The Republican journal., 1910-07-07
Children Crv
FOR FLETCHER'S
CA 3 TO RIA
General Highway Improvement

To THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL: On
Monday, June 14th, at the Cony House,
in Augusta, Maine, was held the third
meeting of the special committee of the
State Grange appointed by the State
Master, as a result of resolution passed
at the last annual session of the State
Grange, to consider the matter Of gen.
eral highway improvement.
At the meeting held on the 18th rep
resentatives of the State Board of Trade
and the Lewiston and Auburn Automo-
bile Club were present, as well as the
State commissioner of highways. These
parties were all present at the second
meeting of the committee some three
weeks ago. At these two meetings the
general road situation was talked over
very thoroughly with especial reference
to the maintenance and repair of the
common dirt roads and the execution of
the ordinary town road work. At the
meeting three weeks ago the committee
was unanimous in its opinion that
changes in methods, which would bring
about more economical expenditure of
the ordinary road funds and better re-
suits as well, could only be brought
about through some method Of intelli-
gent supervision; such supervision carry
ing with it authority to make rules and
regulations for carrying on road work
and authority for enforcing those rules
and regulations. After three weeks of
thought and study the committee were
again unanimous in it's opinion that this
was the first step which must be taken
In order to secure a change in the
present-day maintenance.
AS a basis for discussion and by way
of opening the question at the meeting
three weeks ago the State commissioner
was called upon to briefly outline the
new system of highway administration
recently put into effect in the State of
New York, where the State Commits
sion has supervisory powers over the ex-
penditure of all road money, whether
raised by the town, the county or the
State. Their scheme of administration
briefly is as follows:
A State Highway Commission having
supervision of all construction and main
tenance work; county or district superin-
tendents, the district superintendent
being appointed by the State Commits
sion to have charge of one or more coun-
ties where the Commissioners of such
county or counties fail to appoint a
superintendent; and finally the town
superintendent, who is elected by the
voters of each town for term of two
years, but who may be recalled at any
time after a hearing on charges of in
competence, malfeasence or misfeasence
in Office, preferred by the State Commits
sion or by twenty-five voters in the
town.
The State Commission annually pre-
scribes rules and regulations for the ex-
penditure of town maintenance money.
All work is done subject to the inspec-
ton of the county or district superin-
tendent, whose orders must be obeyed,
and who reports to the State Commits
sion.
This system of supervision is made
possible in New York State on account
of the State paying certain percentage
of the cost of all maintenance work.
The committee of the State Grange
and their associates in conference feel
that the principles of intelligent central
lied supervision is the first change which
must be made in our present system to
bring about very material changes in re-
suits.
1t is the desire of the committee to
give this idea as wide publicity and as
general circulation among the people
of the State as possible and to this end
we hope you can find space in your paper
to print this letter and we would also cor
daily invite editorial comment ard opin-
ions of the citizens of the State at large
touching on this question.
The members of the committee are w.
G. Hunton, Winthrop, Maine, R. F. D.;
George Alden, Gorham, Maine and E.
M. Lawrence, Rockland, Maine.
The next meeting of the committee
will be held at Augusta, on August first,
at the Office of the State highway COM
missioner.
Letters commenting on or criticising