Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-19

expended balance Of sioe 575.97 from
1910 approximation besides 81. 3362S bal
>a.lcGs. .frQma 190S-.lld l909 available for
Improvement of main thoroughfares.
There is also Sl7,6S9.S: Statedaid APP
portiened to towns and unpaid stand
ing in the State treasury. al f"'
inspectors were paid for services ana
expenses during 1910 sS,446.39.
Trunk Line Work. \
Under section thirteen of the law
work has been done on nine sections
of main thorouS hiares in the following
towns: Poland, Casco, Rockland,
Roekport, South Portland. kennebunk,
<ittery, York and Wells. Contracts
have been let for 13.1l miles of road
aud 1.S9 miles nave been completed.
The total expenditure on this work
has been sec. So. 80 OF this the state
mas furnished $S9, 1924: the balance
24.9i00I having been subscribed by in
dividuals and appropriated by munich
palities.
The commissioner believes the Leg
islature should take some advanced
step towards designing comprenen-
sive system of main thoroughfares up
on which the State should undertake
systematic and continuous improve
ment and maintenance. If the report
could go abroad that Maine had estab-
lished a definite progressive policy OF
inproy ement of main thoroughfareS
il would be the best single advertise
ment that could go out from the State.
Work with State Grange.
During the summer of 1910 the State
commissioner held several meetings
with committee of the State Grange
for the purpose of investigating ord-
nary road conditions and expenditures.
1t is, a fact that many poor towns have
A large road mileage and very heavy
tax rate for road purposes. No at
tempt was made to study out any plan
for 1lualizing highway burdens in the
various towns There is only one way.
in fact. in which it can be DONE and
that is to have the State assume en-
tire control of all roads. levy tax
sufficient to properly take care of
them. and apportion the same accord
ing to the needs of each particular
locality.
Statistics show that the average
length of term of office of road COM
filiSSlOHeFS III hdibc 10 wv ears anu
eight months-a period less than is re-
quirod of apprentices in any trade.
Yet this army of inexperienced. I'M
trained men are annually expanding
1887, 900 OF road funds in this State.
1t seems to us, and the committee
agreed in this view. that if some pro-
vision could be made for putting road
work under the supervision of trained
men that practically all the complaints
which we hear today would disappear.
Work wisely planned, intelligently di-
rected and economically executed
would De the direct results of trained
supervision.
IT also seemed to us that the only
way. to start trained supervision
would be for the State to take the in
itiative. This could be done by pay
ing q small amount of State aid for
each mile of road under the care of
such towns as would accept State SUI
pervisien and State instruction and do
their road work accordingly.
The possibility of securing aid and
the liability of losing it would cause
towns to make careful selection of men
to take charge of road work.
1t seems fair to assume that with
proper organization practically all the
ROADS of the State could be brought
under trained supervision in from five
to ten years. simply through the me-
dunn of State aid.
Recommendations.
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