Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-31
An Interview with Governor
Haines on Good Roads.
Paul D. Sargent Elected Chief
Engineer Of Highway Com.
Program for the Annual State Rifle
Shoot at Auburn, Ne.


the new highway commission is ere
ated by the law which went into eff
feet, July a., last. This law divides
the road into three kinds: State roads
which the State itself hereafter will
build and repair, and the towns and
cities will have nothing to do WITH;
State aid reads. which the State will
aid the towns to build and keep in re-
pair, the work of which will have to
be done under the supervision of the
State highway department; and third.
all other roads are left wholly as
now, under the care and control of the
towns. The Constitution as amended
by the last Legislature provides for
an issue of bonds of $2,000,000 for the
purpose of building and improving
highways The new law provides that
these bonds shall be issued in serial
numbers from time to time as the
Governor and Council shall authorize.
| am told that we can sell no bonds
on a per cent. basis through the
brokers, for the money market is 50
hard that the money brokers could
not pay as much as par and accrued
interest for them.
After thinking the matter over very
carefully. | have decided that we do
not need any brokers to sell these
bonds. If the State of Maine. State
that has practically no bonded debt or
debt of any kind except for trust
funds which it holds, and which is a
very small amount, cannot sell its
bonds at per cent interest to its own
people, it is time we all know it. II
the people in Maine have not conf
dence enough in their own State to
take its bonds, which to my mind are
as good security as can be found in
the world, | want to move out of the
State. Hence it is my plan to have
the Governor and Council pass an or
der providing for an issue of these
bonds and for the treasurer of State
TO advertise for bids for popular sub
scription thereto, and the bonds to be
issued in denominations of 500. 5000,
$500, $1,000 and $4,000. so that people
of small or large means can have a
chance TO obtain them in such demon
nations as they wish. 1t is SO lac
in the season that / doubt if we shall
need TO issue, during the present year.
more than 100000, although | wish
we might be able to get work done
throughout the State which would cal
for much larger sum.
While the new highway law pro-
Nides that the automobile taxes shall
be set aside to pay both the principal
and interest of these bonds, the poo
pie should know that they are the
Of tlacs,
bond, and not dependent in any way
for their payment on this fund, but
a direct obligation of the State, back
ed by all the taxable property of the
State, the same as any other State
bond. They are also exempt from all
State and local taxation.
AS | commenced a campaign for the
Improvement of the highways when a
member of the House in 1895, Is years
ago. and have been struggling ever
since to obtain better roads in Maine
| am anxious that during my admin
istration material advancement
along this line shall be made.
| have just returned from an au-
tomobile trip of 500 miles. largely in
New Hampshire, where | went to At
tend the Forestry Convention, but
obtained more information in regard
to highways than | did in forestry.
am satisfied that New Hampshire is
several years ahead of us on this ir,
portant question. In travelling over
300 miles in New Hampshire as / did
| think | went over half the distance
on improved highways. Through much
of the way | noticed the summer 10
tells. Nearly every farm house was
entertaining summer visitors from
other states in the Union. These WISH
tors to New Hampshire are the result
of its improved highways. and not en-
tlreIy its scenery and climate. This
is crop which needs no protection,
and does not need To be fertilized or
sprayed to protect it from year to
year. New Hampshire has no better
climate and scenery than ours, and
has no better prospects for the future
What we lack to bring the foreigner
into our State for the summer instead
of into New Hampshire is better de-
velopment of our roads. Much has
been done already, but we have as set
only fairly started on this work.
/ hope we will be able to get con-
tractors, and that the towns and cit
les will be ready to take hold of this
work so that we can get considerable
done through the fall. / am anxious
that the money shall be so expended
that we shall get full value received
for every dollar that there shall be
no waste or graft in this important
undertaking.
With a fair start. this season, we
ought in 1914 to put our highways in
such condition as not only will serve
our people for all the purposes of ag-
rieulture and trade, but will also III
wife visitors from abroad. during the
summer season, to much larger AID
more profitable extent than We have
heretofore dreamed of. The value Of
our farms should be nearly doubled by
this work.
Paul o. Sargent Appointed.
Hon Lyman d. Nelson, chairman
of the Highway Commission. an
nounced his appointments, Tuesday.
TO the Governor and Council and
they were approved, late Tuesday eve
ming:
Your ExcellencyH and Members of
the Council: Acting under chapter