Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-11-12
STARE HIGHWAYS.
DIR. A. c. Hsgerthy, OF Ellsworth,
Expresses His Views.

Expresses His Views.
Or. A. c. Hagerthy, senator from Han
cock county, has given out press inter
view expressing his views strongly on the
actions of the State highway commission
in laying on, the State highways under the
new law. DIR. Hagerthy says:
AZ the present time, the Highways OF Maine
are 10 be supported by three distinct funds.
We have TIE funds 20 be derived from the
bona issue. Of which ssoa.soo ayesr Is 10 be
spent. There il the State aid Tor Highways;
the appropriation for 1914 and thereafter win
be ssa0.oes year, ard there is fund design.
ated for all ether highways. New, the en-
penses of the commission are paid by the
state out OF an appropriation of sse,eoo, 10
which fund Is added the anexpendnd balance
OF the stats aid funds
II would have been we'll and far more
pleasing and satisfactory to the people Of
this county had the commissioners. under the
circumstances. held . bearing In this city.
At the time the bearing was held in Bangor, a
great many of our residents interested in the
building Of the trank line we're prevented
from attending because OF the heavy cordi-
ton of traffic, but the same people could have
driven to Ellsworth tor hearing and re-
turned 10 their homes in fair season. The
same condition existed .; the highway meet
ing at Msehias.
The act creating this bond Issue for public
highways fnd Ia very little Understood by
the people. This May be due principally 10
the fact that the act was never printed and
circulated save In the general seminary
printed By the newspapers. The Eransets
tell me they have been snas,e 70 have satss-
factory addresses on the snbleo; or 70 obtain
rs much information as they would like 10
| get.
The act provides for a s2,ooo.oOO bond Issue
70 be spent e9aitahlg among the counties oi
| the State. This means = great deal to Han
cock county. ard bar Harbcr. because Of IA
prominence as summer resort, ia the most
! important point In eastern Maine during ,hs
automobile season.
| The act also authorizes the commissioner,
20 give employment. whenever practicable. Il
the people of the towns through which tn.
highways pass. The bond issue, Of coarse
does not benefit the densciy paiated section
OF the towns and cities.
OF course Il will be impossible for = boast
or any of three commissioners TO carry OS
the provisions Of this act 20 the entire xasisise
tion Of all. II occurs to me rs a satisfactory
solution of the problem TO determine the
coarse. OF = highway in this or any othei
/ county where two factions are maintaipins
their influence for two different routes, thA
the coarse OF the highway be submitted Il
the people of tn. county and voted upon.
| This trank line problem is big aud serious
| II win require plenty of time TO work out the
details and 10 make the different surveys
The roads will not be oRiit until next year
and there will be plenty Of time after this
spring election ~ do IS much work on ths
highway as Il. the course should be estab-
lished At osce. In this way all Of the peopls
/ could have an opportunity. not only to expires,
an opinion in the matter, but to poll vote TO-
one route or another. and the result would, Of
course, be more readily accepted BY greater
majority
| In Hancock county we have two proposed
/ routes, and think that this solution Of this
| problem would be more readily accepted b.
both factions than by leaving the matter &c
the three tcommissioners. ] do no, believe
that under the circumstances the people Of
Hancock county had a rightfai say aud viocs
over one Of the most important measures that
has ever come before them. | would like &c
see the people Of the entire county given
better opportunity In regard to the bulldins
of this trunk line.