Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-01-08
MAINE ROADS.
EXPERTS ADVICE AS TO PER-
MANENT WORK.
LOGAN WALLER PAGE, HEAD OF Gov
ERMENT ROAD DEPARTMENT.,
SPEAKS IN PORTLAND.

ERMENT ROAD DEPARTMENT.,
SPEAKS IN PORTLAND.
Hon. Logan Waller Page, of Wishing
ton, director OF the office of public roads,
United States department OF agriculture,
who was to speak at tie annual meeting
Of the Maine automobile association in
Portland recently, was unable to be pres
ent, but sent as substitute Chief Engi-
neer Barbour, of his department, who
read the address Mr.. Page had prepared.
Mr.. Pages topic was: 1.-THE Automobile
Association and the Good Roads Move
ment in Maine" He wrote: G,
Less than one year ago representative Of
the office Of public roads, speaking before an
audience in this city, took occasion to con-
graduate the State OF Maine on the renewal Of
the good-roads spirit among its representative
business men, and among those eager for the
progress and advancement OF the State.
Since that time you have taken . step which
places Maine among the FIRST rank Of states
that are devoting state funds to the improve
ment Of the state highways. By . vote Of
about four to one. your citizens expressed
themselves in favor of q state bond issue for
highway improvement. Only ten other states
in the union have pledged their credit and
their good faith for highway bonds. New
York, California and Maryland lead in this
repect. wish to express my congratulations
that there has been sufficient steadfastness Of
purpose among those who want improvement
in highways to bring about this condition Of
affairs in Maine.
In devising ways and means for handling
this bond issue OF $4,000, 900, which has now
been made possible by an amendment to your
constitution, you have hit upon a very allur-
ing scheme. You have capitalized the pro-
ceeds of your automobile registration law
With the income provided by this law, you
purpose to pay the interest and provide a
sinking fund, which in thirty years will re-
tire an issue of q, 600 900. This is most in
teresting scheme, and / shall revert to it
again in connection with the question of
maintenance, which intend largely to dis
cuss in the course of this paper.
Naturally, the constitutional amendment
permitting the bond issue has had the result
Of tremendously increasing the interest
in the improvement of your State highways,
and it is gratifying to anyone whose view is
broad enough to see the usual methods re-
sorted to by communities that are beginning
work of this sort, that you have, at the begin
ming, taken such steps as you feel necessary
to insure you against costly and disastrous
errors. 1t is an old argument almost worn
threadbare now by speakers from the Office of
public roads, that when you are i'll you seek
the serviceS of a physician; that when you
build house you seek the services of an
architect and builder; when you install
plumbing, you go to the plumber; when you
are in the grasp of law, you seek the advice of
the lawyer; but when we plan to spend mill
lions in building highways, our counties, and
sometimes our states, think that they are fol-
lowing the canons of good business when
they seek the services of a farmer, and
usually an unsuccessful farmer, or local jack
of all trades, for the purpose of planning the
expenditure of their public money and con-
structing their modern roads.
No policy could be more short ghted, and
no policy current in the popular government
of local units throughout our country costs us
more annually than this one of misspending
road funds through lack of proper direction
and superintendent. In round figures there
is spent in the United States $t57 900 900 every
year for the construction ani upkeep of the
public highways. More than 50 per cent.
of this is spent by men, who. If the truth were
frankly told, do not know what they are do
ing; have no more idea of getting value re-
ceived than il they were placed in charge of
the construction of New York subway or a
Panama canal.
NAMES PLAN COMMENDED.
That you influential and representative
citizens OF Maine, for the purpose of business
or pleasure, or through the larger motive
which seeks the public good, have determined
to begin this road work on large scale only
after due consideration and with the best
possible assistance which is available re-
bounds to your credit in a manner which can
not be too strongly commended.
No matter how strong and right our enthu-
siasm is, however, there is al ways the danger
that the slightest step in false direction will
produce most serious consequences for the
very reason that our enthusiasm is so strong.
There two three aspects of the road
situation in your State to which / wish to
direct your attention. My conclusions in
these n alters may not at first sight appeal to
your enthusiasm, but feel confident that on
mature consideration, You will realize that
what is for the greatest good of all the State
will, in the end, be for the greatest good.
wish first to consider the matter of main
tenance as provided by State law. 1t is a
matter quite generally neglected. There are
only half dozen states which make specific
appropriation, or designate specific funds for
maintenance purposes.
Now, you will see that by capitalizing your
automobile tax in bond issue, you have re-
moved Maine from the list of states which
can apply the motor vehicle revenues to
maintenance. For this reason you should
make some very definite and specific ARA nge-
ments for meeting the expense of mainten-
ance. 1t would not be bad plan if. through
a legislature favorable to the proposition, you
secured the passage of a law appropriating
s5oooo per annum for five years specifically
for road maintenance. You would then make
it necessary for any other legislature within
i've years to come out very plainly against
road maintenance and actually repeal the
law, or else you would be sure of working
fund.
According to the recent constitutional
amendment, 1t will be possible to reissue