Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-10-11

mouth, then to Lincoln, who're II con-
meets with the state road through the
Profile Notch-145 miles.
The West Side or Connecticut river line.
starts ct the boundary of the town Of
Northfeld In the state Of Massachusetts.
ana runs through Keene, Newport, Ham
over, Lisbon, Bethlehem, Lancaster and
Colebrook, where 1t connects with the
East Side line 217 miles; making q total OF
557 miles.
"To these trunk lines more than any
thing else is due the wonderful progress
the state has made in the past four years
on comparatively small amount of
money furnished by the state, approx
mately 100000. Unquestionably, il
Maine had adopted the same policy the
result would have been eqally satisfactory.
"Our last legislature made start, lay
ing out trunk line commencing at Kit
terry, running through Portland, Lewis
ton, Augusta, Waterville and Bangor, and
on to Fort Kent, but the enactment sadly
lacks that vitalizing energy which is
necessary to make new born child grow.
The act says the highway commissioner
may expend such money as may be left
after all the towns applying for State aid
have received their apportionment-there
may and there may not be money availa-
BILE, and the State highway commissioner
may or may not expend it II there is.
There are too many mays.
1.-THE trunk lines have had this result in
New Hampshire: When the towns
through which the trunk lines run saw
that the state really meant business, it
stimulated them to make largo appropria-
tions to aid the work. The little town of
Ossipee Of only 1,400 and valuation of
e662, 900 raised $6 900 in 1910. The town of
Wakefield, with population OF loo and
Q valuation Of Gas, $3.50 raised e1l, 900 the
same year. The little town OF Boscswen
raised 5000. Lyme, with . population OF
LOOT and . valuation Of go, 40 raised
5000. To these appropriations the state
added very much larger amounts, for these
are poor, small towns; but it demon
strates what can be done when the proper
method is applied.
"Would not the result be the same in
Maine IL this trunk line proposition were
to be adopted and energetically pushed'
| "During the last four years New Hamp-
shire has expended approximately 1,00O,-
900 and we have appropriated approxi-
mately s91O,474 for roads and bridges. II
during that time there had been con-
structed good macadam and gravel State
road from Rittery to Bangor, it would
have been great benefit to the State as
well as source Of pride to its people.
Our sister state during these past four
years has been constructing not only one,
but three, trunk lines. The average
length OF each is nearly the same as the
distance from Kittery to Bangor, one OF
which, including state roads, which the
state wholly maintains, and business
streets in larger towns is SO per cent. COM
pleted; another 81 per cent. and the other
AZ per cent.
"In 1910 there was built in New Hamp-
shire over ffty-two miles Of macadam
including macadam and block paving,
only eleven and three-quarters miles. In
the same year there was built in New
Hampshire 1876 miles OF excellent gravel
road, while in Maine, including all the
towns that received State aid, there was
constructed only eighty-eight miles of
very Indifferent gravel road. Aside from
the trunk line roads, there have been
built in different towns Of New Hsmp-
shire, during the past two years, sixty.
eight miles OF macadam and gravel roads.
WHAT, MAINE NEEDS.
"First, more intelligent work on roads
that are built.
"Second, a system Of trunk lines one
running from Kittery to Portland and
and two running north from Portland
through the more densely populated sec
ton of the State; also one across the
western part of the State from Fryeburg
to Portland or Lewiston. These lines
would connect with the New Hampshire
lines, one at Portsmouth, the other at
Conway.
| s'Third, all State aid work to be done
under the direct supervision OF competent
engineers and foremen, to be furnished by
the State.
"Fourth, all State aid work to be kept
| in constant repair either by the towns or
State; if by the towns, the State to have
the authority to see that the repair work
is properly done.
"Fifth, repeal Of that section of the law
that allows large towns and cities to e1-
pend their State aid money on their prin-
cipal business streets. This is contrary to
the spirit OF the law, to say the least, but
has invariably been done. Portland Is
| one OF the worst offenders in this respect
not being satisfied with expanding her
State aid on one of her most densely.
populated streets running lengthwise OF
the old city, she has expended part OF
her State aid money on street running
nearly across the city, while every main
avenue approaching the city is in such a
deplorable condition that it would be q
disgrace to Molunkus. In New Hamp-
shire M monev of which the state fur