Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-01-08


valuable material which would otherwise re-
main there, and, under the action of rain and
pressure, recement the surface.
This destructive action is peculier to the
automobile. and has never been experienced
in the case of horse-drawn vehicles. There
fore say that the autoist of Maine should
especially lend the weight of his influence to
inducing the legislature to incorporate into
| any road law that may be made, some adequate
provision for maintenance. The present law
is much to be condemned, because it makes
no such provision; and any amendment that
may be passed should make maintenance
compulsory by some device in the way OF
penalty for failure to maintain.
CONSIDERATION FOR sAsN INTEREST.
| There is another matter for the automobile
| owner OF broad view to consider; Maine is
essentially an agricultural and ms5ufactur-
ing State. Twenty mine and fve-tenths per
cent of the area Is farm land. aud this area Is
rs per cent larger than that of any other New
England state. A state Of such promising
agricultural character should demand that
| there be given just as much consideration to
the farm interest IS Is given to similar mat
tiers in other states.
1t is the height OF wisdom to develop sgri-
CultuIhl ocCbiooh VI WuICu tuc WChithy VI tuc
country depends. On the prosperity of the
| agricultural sections of Maine the prosperity
Of your towns and cities depends. The reverse
ca nnot be said. and we cannot imagine how
any unusual commercial or manufacturing
prosperity within the limits Of the city OF
Portland could benefit the farmers of your
state, excepting in that small territory i'm
medistely contiguous to the city, and drawn
upon for daily supplies There are large
areas Of Maine farm land that are not highly
developed.
SLIDING SCALE OF DISTRIBUTION.
In report recently submitted by an en-
gineer Of the Office OF public roads, scheme
was suggested for distributing the proceeds
OF your boud issue on a sliding scale. The
idea OF the sliding scale was to give the great
est assistance where the local effort for good
roads was greatest. This was done by means
OF comparison between the local tax rate
for highways and bridges and the average tax
rate for highways and bridges for the entire
State. Such scheme conforms With the
deepest philosophy OF life assisting those
who are working hardest. 1t is altruistic,
helpful and hopeful, and on the exercise of
such principles only may a state expect to
prosper and grow strong.
In an article that appeared recently in the
Worlds Work, had occasion to make the
following comment:
Experience has shown that money spent
under state auspices has produced far better
results. and the roads have been much better
maintained than under the county or town
been very much hampered by its connection
with politics. State road building cannot
progress very satisfactorily until the work is
removed from politics, and apportioned ac-
cording to the merit system"
KEEP ROADS OUT OF POLITICS.
There are indications that Maine is at the
threshold of new highway organization. II
the influence of the automobile association
can be exerted to keep the commission out of
politics, it win be matter only second In i'm
portance, and to the credit of the association,
to the actual movement for State roads.
To this end typical highway bill has been
frequently recommended by the office of pub
lie roads, establishing a commission which
has for its personnel a group of men SO
elected that they cannot, in the nature of
things, represent the political situation in
the state, and, therefore, they will be more or
less independent of it.
1t has, therefore, been suggested that for
your highway commission, you seek - group
of three men from among representative citi-
y
type to whom salary would be no incentive,
beyond mere remuneration for the actual loss
of time at meetings and conferences, and who
would practically accept the position of COM
missioner provided the expenses of the
position were paid. Such a commission,
without attractive salary, depending largely
on prestige and honor by way of emolument.
and devoting its time to the work of the
state, in spirit of public service, will be as
far removed from politics perhaps as any
group of men could be.
IL these men were the acknowledged repre-
sentatives OF the predominating interests in
the State, they would be a still more valuable
body. For instance, let one appointment be
made from group of three men indicated by
the State grange for the governors considera-
ton; let a second commissioner be appointed
from a group of candidates recommended by
the State board of trade, and let u third COM
missioner be appointed from list submitted
by the automobile association in conjunction
with representatives of the hotel interests of
the State With this grouping adhered to in
the appointments of the governor, the COM
mission would always have on it a repre-
sentative for the largest economic interests of
the State-agriculture, commerce and manu-
featuring and the large tourist interests that
extend throughout central and southern
Maine.
such a commission should be given very
large powers to control the expenditure Of
money appropriated by the state for public
highways. They should be in a position, not
primarily to dictate, but rather to prevent.
The interests of the towns and of the counties
should be prevented. so far as possible, from
misspending or in any way wasting their
road funds.
BEWARE OF "PoRK BARREL" METHODS.
One of the greatest dangers in the distribu-
tion OF state funds is kindred to the danger
present in any distribution of funds that are
popularity known as "pork barrels".- With a
commission representing political parties or
Influenced by political motives, such dagger
is increased hundred-fold. With a commits
sion of public-spirited men who have not
been attracted to the job by its salary and its
political advantages, such d danger NAV be