Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-14
STATE HOUSE
Chief Engineer Sargent of the
Highway Commission Attend
ing Convention Of American
Road Builders Associa-
ton at Wash, d. G.
STATE HOUSE CHAT
Enlistment for New Company
Commenced to Take Place
Of 18th Co. of Coast
Artillery
STATE HOUSE CHAT
Next meeting of the Governor and
Council, 10 A. M, "Wednesday,

Paul D. Sargent, chief engineer of the
State Highway Commission, left Augusta
Thursday evening for the purpose of at
tending a meeting of State Highway
Commissions and engineers in Washing
ton, ID. c., Saturday, Dec. IL, and for
the further purpose of attending the 18th
annual meeting of the American Road
Builders Association, which convenes in
Chicago Dec. AIS.
The meeting at Washington is called
as a result of an informal conference of
State Highway Commissions at a recent
Road Congress held at Atlanta, where
1t was decided to issue call for the
meeting In Washington Dec. IL for the
purpose of effeetiny an organization of,
the commissions and their chief engineers
so that matters CT mutual interest might
be discussed from time to time without
the disconcerting influences attendant
upon a large convention. The Maine
Highway Commission does not look very
favorably upon such an organization, due
TO the change in personnel of highway
commissions from time to time.
The particular question to be discussed
at the meeting IN Washington Dec. II is
Federal Aid for Road Construction.
During the last four or five years a flood
of bills, who object has been the grant
ing of federal aid for highway improve
ment has been introduced. The authors
of most of these bills have been looking
for notoriety rather than for an honest
attempt to have the federal government
assist in road Improvement in rational
manner. 1t is felt that the experience
of the State Highway Commissions in
dealing with the subject of state aid may
be valuable in the formulation of bill
for federal aid and. an attempt will be
made at this meeting to prepare such
bill for presentation to Congress. If
bill is not presented in its entirety it
s hoped at least to evolve from the dis
cussion certain fundamental principles
upon which such legislation should be
based. Mr.. Sargent goes to Washington
empowered and directed by the commits
sion to represent them in this matter
Mr.. Sargent has made a study of fed
eral aid for several years and has some
positive notions on the question which
he will lay before the gathering at
Washington. Some of his ideas on this
question are as follows:
That the federal government should not
grant aid to any state which does not
maintain a capable and efficient state
highway department; that federal aid
should be granted on some cooperative
basis; that is, that the federal govern
ment should not make an absolute gift
to the various states. but should require
the Estates to put up some specific
amount of money. either an equal
amount or twice as much as the govern
ment furnishes: that each state, through
its highway department. should make Sc
lection of the routes to be improved by
federal aid within the state; that each
state highway department should make
all surveys. plans, specifications and es-
Inmates for the work, subject only to a
general supervisory power. but that the
work should be done under the general
supervision of some official representing
the federal government; that federal aid
should not be granted to any state with
out ample guarantee in the beginning;
that all roads to be built by the state
and federal government will be properly
and efficiently maintained.