Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-02-21
A $4,000 BOND
ISSUE FOR GOOD ROADS.
Continued from Pege One.)

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during the year amounting 10 $780,
G90.64
This means that we constructed
| practically a section OF State road i'll
each OF the municipalities. This sys-
/ TEN of expenditure of the State money
has been the subject Of much criticism
and il has been asserted that large
| expenditure has been wasted under
our present highway system. Now, |
want te say that the State roads We're
designated by the county commissions
: ers OF the various counties presuming
! 70 be the main thoroughtare III each
! Irrespective town: some mistakes were
made and in others conditions of
| travelling changed calling for a hange
lin location. hut the particular point
which [ wish to emphasize is. that
he law was intended 10 benefit di-
reetlY every locality in this State and
| open To every town which desired 10
| avail itself OF it's privileges As re-
| suit hundreds Of the poorest sections
| OF our roads that could be found have
| been improved and many permanent
culVerts have been built including
quite large number OF small bridges.
In fact. it mas been customary in the
| highway departments to allow the
towns to select their worst section of
| read for Improvement. | cannot be-
| lieve that it would be wise To discon
tinue the present policy.
1t is admitted that some iniudicous
! expenditure each year has been made.
but point to me a state that does not
make some errors during NJ year in
their highway expenditures.
We have received an education in
the past six years that will be lasting
and 1 shall make this statement that
we have been building roads since the
organization of the highway depart
ment as rapidly as consistent with
our resources and knowledge of road
building would admit. We have not
had means to embark in extensive
road building, but we have had the
| benefits of the experiments in other
wealthy states conducted by the best
engineering skill the country afforded.
l wish to state again that in my opin-
| ion we are in better condition to take
| hold of extensive road Improvement
than ever before; the experiences the
towns have had with State roads have
benefits to be derived from improved
| highways. | do not think it would
have been possible in prior years 10
have confined our construction 10
trunk lines only to the exclusion of
all other roads; but this same patch
work system as it has been termed
| has placed us in position together
with the advancement in the higher
| Of
our policy to The Improvement of the
trunk lines.
We have available for trunk limo put-
poses brought over from previous years.
about slS5 267 deducting 5000 for inspee-
ton, which is usually charged TO this
fund, would leave in round numbers sl27.-
267
OF our 1912 appropriation we will have
| approximately 500 900 and our estimate
| automobile licenses $1o0,O00 making a To-
tai of SO. 267. | feel safe in saying that
| S200o00 will be available for actual coli-
struction on the trunk line between
| Portland and KitterN the coming season.
| or such part at least as can be econom-
| ically expended. 1t will be understood
that no new trunk line work was under
taken in 1911 with the exception of cuitf-
| pieuhS the 1919 contracts; simply for tie
reason that funds We're not available
| notwithstanding there was a good hai-
anee to the credit of the highway de-
partment. This. OF course, makes tn
prospect for work by the highway DC
partment for The year 1912 very Halter
ing.
As to the proper type of road to be
| constructed, this must be worked out &C
the different localities. 1t is well know
that our expectations have not been fuly
realized with the higher type of roads
and it cannot be said that the ideal type
| of road suitable To mixed traffic has
been found. 1t is quite evident that tn,
prevailing country road i'm Maine mus
| be of craven. 1t would seem to be g
good business policy to study the cond
tions and build Il road suitable to tht
traffic with due regard to the probable
| maintenance.
, l will offer some suggestions and re-
concentrations which would apply Il
many of the towns of the State.
First: The lack of organization of roa6
| forces in the various towns is a source
| of great annoyance and more or less
complaint. This condition is brought
about by relying upon help and teams
which, are usually engaged in othel
come by the organization of a road fore,
in the spring when tire work should b'
done, thereby completing all roads 81