Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-21

The annual meeting of the Maine Au-
tomobile Association was held here
Friday evening Directors were elected
as follows:
II. W. Kicker, Poland Springs; E,
A. Doten, DIR. John f. Thompson, w.
" Taylor, Silas B. Adams, L. II.
Nelson, Portland; a. @. Miller, Au-
burn; Hartley Baxter. Brunswick; Da-
vid r. Abbott Roclland; DR.. L. g.
Bunker, Waterville; l.. +, futile, car
fbou; Elton C. Wheeler, South Paris.
officers will be elected at later date.
Hon. Logan Walter Page of Wash
ington. ID. G.. was unable to be pres
ent. but sent as a substitute, irwin
w. Barbour, chief engineer of the
United States Bureau of Good Roads
who read Mr. Pages address. A. q,
gatchelder of New York, chairman of
the executive committee of the Amer
lean Automobile Association. and Lew
is r. Speare of Boston, former presl-
dent of the A. A. A., and president of
the massachusetts Automobile State
Association. were the other speakers.
The address of c.-Trea. John c.
Scates follows:
John C. Scates. Address.
The past year has been one of in
tense activity with your Association.
To enumerate all that has been ac-
conlplished would consume more time
than would be advisable to occupy to-
night. -
On Jan. /, 1912, we had aAmemheFship
of 247 On Dec. /, 1912, 1852. The pres
emf membership exceeds 2000 The As
soeiatioll is behind the good roads pro-
pagandakin the State. Few realize thai
nearly al that has appeared IN tf1e.
news co1lmns of the press on the high
way problem has been furnished either
by the kamerIcanI TAsSociat3on{4or the
Maine association, Not Only are the
!, members of The assoeiatioa, But the
people IL the sRhole state, indebted TO.
the press for it's enthusiastic support
of the good roads prope ganda. The
present success of the movement would
have been impossible without It's cord
ial support
\ great deal of assistance has been
received from the different civic bod
les, notably the State Grange, COM
mercial Travellers, State Board of
Trade, Fedora ton of Labor and Hotel
Mems Association.
Headquarters were maintained at the
Bangor and Portland automobile
shows. which gave tie officers an OPP
portunity to meet and consult automo-
hilists throughout tie State, and was
productive of much good.
The very first of the year. a call was
issued for a good roads meeting to be
held in Portland. Governor Plaisted
there endorsed the so-called Nelson
plan of using the automobile license
fees TO pay the interest and provid Il
for the Tedemption of S2,000.000 of State
bonds. the proceeds to be used for
highway purposes, "A resolve was in
troduced at the special session of the
Legislature proposing an amendment
to the constitution which was almost
unanimously parsed, and then immedi-
ately was inaugurated an intelligent
and aggressive campaign which was
persisterifIy &C rrta9aun writ the cleo
tion which resulted m its adoption by a
yate of more than four to ones
Realizing that thfeef6pft3RF ef the
aaium cast on the state was due to
the wretehed condition al the gate
ways 10 the STATE tie sofiicefss held II
conference with the Governor and
State. Highway Commissioner in re-
work of The most permanent character
was immediately commenced. AS soon
as the present contracts are completed.
which viii be before the middle of next
June, there will be d good road nearly
all the distance from Biddeford to
Portsmouth. Es
Another great gateway, the Frye
burg Bridgton road, was in as de-
ri. fha = Dnfst
land highway. Your officers took the
matter up with the people of Frye
burg. Bridgton aandi Naples, and sug-
gested that the towns raise a certain
amount provided ther Governor and
Council %otfid apportnm from the aus
1omobile- BHensss fees.i two dollars. for
every Cnf, appropriai ed hg 4the towns
Special atown ineetingsf were acaBed.
substantial amounts appropriated to
which thedStae added two dollars for
every one raised by The towns. Gasce
and Poland did likewise This method
becomingbn known ether cities and
towns. frequently through the infiu-
enee of officers or members of the As-
ISOLATION, pursued a9similar policy. al
though the larger the town the small
er the ratio of State aid. AS result
VI tItt Must loddS
have been constructed in Westbrook,
Auburn, Brunswick, Rockland, and
many other cities and towns.
We have only words of commenda-
ton for the State Highway Depart
ment. It has always been responsive
10 our suggestions, and they have been
frequent, if not always helpful.
An information bureau with D. w.
Hoegg in charge, has been maintained
in Portland. ar the library of tue Even
ing Express. Mr.. Hoegg giving his ser
vices and the Express the rental.
Detours around sections of roads that
were under construction were laid out
and properly signed by the Association.
Towns Notified.
Many towns were legally notified that
certain sections of roads within their
limits were in a dangerous condition
for automobiles. and that they would
be held responsible for damages to
cars or individuals. After receiving
such notices, the roads in nearly every
instance were repaired.
IL is within the province of the AS
fkpf a ion. 70 Loo AZ 4