Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-07

toSII 1ltii =.
The communication follows:
Prom reports received from different
parts of the State, as we'll as some
articles that have appeared in the
press, there seems to be a feeling in
some sections that the proceeds of the
$4,000, 900 bonds that Will be issued III
the next four years for highway con-
struction, will be expended in certain
favored localities. This is wholly en-
roneous for the constitutional amend
ment authorizing the bond issue
specifically provides that the money
shall be expended eauitably, no.
equally, in the several counties. This
is not statutory law, but provision OF
the constitution itself and cannot be
abrograted by the Legislature o.
Highway Commission.
1t should also be remembered that
so far not dollar OF the proceeds of
the bonds has been expended. The
work that has been done last year aui
this on the so-called kittery road has
been paid for from the uneXpended
balances of the regular annual State
aid appropriation. The last LeSlsia-
ture appropriated S250,000 to aid towns
that complied with the Requirements
of the old law. Not all the towns ap-
piled for State aid and as a result
there was some x5oo0o left this yea,
and the same has been true of previ-
Gus years. The Legislature Of 1911
provided that these unexpended bal
ances should be expended on the road
commencing at kittery and running
east. The new law, however, of 1913
repealed the law of 1911 and hereafter
the uneXpended balances will go into
fund for the maintenance of State
roads, no matter where they are. In
due time the Highway Commission
will make an equitable appertionmene
to each county. What will be adopt
ed for a basis of such apportionment
is not known, but one thing is certain
it must be an equitable one. 1t
would seem that population, valuation,
mileage, and possibly the cost of con-
struction of the roads in each county,
all equally combined would form rs
equitable a basis as could be devised
There is and will be considerable
contention of the people of the differ
ent municipalities to have the State
roads go through their towns and
cities, and some even are suggesting
practically parallel routes between
different cities. This is contrary 10
the spirit of the law, to say the least.
1t must be borne in mind, however,
that even if such routes are laid out
as State roads, they may never be
built, for only the amount appor-
toned to each county can be expend
ed in that county. A hundred miles
of State road may be laid out in d
county, but if there is only money
enough to construct twenty-five miles
of road, of what value is it to have
the other seventy-fiye miles desig-
mated as State road?
A good gravel road, properly
drained will cost approximately $4,000
a mile; macadam, $1,000 to $4,000.
bithulithic or cement. from $1,000 to
$4,000. From the above figures one
can get some idea of the number OF
miles of road that can be built in the
State from the proceeds of $2,000,000
To be sure, we shall have to confine
ourselves to the gravel road, and
aside from one or two places in tire
State, | am not so sure but what it Is
the best road to build. However
! what the people now desire is to see
the dirt fly, not only in one place. but
| in nearly every county in the State
They are expecting a great deal, pos
sibly too much from the commission
and chief engineer