Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-21

tiOu OIuIFSTy SSSS'bSS' 6os'
or 10 different points in the State for
the discussion of the system as tenta-
lively laid out. The system as finally
adopted, but which may yet be chang
ed il a few of its parts, comprises 1900
miles of road. This is per cent. of the
entire road mileage of the State.
Statistics carefully compiled show
that III the cities and towns on this 1900
miles are found % per cent. Of the en-
tire population of the State and 20 per
cent OF the total valuation of the
State. Aside from the fact that the
highway commission has laid out a
system so small in mileage. which ac-
commodities such very large proper
tiUr of our own people, it should be
borne in mind that the roads compriS-
cd in this system are at the same time
the ones most frequently used by the
summer tourists: thus it seems as
though the commission had met a
double need in the layout of this sys-
TEN and have certainly performed this
part Of their work IN such a way that
it brings the greatest good to the
greatest number of people.
One provision of the law. under
which the commission began operations
was that whenever State highway
construction was undertaken the work
must be continued in one location I'M
til contiguous section OF seven miles
Of improved road resulted. With this
provision in mind the commission at
tempted, during 1914, the construction
of practically a seven-mila section of
State highway in each county. AL
together, 1872 miles of construction was
provided for, but during the year work
completed was equivalent to 100 miles
of finished road. The expenditures on
this work in 1914 were S163, 900
In 1914 the customary amount of
State aid work was done among the
various tow S; 14S miles Of road were
built in 4SS towns and the expenditure
was s6C91G0. About nine miles of road
We're built under appointments of
automobile registration money which
had been made by the Governor and
Councll prior TO the passage of the
new state highway law and in round
numbers $4,000 was. expended on this
work
Under special resolves of the L.egis-
lature for roads and bridges sl20 COO
more was expended; on maintenance
work the expenditure was $50 500. 50
that during the year 1914 total of 81
100000 was expended under the direc
ton or the State highway commission
on new construction and maintenance
work.
during the year 1915 all of the con-
tracts let in 1914 have been COMPLETED
Some new work has been done in every
county and altogether we have 90 miles
of State highway work to the credit of
the highway commission for the year
Inc total expenditure on this work has
been $4,000
state aid construction for the wear
1915 is estimated at $40 miles of com
pleted road and we estimate the cost
will be 100000. Under special re-
solves for roads and bridges $4,000 has
been expended On the maintenance of
State and State aid highways the ex-
penditures have been approximately
100000, so that during 1915 s1,325. 900
has been the approximate expenditure
Of the State highway department for
NA'S SoiSei NNeioii anu
improved road
If you have followed the above analy
sis of the expenditures of the State
highway commission you will see that
during the two years of 1914-15 the
gross expenditures under the auspices
Of the State highway commission nave
been only little less than $4,000, 900.
The highway commission has receiy- !
ed not a little gratuitous advice as to
the proper type of road to be construct |
ed on State highways. The commission
has endeavored, however. within ex-
tremely reasonable limits, to combine |
materials locally available into that |
type of surface which seemed best fit /
ted to meet traffic conditions. This has !!
resulted in the construction of Portland |
Cement Concrete bituminous macadam. !
water-bound macadam and gravel sur
faces. BY far the larger mileage con-
structed having been surfaced with |
gravel. Some of our gravel roads have
been surface-treated; all the water
bound macadam which we have built |
and a considerable mileage of the grav-
Ell road. will be treated next season both
for the purpose Of preserving the sur
face and laying the dust
In the matter of maintenance of
State highways, as fast as a section