Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-16

ROAD IMPROVEMENT Is IMPOSSIBLE
UNDER PRESENT LAW.
(By John C. Scates.)


before there is any larger expenditure
than at the present time, for there Is now
an enormous loss due to ignorance and
negligence, more to the latter than the
former. The greater loss occurs in the
utter lack Of maintenance. Many miles
of excellent state road have been con-
and II It had been properly
cared for (the expense would have been
trifing) it would be in good condition
to-day.
Probably not one town in hundred
has expended q single dollar for repairs
on any state road that has been built In
the past five years. "Build and forget"
has been the motto of city and town
alike, and undoubtedly will be until the
highway department has the authority
to grant certain aid to such municipal
ties as will maintain their state roads in
with instructions issued by
the state department, and withhold 1t
from those which will not. When the
people of community see that their
town is not obtaining state aid owing to
the negligence or perversity of their Of
ficers, a radical reformation will occur
STATE MONEY CANNOT BE USED FOR
MAINTENANCE.
Under the present law not dollar Of
which the state furnishes the smallest
part can be used for the maintenance of
state roads. Think of it! Think of the
state debarring itself from preserving
and protecting an investment that 1t has
already made. Such, however, is the
fact. This must be changed.
To those towns whose road commits
sioners will 60 over once in two weeks
all state roads constructed, remove all
loose stones, see that the culverts are
open, apply new material to worn out
places, and make all other necessary re-
pairs, and also drag the gravel and earth
roads after every rain, all being done to
he satisfaction of the highway commits
,ioner; the State should reimburse such
towns, say, for one-half of the expense
Of such work. Some system like the
above must be adopted If our roads are
70 be maintained after they are built.
EMINENT DOMAIN.
The law must endow tho State and
with authority to acquire
Ill kinds of road material under con-
lemnation proceedings. Under the
present law they cannot obtain road ma
.erial by the right of eminent domain.
Yet the State has granted the right of
eminent domain to railroads. Think of
he State granting powers to private cor
oorations that it does not reserve to it.
Ielf and to municipalities!
TWO SYSTEMS OF ROADS.
Two systems of roads should be es-
ablished, one connecting the principal
owns, and the other the roads leading
rom the country into the town. Many
lines the roads coming from the country
INTO the town are fully as important as
The direct highway connecting one town
With another. The policy should be to
build from town to town and then
'adiate back from the town into the
one road, but all of the
principal ones that carry traffic. Both
Iystems should receive state aid when
10Th the construction and repair work Is
lone according to instructions issued by
he state highway department.
PROCEEDS OF BONDS TO BE USED FOR
BOTH SYSTEMS.
II the proposed constitutional amend.
nent should be adopted, the legislature
could then authorize the issuance OF
Iuch an amount Of the 100000 bonds
Is it deemed advisable, using the special
automobile tax to pay the interest and
'edeem the principal. The law should
Do 80 changed as to allow the expendi
ure of this money on both systems Of
'oads. The automobile tax will redeem
he bonds in much shorter period than
The people have an idea. An annual in
come of $4,000 (the average automo-
pile tax. will exceed this amount) will
pay the interest at per cent and redeem
he bond issue of S2,000,000 in twenty
light years. Bonds bearing 8 IL per
cent interest can be sold at par 80 that
he principal would be redeemed in q
much shorter time. The bonds should
irst be offered direct to the people OF
he State.
PATROL SYSTEM.
For the main roads running from town
% town, what is known as the patrol
system should be adopted. A man
yiven a certain section of eight or ten
niles to keep in repair, devoting his
whole time to the work during the
Ipring, summer, and fall. At first
thought this may seem expensive, but
experience has demonstrated that this is
exactly the reverse. In fact it is the
most economical system that has yet
,een devised. Wherever it has been
adopted it not only has kept the roads
n excellent condition, but the expense
has been lighter. Under the present de-
olorable system repairs are never under
aiken until the road is completely worn
,ut, and then it has to be entirely re-
quilt, and the original investment dupli-
lated. Under the patrol system the life
If our main roads could be extended al
most indefinitely. It is the stitch in
lime that saves nine. The greater part
If the expense of repairs on the main
through roads should be borne by the
State as it is the only way it can proper
" be done.
ROAD WORK IN THE SPRING.
All IUdu WOIh UO So"uOhS0u
N the spring as soon as the frost Is out
Of the ground, and by the way, If the
road is properly drained and crowned,
there will be no frost. Dry earth will
not freeze and heave. 1t only does so
when water Is allowed to saturate it. 1t
Is not the earth but the water that 1t
contains that freezes. Towns whose
officers will not thus early commence
heir road work should be barred from
state aid.
THE PRESENT LAW PENALTIES TOWNS
for making large appropriations for
roads. Towns having valuation of be-
tween 5000, 1000 and $500, 900, by raising
Jour hundred dollars for state roads can
obtain four hundred dollars from the
State. If they should appropriate four
they could only get four hun
bred. This should be changed 80 that
any town wishing to do a large amount
Of work in any one year could receive
the same proportionate amount from the