Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-01-22
GOOD ROADS BILL.


ne 'GOou hOdus OIL preseHteu An bnS
legislature last week by Representative
Scates, of Westbrook, involves a general
revision of the present State road laws.
enlarging their scope. An important adj
dition to the law is that providing for
maintenance of State roads, under the
patrol system.
The bill provides for the creation OF
State highway board of three members to
be appointed by the governor, the term of
office OF only one member to expire in any
one year. The salary Of members is $500.
This nominal salary will prevent men
seeking the Office for the salary. The
board, with the consent of the governor
and council, is empowered to select State
highway engineer and such other en-
gineers, supervisors and assistants on such
time and terms as may be for the best in
terests OF the State, the object being to
have the department conducted exactly
the same as any other great business en-
terprise, merit and efficiency only to
govern.
Two classes of roads are to be estab-
lished, both OF which shall receive State
aid. The first are to be known as State
roads, and are to be laid out by and con-
structed wholly under the supervision OF
the highway board. They shall be such
continuous routes through the State as
will accommodate the greatest volume of
business -agricultural, manufacturing and
tourist-on the smallest possible mileage,
and such system shall be interlocking.
That is, the systems OF one county must
connect with those of adjoining counties
so as to make continuous route. At the
same time, the east and west systems must
be connected by routes running north and
south, so that the public may travel from
one system to another.
The State must bear at least one half the
cost of such main thoroughfares, and as
much more as will be equitable and just.
and may, in some instances, bear the
whole cost. The municipalities through
which they run are to bear such part of
the cost as is equita bic and just, in no case
to exceed one half the cost. Once all or
any part of these roads are constructed,
the State is forever to maintain them, and
the bill provides that the patrol system of
maintenance shall be adopted, man
given certain section to look after, and
devoting his whole time to the work dur
by snow. This system will develop in a
short time a corps of men who will be-
come experts in road maintenance.
State aid roads are to be roads which are
of local Importance only. Municipal
officers of towns may designate a system OF
roads within their jurisdiction to best
serve outlying communities, connect ad-
joining towns and villages and facilitate
travel in reaching markets, railroad con-
nections and State roads. These State-aid
roads, while designated by the municipal
officers, must receive the approval of the
State highway board before they are
accepted, and the board has the authority
to accept all or any part or reject all or
any part of them.
Under the old law, only one road lead
ing into town or village could be
designated as a State-aid road. Under
this bill, every road leading into such
can be designated as State
aid road, and receive aid from the State.
The present sliding scale of giving the
smaller towns a larger proportionate
amount of aid than the larger towns, has
been adopted.
The proposed new law is much more |
favora bic to the smaller towns than the |
old one. Under the old law town have |
ing valuation ofsay 100000, by appro-
---iarjr~ ei0Q oouId ransiva Sin0 from, ,ho /
State, and ns more. Ii it apprcpr,-. cd !. !
s4;oYoi 1t eoaii1 receive only $500 The bill !
provides that once in five years any town |
can appropriate five times its annual |
amount and not only receive five times the |
of State-aid for that year, but |
a bonus OF % per cent. for making the |
larger appropriation.
For example, town having valua-
ton of, say, 100000, may, once in five
years, appropriate five times s400, or :, coo,
and receive not only the same amount,
9, 600, from the State, but a bonus of 25
per cent, or $500, making the total State
aid received $500. This is to encourage
towns to eliminate the present patchwork
p, Icy.
After any section of these State-aid
roads is completed, the road commits
sioner must go over it every two weeks
and make all necessary repairs, and follow
such other instructions as the State high
way department shall direct. Once a
month he must report to the State high
way board what he has done and the cost |
of the same. If the road commissioner |
has followed the law and the instructions
Of the highway department at the end of
the municipal year, the State is to REIN. |
burse the municipality for oDe-half the |
cost of maintenance. If, however, the !
work is not done in manner satisfactory |
to the highway board, the town is |
debarred from receiving any State assist |
ance.
To recapitutate, the State roads or main
thoroughfares are to be maintained
wholly under the supervision of the. State |
highway board and at the expense of the