until such uniform laws be
adopted as are now on the statute
| books of the several states be moro
| strictly enforced than they are at the
| pre- sent time. since the drawing of
| heavy loads on narrow tires is a pro-
| life source of damage to the roads of
New England.
Commissioner Sargent says of the
new State road law:
We believe the State road law is
| fundamentally correct. Like every
other new law it was more or less Of
an experiment and its weak points
could only be brought out by actual
trial No real serious defects have
been found.
Generally speaking it has been very
satisfactory. No trouble has been eX-
perienced with any town which has
really desired to make real improve
ment upon its state road. y few mis-
understandings have arisen between
municipal officers and the department.
but they have been cleared up by cor
respondence or by personal confer
encc
some complaints have been made
that the law was too complicated y
number of suggestions have been re-
ceived to the effect that the law should
be SO amended that towns OF low
valuation might have a larger Joint
fund in order that more progress cou!d
be made in the improvement OF their