Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-29
WITH s3OO,OOO.
Or eat Opportunity for State
Highway Commission.
Int elVieW wIihJ0hn CLARK Scales,
The NesibIO0k Expert.
Estim aies Over Quarter of Million
Will Be Available In 1912.

John Clark scates of Westbrook.
who for several years has. made n
study Of the road problera, in the
state. and whose booklet Why
New Hampshire Doing Better Road
Work Than Maine" which has been
SO frequently quoted and commented
upon by the press. estimates that APP
available fer Trunk Line work in
surely seem 20 demonstrate. there is
great opportunity for the State
Highway Commission.
Mr. Scates saws Evidently dur
ing The coming year some Of the worst
and at the same time most travelled
roads in the State should become
thing Of the past. The greater part
of the road from Kittery to Portland
and from Frveburg to Bridgton Is a
disgrace to any civilized community
aHd las dene more ia iniure the Sir
name Of the state than anything else
at is evident TO everyone that lit
lie or nothing has been done this
Year on the trunk line road laid out
by the last legislature. The reason
is else obvious 70 those familiar with
State affairs-a lack of ready cash
Next year will witness an entire
change and the money already APP
prepriafed should be available. This
Mithfthe automobile license fees will
be approximately $500, 600.
THE highway law provides that all
moneys left ever from the highway
appropriation after the cities and
towns applying for state aid have re-
ceived their apportionment shall be
applied to trunk line work. Here are
the approximate figures:
Left over end unexpended from
the 1910 appropriation. $50 900
!. ''t he ISL, appropriation. @ Ct. 600
appranriation. &C. 900
estina,ed. 100, coo
$2S6, 900
"The amount from the 1912 appro-
priation! as well as the automobile
license fees VIII probably exceed the
estinate, SO the probable amount will
be In excess of $4,000 The unex-
pended balance of 1911 viii naturally
expire by limitation on Dec. 3lst UNI
less the Highway Commission has
provided for this contingency by let
ting contracts or otherwise.
ITO he sure it is not obligatory on
the part of the Highway Commission
to use the automobile money for
trunk line roads, for Section p OF
the aiitomebile laws provides that
all fees received IS to be appro-
priated and used for the repair main
tenarice and construction of State
highways under the direction of the
Maine State. Highway. Commissien.'
Apparently the highway commits
sion has absolute authority to expend
the money received from the automo-
bilists anywhere and for any purpose
it deems expedient and under any con-
ditions,. regulations or restrictions 1t
may exact This. to my mind. is per-
feetly correct. It allows the Commits
sion to aid those municipalities most
who will most aid themselves, or to
use the money where it will best con-
serve and promote the interest and
welfare of the State as a whole. 1t
is admitted by everyone at al familiar
with road conditions that the roads
7 have mentioned are the worst in
the Nldle, Wil4lS sil ttlS SftiiiG bii4Ac
they are more Travelled than any
others
."To nay mind the execrable condi-
ton of one of these roads is respon-
sfble for the death of two persons the
past summer.
"When the State shall discard it's
patchwork system and reduce its road
policy to somewhere near business
basis. the whole or such part of the
automobile money as is necessary
should he used for maintenance. In
sltectipn in construction and mainte-
nance afterwards are the two great es-
sentials and in these we are woefully
deficient.
'fr there were 1000 miles of good
dirt, gravel, sand-clay and nlacadam
State road in the State to-day. the
special tax on automobiles would
Ynafntain them and keep them in per-
feet condition, under proper system
of maintenance, without dollar of
expense to the municipalities or State
The thing to do is to build the roads
and then keep them in repair with the
automobile money"
Then you think there will be 4
great Improvement in the roads next
year?
Most assuredly / do, why shouldn't
there be? The State officials are
aware of the conditions. and mind you
the money has already been appro-
priated and while have no knowledge,
yet it is to be assumed that surveys
have been made and that plans will be
completed this winter and contracts
let so that work may commence iniine.
diately the frost is out of the ground
- - stHu Nv sw s~ssss' VA