The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-11-16
TJohn Clark Scates.l

l0ILIii Sid4 SIdttSJ
everyone who travels extensively
r the highways of Maine and seri-
considers the road problem is
.eI the conclusion that the State
-.,t materially change its road policy.
. trunk line system must be adopted
Fnch will permit of the construction of
tnuous roads under trained super
E5g. Until this policy is adopted,
Aain- will make no appreciate improve
Its on her roads. A vast amount is
a.laly expended by the State and mu-
palties but it is so scattered in small
mounts over so large an area with little
.01 regard to connecting system and
-- work as whole is SO indifferently
on that the net results are hardly ap-
r4ciable.
Almost at the inception of the move
1s1t for better roads in New Hamp-
1re the Legislature wisely authorized
Iry governor and council to lay out three
.:i,t lines, commencing at the Massa-
1lsetts boundary and running north
I'm south the whole length of the State,
h. total length of which, including roads
|Sach the State wholly maintains and
1e streets through the cities and larger
owns, is 557 miles. At the beginning of
tl0 one line was sc per cent completed,
Iaother 67 per cent and the other AZ per
glt
During the past four years New Hamp-
alre, as State, has expended approx
|lateIy S1,000,000 for roads, including
Punk lines. Our Legislature, during
1is same four years, has appropriated
Per 500, 900 for roads and bridges, and
mat is there to show for it?
If during that time there had been
Instructed good macadam and gravel
pate road from Kittery to Bangor it
H'oaId have been great benefit to the
Mate, as we'll as source of pride to its
f9ple, Our sister State during these
.ast four years has been constructing
'gt only one, but three trunk lines. The
Ferage length of each is nearly the
$$me as the distance from Kittery to
Sangor.
HE trunk lines have had this result
New Hampshire When the towns
trough which the trunk lines run saw
Val the State really meant business, it
undated them to make large appropria-
soas to aid the work To these trunk
INES more than anything else is due the
''7derful progress the Granite State
aas made in the past four years on a
ssOmparatively small amount of money
finished by the State, only a little in
%cess OF that appropriated by our own
Nate during the same period.
have laid out a tentative system of
Ilnk lines and also the approximate
1 ea of wild lands as we'll as the popu-
s'ed portion. Frequently the remark
II made that Maine is a much larger
Gate than New Hampshire but, if the
wa lands as we'll as the large unpopu-
Hed territory that practically has nc
9ads were deducted, as it should be, the
I,parity should not be so apparent.
IN laying out this system two objects
rave been constantly in view. First and
Smemost to arrange them so that our
VI may receive maximum profit
minimum mileage. Second. the de-
ssloppment of the summer business OF
~e State. While the tourists, hunting
rlu fishing business possesses untold
s%sS l and if properly encouraged
WI bring many millions into the State,
+q possibly be one of our greatest
. ,p1 of wealth, still our agricultural
sna industrial interests are Of first i'm.
'VFlance and must be considered. Most