Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-04
STATE HIGHWAYS.
GOV. HAINES DEFENDS POSITION
OF COMMISSION.
WRITES IN DETAIL OF THE NEW LAWS
CONCERNING STATE AID ROADS
AND STATE HIGHWAYS.

Penobscot Pomona grange the occasion
for an extended letter pointing out
features of the new laws. The letter in
full follows:
am in receipt Of your resolution OF Jan
"a. notice the"same was published in the
Bangor Daily Commercial the day it was
issued. 1 don't know what the real motive
behind his resolution is. lam sure the farm
ers of Maine are interested, the same as others
are, in the improvement OF our highways.
have spent great many years and a good
deal of thought upon this subject, and want
to assure you at the start that I have no in
terest in this undertaking except to improve
the highways of Maine for the benefit of all
its citizens, without reference to class or
education.
There seems to be somewhere bureau in
dustriously working to disseminate misin-
formation. The reason say this, is because
/ have noticed of late so many misstate-
ments in the public press which must have
tendency to deceive the public with regard to
what is proposed to be done under the new
law which was passed by the last legislature
establishing State highway commission and
providing for an issue of State highway
bonds.
chance for an issue between the automobilists
and the farmers with reference to this mat
ter, but am unable to find any reason for
such. No one has ever yet proposed to con-
struct with the proceeds of the bond issue "a
few miles of macadamized highways" as sug-
gested in your resolution.
At least, no one in authority, that know of.
1 suspect some ingenious politician thinks
fharp mat 10 n chance n this
subject prejudice among the farmers of the
State against the automobilists, out such a
one must remember that the farmers are
very fast becoming owners Of automobiles,
and are demanding good highways. In
other words, the farmers are automobilists'
and the Automobiles are farmers, which in
the end can only result, II successful, in .
quarrel with themselves.
feel that the people are not well posted
yet about the new law, and the purposes Of
the bond issue. l doubt II the newspaper
writers as class have ever read the law. and
whatever is done, the people must understand
must be done under the lsw-chapter 100 OF
the public laws Of 1918, and invite every
body to get a copy and read 1t. We live under
government Of laws and this is one Of
them. The last legislature made 1.-THE rep
resentatives OF the people-and SO far as
know there were no political considerations
entered into. 1t was q strictly economic
measure, supported by republicans and
democrats.
The law provides for a commission Of three
who shall take over all the affairs Of the pres
ent State highway commission. In appoint
ing this commission recognized two politi-
cal parties, and I am sure that the commits
sion and the present administration have no
purpose but to continue the work under this
statute strictly along business principles,
and am hoping that civil service regulation
will be adopted in the appointment of those
who are to work in this department, such as
inspectors and agents.
This law did not go into effect until July IL,
1918. Consequently the work of the State
highway department for 1913 was carried
through principally under the old system.
In order that the public may be informed, /
want to call their attention to what was done
in 1918 for the State through the State high
way department. First, let me say that none
of the bond money was used. Second, that the
State paid to the towns and cities, as State
aid, the greater part of s5s6,777.9o as follows
Improvement of State roads
Estate add l9l3........ S250. 10000
improvement of State prior to 191s... s4,l27.6s
Registration of automo biles... $50. log, $50 SO
Special appropriation for 1918 ...... las, 6ss IS
s5st ,777so
find this was paid over in different sums
for State aid to highways, to nearly every
town in the State. 1t was not all paid out
some balances are left. also find that the
800, $50. SO, which was received from automo-
bile licenses, was paid over by 40 different
orders passed by the executive council in the
aid of roads in different towns and cities.
This was done by dividing this automobile
money into seven equal portions, or nearly
co ual, and each executive councillor took.the
responsibility of distributing it to the towns
and cities in their respective councillor dis
tricts, which means the whole State. None
of this was bond money. The people must
remember that the bond money is a separate
matter from State aid money.
The act of the last legislature, above re-
ferred to, by its first section, provides 'this
act is to establish State highway commits
sion; to provide for an interlocking system of
State highways; tn furnish State aid for i'm
portant county and town highways; to pro-
vide for continuance of maintenance of all
highways to the improvement of which the
State has contributed or shall hereafter con-
tribute; to provide for a bond issue and for
the equitable distribution of the proceeds of
the same among the several counties"
Now we see at the outset a new department,
to wit, State roads and State aid roads, and
the provision for the maintenance of all
roads. The first duty of the commission is to
designate which these should be, and the
statute specially provides that the expense of
conducting such State highways shall be
borne wholly by the State, except in cases in
which towns may desire to contribute to such
fund. 1t also provides that the construction
of State highways shall be paid for wholly
from the proceeds of the State bond issue".
1t also provides that whenever the con-
struction of a State highway is commenced
in any county, it shall continue on such
highway until an improved section OF at least
seven miles is completed, or until it connects
with another improved section OF State
highway. SO that the combined sections con-
stitute an improved way, at least seven miles
in length. There are two theories, not only
in this State. but in the entire union, about