Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-03

1t is apparent that the highway law
must be radically changed if there is
to be any real improvement of the
roads of the State. This must be &C.
complished 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 great
er loss occurs in the utter lack of
maintenance. Many miles of excellent
State road have been constructed, and
If it had been properly cared for tthe
expense would have been triting) it
would be in good condition to-day.
Probably not one town in hundred
has expended single dollar for re-
pairs 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 municipalities as will maintain
their state roads in accordance with
instructions issued by the State de-
partment, and withhold it from those
which will not When the people of a
community see that their town is not
obtaining State aid owing to the negli-
gence or perversity of their officers, a
radical reformation will occur imme-
diately.
Under the present law not dollar
of which the State furnishes the small
est part can be used for the mainten-
auce of State roads. Think of it
Think of The State debarring itself
from preserving and protecting an
investment that it has already made.
Such. however is the fact. This must
be changed
To those towns whose road commits
sioners will go 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 neees-
sary repairs, and also drag the gravel
and earth roads after every rain, all
being done to the satisfaction of the
highway commissioner: 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 to be MAIN
tanned after they are built.
The law must endow the State and
municipalities with authority TO ac-
qliire all kinds of road material under
condemnation proceedings Under the
present law they cannot obtain road
material by the right of eminent do
main. Yet the State has granted the
right of eminent domain to railroads.
Think of the State granting powers to
private corporations that it does not
reserve to itself and to municipalities.
Two systems of roads should be es-
tablished, one connecting the principal
towns, and the other the roads leading
from the country into the town. Many
times the roads leading from the coun-
try into the town are fully as impor-
tant as the direct highway connecting
one town with another. The policy
should be to build from town to town
and then radiate back from the town
into the country-not one road. but all
of the principal ones that carry traf-
! fc. Both systems should receive State
aid when both the construction and
| rorair wort, IS da-e according to in
esrrrt'a~s 'e~s~d by the State high
,, ~av denartment,
If the proposed constitutional
amendment should be adopted the
Legislature could then authorize the
| ie-",e "ee of such an amount of the 81
| Ono 0o0 bonds as 1t deemed advisable,
| using the special automobile tax to
INV the interest and redeem the prin-
cipal. The law should be SO changed
| as to allow the expenditure of this
| nonev on both systems of roads. The
| automobile tax will redeem the bonds
| in much shorter period than the peo-
| pie have an idea. An annual income
| OF 100000 dhe average automobile tax
will exceed this amounD will pay the
| interest at per cent and redeem the
| bond issue OF S2,000.000 in twenty EIGHT
| years. Bonds bearing 81 per cent inter-
| est can be sold at par so that the prin-
I cipal would be redeemed in a much
| shorter time The bonds should first
| be offered direct to the people of the
| State.
| For the main roads running from
| town to town, what is known as the
| patrol system should be adopted A
| man given certain section Of eight or
ten miles to keep in repair devoting
| his whole time to the work during the
| spring. summer, and fall. At first
| thought this may seem expensive, but
|
| exactly the reverse. In fact il is the
| most economical system that has yet
| been devised Wherever it has been
| adopted it not only has kept the roads
| in excellent condition, but the expense
has been lighter. Under the present
| deplora5le system repairs are never
| undertaken until the road is complete
| ll worn out, and then it has to be en-
tirely rebuilt, and the original invest
ment duplicated. Under the patrol
/ system the life of our main roads
could be extended almost indefinitely.
| 1T is the stitch in time that saves
nine. The greater part of the expense
| OF repairs on the main through roads
should be borne by the state as il Is
| the only way it can properly be done.
| All road work should be begun in
| 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 viii 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 it