Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-30
State WideRoadConv
Proposed for Spring.
Would Include County and Road
Commissioners and Se|eCtmen.
Department Of Agriculture Prspar-
Ing illustrated Lectures.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Special Meeting Of the Governor and
Council at a p. NJ, Tuesday, Dec. 30.


The question Of holding general
Statewide road convention the COM
ing spring was taken up and infor-
mally discussed at a meeting of the
State Highway Commission held on
Tuesday, Dec. %. The idea which
originated with the chief engineer
met with the hearty approval Of each
one of the commissioners and the
chief engineer was authorized to I'M
mediately work out tentative plans for
such a meeting and report to the COM
mission at a later date.
1t is thought at the present time
that 1t viii be advisable to hold such
a convention at some convenient point
in the State where ample facilities
and accommodations may be secured
sometime during the first ten days of
April This will be Immediately after
the annual town meetings and tho
election of new road officers, and be-
fore the beginning Of the road build
ing season. The idea is to have about
a two-days convention, to which all
selectmen, road commissioners, coun-
ty commissioners, State road inspec-
tors and engineers will be especially
invited. All users of the road and
the general public as well will be well
come to all of the sessions of the con-
vention.
1t is hoped to have addresses from
some of the leading highway builders
in the other states and in the employ
Of the federal government, to the end
that the road builders of Maine may
get an idea of improved road work
as it is carried out in other states.
Manufacturers Of road materials,
machinery and implements are also
invited to attend and to make ex-
hibits. Several of these concerns al
ready have moving picture films which
show all the steps in the construction
of various types OF road. 1t is need
less to say that these moving pictures
are highly educational and are the
next best thing for the road builder
to making an inspection of the actual
work upon the ground.
Above everything else this meeting
will give the road builders of the
State an opportunity to meet the
state Highway Commission personal
ly, to learn the plans of the commits
sion with respect to its work during
the season arid 1t will furnish the
further opportunity for discussing the
best methods of carrying out improved
road work and ordinary repairs and
maintenance work which constitutes
the bulk of the work in every town.
AS a matter of fact, about a million
and a half dollars are expended in
the State of Maine in what is termed
Ordinary repair and maintenance
work" and all thinking men will agree
that an expenditure of such proper
ton, even though made through the
channels of 500 different town agen-
cies, should not be undertaken with
out first ascertaining the best methods
for securing efficient and economical
results from said expenditure.
The chief engineer of the highway
commission has felt for long time
that it Is entirely possible to vastly
improve the general condition Of the
highways throughout the State by pay
ing proper attention to some OF the
little things which, on account OF their
apparent insignifcance, are generally
overlooked. An effort will be made
the coming season to enlist the CO.
operation Of all selectmen and road
commissioners to put into practical
effect these ideas and this convention,
among other things, will afford an op-
portunity for discussing these ques-
tions which are Of such vital import
ance to all who are interested in the
Improvement of our roads.