Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-18
s9SS13.1s
S2,34S.11
Trunk Line Work.

The trunk line work was confined to
the Kittery Portland road ard con-
tracts We're let in five sections and de-
tailed report will be found elsewhere.
The first section. beginning on the
easterly end, is in Kennebunkport and
under the bids received it will be OBJ
served that the State furnishes the
eulverts and bitumen and under our
proposal for bituminous maeadam
construction the additional bitumen
would increase the cost of that class
of construction on this job to s17,657.10,
as against $l9, 1851 for concrete.
In view Of ali the conditions after
receiving an unfavorable report on the
analysis of the only gravel which APP
peared to be available. the concrete
construction WAS selected Accordingly
three of the other jobs were let on the
bids for concrete. The fifth, at York
Harbor. is a bituminous maeadam job
The scarcity of suitable gravel
brought the bids beyond consideration
for tnat class of construction. On the
Wells section No. l. comprising 1890
llneai feet, the contract was let to the
Shawmut Contracting Company for
concrete construction for $31. 10000. The
bituminous macadam, at $2S,606.00, as
per bid received, plus the additional
bitumen required. would make the lat
ter construction cost S32, 152.15.
1t Will be seen that there was some
inequality in the bids for under ordina-
~ conditions we would expect bet
ter figure on the bitumnous work.
The heavy auto travel during the
summer season from Kittery to the
various summer resorts along the coast
to Portland makes il difficult to main
tain gravel road, even under the
most favorable conditions, without
some form of binder.
The result of oil en- gravel is only
temporary expedient and under heavy
adto trucks and excessive auto travel
will require constant attention.
The section of the trunk line now I'M
der contract will undoubtedly be COM
pleted in season for the summer travel
Plans will be completed and new
work should be advertised early in the
spring.
AS previously mentioned the State
purchased a steam roller and other
outfit suitable for making repairs and
this was employed in re-shaping and
surfacing gravel sections in Kittery.
York and South Portland These sec
tons We're in such condition that i'm
mediate repairs seemed imperative. A
good surface was obtained, particularly
in South Portland, but under the heavy
tiaffic over that section, between
Naughan's bridge and Cash's Corner it
cannot he expected to be of a peima-
nent nature, but gave very satisfactory
results during the latter part of the
summer and early fall. on the Kittery
end of the gravel maintenance work
the material was of inferior quality
and no special binder was used: con-
sequently. the surface pitted somewhat
under the heavy travel, which neces-
state attention in the spring,
Recommendations.
IN view of the probable issuance of
81, 10000 in bonds by the State for
road construction it would appear to
be a good business policy on the part OF
the state to procure machinery and
equipment for road building as there
are many sections of rod where this
syetem would work to advantage. This
has been demonstrated the past sea-
son IN the expenditure of our auto
mobile fund. The character of the
work in many cases was such that it
would not attract contractors.
With the consent of the Governor and
Council steam roller was purchased
and other equipment. While this is
merely beginning in State ownership
of road machinery it demonstrated the
practicability of the proposition. I'm
doubleday large Jobs can be let to con-
tractors more economically than the
State can handle the work: depending
unon the character of the work
The taking of land and material for
road construction will undoubtedly be
provided for by the present Legisla-
ture. and it is to be hoped that author
ity will be extended for the mainte-
nance of our roads through the high