The Washington herald., 1912-08-25
MAINE PLANS TO
IMPROVE ROADS
Income from Motor Vehicle Licenses
to Pay Interest Of Road
Building Bonds.
SCHEME QUITE A UNIQUE ONE

While most modern inventions are the
results of a process of evolution from
some far-distant basic idea. it has re-
manned for a citizen of Portland. Me-,
10 bring out an entirely new idea In
road financing. There seems to have
been no preliminary suggestion which
might permit the idea to be considered
a growth" in this relation. True, 1t
was the application of a well understood
system Of finance. but it was also an ap-
plication to a public purpose which had
hitherto been suggested.
The proposition was brought out by
Mr. Lyman H Nelson, OF Portland, ana
primarily submitted by him to some OF
his friends and to some public omciais'
each of whom. expresses approval Brief
ly. the idea is to use the income which
the State receives for automobile reg
Istrations. chauffeurs' licenses. fees. and
other items which make up the States
revenues from automobiles, as a basis
of capitalization. On this capitalization
State bonds are to be issued. the pro-
ceeds of which are to be devoted to
The construction of highways. While
Maine has a fair quota of resident motor
lists, still. from a motoring standpoint,
II must be considered summer resort
State Numbers Of well-to-do people
have permanent summer homes there.
And since motoring became popular
numerous summer hotels have been es-
tablished, in addition to those which
were known and patronized when only
within reach by railway trains. The only
unfavorable condition Is the state or
some of the roads which must be
traversed to reach them.
The Maine legislature enacted a State
aid law and created a State highway de-
partment in 1907 This was elaborated by
AUTHORIZATIONS
of s25ooO0 per year have since been made
to assist towns in good road construction
But as the town is the unit, there are
naturally gaps existing between the
good roads of one town and the good
roads of another town. Summer visitors
in Maine are fast becoming a material
financial asset. which. constantly grow
ing in importance. is seriously hampered
by the necessary slowness of the town
system in the establishment Of through
lines of improved highways
Mr.. Nelson's proposition was next SUD
mitted to a number of prominent pubIc
men and 1t met with their approval
At a meeting held in Portland in March
Gov Frederick w. Plaisted spoke In
terms of apprecitive Endorsement.
Late in March there was a special ses-
sion Of the Maine Legislature, and the
project was put in form. 1t appears that
the constitution of the State, adopted
to the Union in 1890 limits outstanding
State bonds. except in the time of war.
to $4,000. Consequently. to put the plan
in operation, an amendment TO the con-
stitution is necessary.
Legislature Favors Resolution.
The LEGISLATURE. with less than a half
a dozen dissenting votes, passed a reso-
luton submitting to the voters OF the
State a constitutional amendment author
king the issue of s200o.0o0 of bonds for
highway improvement purposes This
will be voted on by the people of the
State at the September election. Then
II will remain for the next Legislature.
which meets next winter. to enact such
laws as will adequately provide for the
construction of such highways as may
be selected for the improvement, as
continuation Of the trunk line system.
In round figures. the receipts from auto
mobile registrations and licenses amount
to approximately $4,000 per year, and
1t is not likely to grow less. This amount
will pay interest on s., 100000 of bonds, and
provide a sinking fund for their retire
ment at maturity. 1t is expected that
with the Improvement of the highways
the income from these sources will in
crease rapidly, by reason of the more
general use of motor-driven vehicles, and
that with the surplus funds a main
tenance system can be provided which
will keep the trunk line road in repair.
Statesmen, business men, automobile
clubs, chambers of practically
all the well-informed population of the
State favor the measure. There are some
ruralites, however, who, not understand
ing the proposition and having a natural
antipathy to the idea of bond and mort |
gage, who have yet to be shown" AS
It requires two-thirds vote to carry a
1T, NhAl
statesmen and civic organizations are
carrying on a campaign of education.
that the farmers and other voters may |
be in full possession of the facts. |
The argument seems unanswerable. |
Two million dollars are to be spent for |
road construction in Maine without af-
fecting the tax rate, as the interest and |
principal are provided for without any /
reference whatever to property taxation. |
Perhaps the most difficult problem of the !
whole proposition is to convince the |
farmer that it Is not a deep-lai6 scheme |
to give him the worst OF the deal in |
some way which he cannot now see or |
understand. He has always done the
paying, and his taxes have been enor- |
nous. and Maine farms, while profitable |
when well titled, are not gold mines. |
So that when the proposition comes to !
the agriculturist TO give him something |
for nothing, to provide smooth, we'll |
graded and well-surfaced roads over
which he can haul his crops to market. |
and not ask him to pay a cent either
now or hereafter toward their construc-
ton. 1t requires some showing to con-
vince him that there Is not a gold brick"
in II for him somewhere. 1t is contrary
10 all his previous experiences. The
work OF convincing him. however. is a
labor of love, and is going on rapidly.