Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-04
MEXICAN ELLSWORTH ME-, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 1914

II see newspaper articles continually refer
ring to a tax on the people for State bonds,
whereas the law especially provides that
these bonds are to be paid, both principal
and interest, from fees received from automo-
biles. 1t is not intended that the property Of
the State should ever be taxed one cent to pay |
these bonds.
There is another provision of the statute |
which think is not well understood and 1t is |
this--the State aid roads are to be maintained |
in the future under the direction and control |
of the State highway commission, at the joint |
expense of the State and the town in which |
they are located. that the charge against the |
town shall not exceed 50 per cent. of the |
actual cost, nor an average Of over $50 per |
mile. The State is to bear the rest, but this
does not come out of the bond money, for the
same appropriations are continuing and are
to be continued in the future as In the past,
to be distributed among the towns for State
aid and highways. Three hundred thousand
dollars was appropriated for the year 1918,
and it is distributed as heretofore for State
aid highways to the towns in proportion to
their valuations.
Another provision of the new law is "no
part of bond issuefunds for construction shall
be expended on any highway within the com.
pact portlous OF any Town. except III toWns Va
less than $500 inhabitants".
There are great many other provisions in
this act which the people ought to know. but
1t would make this article too long to cite
them. Again, say, wish the people would
read the act, because If they would, they
would see that it's terms and provisions pro-
vide most specifically for the equitable dis
tribution of funds in all parts of the State,
"A h,,ya hro Afo oil he
for macadam roads would Immediately dis
appear.
1 suppose the commission and their en-
gineers working under them will provide for
such roads as the traffic in the different parts
of the State demands. should imagine, al
though know nothing about it, that 90 per
cent. of new State highways would be built of
gravel. There will be some places where
gravel cannot be had. and other material will
have to be provided. There will be some
places where gravel roads will undoubtedly
not be strong enough to sustain the traffic
over them. In each case, it will be q question
OF good Judgment and q compliance with the
statute under which they are working.
The people must remember that with over
25,0oo miles of highways in Maine, il we built
1000 miles of new roads year, it would take
rs years to build them. IL we build 100 miles
q year Of improved highways, which is about
what we have been doing in the past, 1t would
take $50 years to improve them.
Also, 100 miles Of improved highways q
year, at the lowest probable cost for graveled
roads, at $500 per mile, means an expendi-
ture Of $500, 900 year; that the improvement
Of 1000 miles year At the same price means
ss,o0o,Oo year. With $1,000 farms In Maine,
everybody must realize, looking at these
figures Of great road mileage in the State, and
the great cost Of improvement, that it win be
q long time before every farm has such
highway to ii as 1t ought to have. All we can
do under the present law and with the funds
at our command is to commence and do the
best we can, and the county unit is the safest
one to begin with for equitable distribution,
and the statue provides for this, as above
cited. ..-
The state of Michigan has had great dis
cussion over the question OF improved high
ways. One faction, led largely by the grange
organization of that state, / think, favored
state aid to towns, the same as we have done
in the past, which resulted in little short
pieces OF improved highway all over the
state, but no continuous improved roads.
These are popularity known in that state and
elsewhere as roads which begin nowhere and
end nowhere. This is practically what
we have been doing in Maine in the past
building a half mile here and a half mile
there.
1 understand Michigan has changed her
system entirely and done away wholly with
state aid roads, and provide for state roads.
a system which builds long pieces, under
state management, or popularity known as
roads which begin some where and end some
where. Now our new statute is a compromise
between these two theories, or rather the
adoption OF both.
The bond money is to provide, as the statute
says, for, ian interlocking system of State
highways" the State aid money ito furnish
State aid for important County and town
highways" The State takes over the State
highways and will forever maintain them
from the State treasury. The towns will con-
tinue to aid in connection with the State, the
building and maintenance of State aid high
ways. The State highway commission under
the statute, is to have general supervision
over both, and if we are patient, not one year
but few years-two or three or four or five
ought to develop enough improved highway
under this system to satisfy our people of
the wisdom of the act of the legislature of
1918. 1t is a question of patience and work,
not of prejudice political gossip.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM T. HAINEs.