The Republican journal., 1912-11-07
FOR GOOD ROADS.
A Government Expert to Examine the
Roads of the State. Particular ATTENTION
viii be Paid to Through Roads.

a government Expert " $50
Roads Of the State. Particular Attention
viii be Paid to Through Roads.
E. w. James, one of the engineering
experts connected with tne Unlteo
States Office of Public Roaos At WASH
ington, arrived at Portland last week to
make scientific Investigation OF Name
highways. This action has Deen prought
about through the compineu eHoTts OF
Of Trade. At a meeting of the latter
organization held in Bangor in Septem-
Der a special good roads committee was
appointed by President F. p. Boothby
consisting Of LYMAN H. Nelson, chair
man; Seth A. Moulton OF Sawyer &
Moulton; E. w. Freeman, attorney; W.
L. Butler of Pennington and W. +.
Davis of Sanford. This committee was
duly given authority by the State Board
of Trade to investigate the road sltua-
ton in Maine, with a view to presenting
to the next Legislature such facts and
assistance as it might be able to render
as help to future legislation on this
subject and this committee was given
authority to consult with Governor
Plaisted and Governor-elect Haines.
President Boothby in selecting the
members of the State board committee
paid particular attention to the differ
ent branches of the highway question.
| 1t was desired, SO far as possible IN
small committee of five, to get the diff
| ferent view points of this great propo-
sition represented. He was particularly
fortunate to secure the expert services
on this committee of Seth A. Moulton,
| 81
standing in this State, man who is
| thoroughly familiar with road contract
work and with all the technicalities of
the situation from an engineering stand
point. While WI. Butler of Harrington
is one of the seectmen Of that town and
has been for several years in charge of
the highways of that. vicinity, having
actually built many fine pieces of road.
He is therefore thoroughly familiar with
road building from what we might cal
the rural standpoint. He is making a
particular study of the question OF main
tenance. Mr.. Nelson, the chairman Of
the committee, as is well known, was
the originator of the $4,000, 900 bond
issue idea and has been identified with
this movement from the start. AS he is
also an enthusiastic automobilist, he will
naturally see that that viewpoint is not
lost sight of. Mr.. Davis of Sanford is
president of the Board of Trade at that
point and has for many years been deep
ly interested in the road question and
knows how the up-to-date village looks
at this question. He is to pay particu-
lar attention to the question of through
roads, so that whatever bill may be drawn
for presentation to the next Legislature
will meet the constitutional requirements
IS h. Il md. hA
equitable treatment of all counties. E.
W. Freeman, ESQ.,, is well-known as
an attorney of prominence and his SER
vices will be of great help to the COM
mittee in drawing up a new law.
The United States Government main
tains at Washington highway depart
ment of considerable magnitude. They
have published great many bulletins
on highway construction, have large
number of engineering experts constant
ly at work upon this problem, have
department especially devoted to the
testing of road building material, and
have thus in the last eight or ten years
secured an enormous amount of practi-
cal information on this subject. They
are constantly building model roads and
sending their engineers into every State
in the Union. This department is un-
questionably the leading authority in
highway matters and it was because of
the broad experience that it has acquired
| that the State Board of Trade commit
tee deemed it desirable, if possible, to
secure one Of their experts for Maine.
The government sends these men out
upon application from proper State
authorities with the understanding that
the question of his salary and transpor-
tation to and from the particular State
are taken care of by the government,
the receiving party being responsible
only for his subsistence and transporta-
committee having ascertained that a
particularly good man would be available
from Washington, then proceeded to
take the matter up with Governor
Plaisted and Highway Commissioner
Hardison. Both Of these officials highly
approved of the idea and Governor Plais-
ed has, upon behalf of the State of
Maine, made formal application to the
government. Under the arrangements
made by the State board with the Gov
ernor, the State will pay the expense of
the subsistence of the engineer while
here, and the board committee is to look
after the matter of automobile transport
tation so that the engineer will have
ample opportunity to examine the con-
ditions throughout the State, Arrange
ments have already been made for the
transportation and the Maine Motor Co.
of Portland, through George A. Wagg,
president, has generously proffered a
car and chauffeur for the use of the en-
gineer and committee while covering a
portion of the State, and negotiations
are now under way for further assistance
in this line from parties in other parts
of the State. 1t is also interesting to
know that this whole program has the
warmest approval of Governor-elect
Haines.
There is no doubt that Maine is tack
ling big problem and that it requires
all the information obtainable before
drafting any law that shall lead to the
expenditure of the money recently
authorized by the vote of the people. 1t
is important that not only the whole
State shall be benefited, but that all
roads hereafter constructed shall be con-
stantly maintained and permanent
stop put to the leakage of public funds
which has hitherto taken place through
the neglect Of maintaining roads after
they have been built.
The State board committee feel much
pleased over obtaining the services of an