The independent-reporter., 1910-09-29

turn for a brief moment 70 The gaea
tion OF our solution OF The problem
LARGER SCALE OF WORN
Speaking frankly believe ana
thoroughly convinced that. IL Re Hait
lfty or seHenfy-hFe wears for tae conn
1letion oil our plans we she'll be- too
ate II. the field tn ever rean aus a3r=
tuate reward. in other words fht bird
will have flown before Re hase eam
5leted the cage 10 pat him u With
1ut any doubt the plan which the
State Grange proposes is tae ualY pos
sible sane and sale course namely re
Vise our laws So that We may be- en-
bled TO undertake The construction of
)ur state roads ON . larger scale and
.hus bring al least some Of the ro
urns to the present generation Other
states can issue bonds and secure
large loans for the construction OF
highways Hhy should act We Or
course there is no reason. except that
1ur State law now forbids h. Con
itruetion on ri large scale would be
not a whit more expensive In the end
or the same amount that is now
Ised TOR construction should under
he bonding plan be used for the pay
uent OF interest aud the retiring Of
certain blocks OF bonds each year We
late hundreds and hundreds Of
niles ot road iu the State Of Maine
which could be put i'm perfect condi-
ION by The expenditure OF not more
han $1,000 on $20H0 per mile. Other
hundreds of miles need far larger eX-
1endtures. tor example those roads
which have to carry exceedingly
1eaNy traffic. Certain it is. as | point
d out two Years ago, $2.o00000 or
s. 100000 would 90 far to put the
Dads oil our State In splendid condi-
ION for all time The question of
maintenance we must meet as other
states are meeting it. If then we are
enabled 10 issue bonds as We need the
money. our progress will be rapid.
And we shall not be alone in our
method fer our neighbors, Massachu-
setts and New Hampshire, are EN-
aloying the same method.
If the time ever comes when we
shall undertake the construction of
permanent highways in our State on
4 larger and more comprehensive
scale. let MS lend our interest and give
our best efforts to the end that such
.tii llINOi tent Gnu tAiitllSlNt uIutI dh-
ng shall be done not only in accord
nee with the most modern methods.
but with view to the greatest econ
Jmy and the permanent benefit OF all
sections of our wide Ste te. Personally
believe we shall never solve our
problem of good roads unless We
grasp the situation boldly and solve it
rs Massachusetts and New Hampshire
are now solving a similar problem
within their own limits.
To YOU as enthusiastic members of
he Maine board of Trade, I have to
IoInt cut one great weakness in the
situation in our state. One thing We
lack in solving this problem-and we
lack il sadly-and that is organZa-
ion If all the varied interests in
our State should but organize and
work together as a unit ON this one
great economic problem. as in fact
our farmers have already done
through their Grange. then we should
see solution quickly forthcoming
And BY these interests l mean the
automobile dealers and users, the ho-
tel proprietors and managers, mer
chants and manufacturers whose sue
,ess or failure depends in large de
gree upon the facility of transporta-
don, and finally the general public
who. above all others should be alive
70 the great public problems of our
State Then when organization Is eff
teoted. let us unite and work for the
COMMON good of our State No lob
owing In our plan; rather one strong
expression OF public opinion, which
no legislators of whatever complexion
they may chance to be. will dare To
pass unheeded