Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-08-03
Concerning the Care Of
Maine State Roads.
Changes In Dairy Product Pre-
MUM List al Fairs.
ParIoF Car Taxes Committed 10 the
State Treasurer.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Tuesday, Aug. 80, at 10 A, M.

A meeting of the special committee
of the Grange. which is considering
changes in the general highway laws
met Monday morning at the Cony
House, Augusta. The discussion w.s
devoted to the need of proper main
tenance' of State roads and of town
roads
1t is fact that is more or less we'll
known and observed that while the
state road law specifies that each
town snail take care of its own State
road after 1t has been constructed
and that this work shall be done to
the satisfaction of the State highway
commissioner. that only a small per-
centage of towns-probably not over
one-third of them-make anv pre-
tense towards maintaining these
roads The committee consider that
the most feasible scheme of main
tanning the State road will be bv hav
ing the work done under the super
vision of the State highway depart
ment through it's State road inspec
tors. and that funds for the mainte
nance of these roads should come
from an annual license fee for privi-
lege Of operating automobiles. said
fees to be graded on the basis of
horsepower. Such a law is in opera
ton in all of the New England states
and in several of the states outside of
New England. 1t is estimated that
the present number of registrations
would yield about $4,000 per wear
for this purpose.
Proper maintenance of the town
roads. it is believed. can best be
brought about by the payment of
certain amount of State aid per mile
to such towns as will carry out their
maintenance work under the direction
of the State commissioner or some
other county or State authority.
1T is also believed that the State
fund for road maintenance should be
distributed among such towns as may
apply for it and agree to expend their
money according to instructions, the
division to be made on the mileage
basis. Also that towns receiving
such aid should be obliged to raise at
their annual town meeting a mini
mum amount for ordinary road pur-
poses.
1t will be remembered that for
mer meetings of the committee it was
the unanimous opinion. of the COM
mittee that some form of supervision
of ordinary road expenditures should
be devised to bring about more uni
form. and 1t is believed. more eco
nomical methods of road maintenance.
That it was also the opinion of the
committee that a Vast amount of
money could be saved by organizing
some system for wholesale pufrchas-
ing of road machinery and materials.
AS formerly stated the committee
wish to remind the citizens of the
State that they shall be pleased to re-
ceive criticisms or suggestions of any
of the points which they have so far
discussed and passed upon. Letters
of this kind may be addressed to w.
G. Hunton. r. F. D., Winthrop, Maine.
or to the State highway commissioner
at Augusta. Maine.
Dairy Instructors Letter.
Announcement was made at the de
partment of agriculture yesterday of
the issuance by DR.. Leon S. Merrill
of Solon. the State dairy instructor
connected with the department, of the
following letter relative to the dairy
products exhibit at the State fairs at
Waterville and Lewiston:
Several important changes in the
premium list for dairy products have
been made this year by the Maine
State fair and also the Central Maine
Fair Association. The important
position Maine holds among other
New England States as producer of
sweet cream is recognized by the Of
ferng of generous premiums for mar
ket milk and sweet cream All pre-
miums are to be divided pro rata
among exhibits scoring, IS points and
over. Arrangements have been made
to have suitable room set apart Tor
dairy exhibits
These premiums were secured as