Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-09
PROF. FILES DEALS
WITH FACTS THAT ARE
CONFRONTING MAINE

consider In the course of his address
he said:
Our 81, 900, coo bend issue Is exhausted,
that is with the exception Of the triv-
ial sum of 5000, 900 for 1917, and con-
siderable portion of this sum has al
ready been anticipated for work con-
tracted bat not yet completed. What
shall We now do to provide sufficient
funds for the continuation of our high
way work. Something must be done.
and that too, quickly. so that the work
which we have SO splendidly begun
may be completed without undue loss
of time.
One thing is sure-and sure beyond
any reasonable doubt--and that is
that the people of the State of Maine
will never consent to go back to the
penny wise and pound foolish" policy
of the days before 1913. We have taken
a long stride III advance-side by side
with the other states in our nation-in
this problem of highway improvement.
and we shall not now hesitate or halt
in our progress; much less take any
backward steps. We, in common with
other sister states, recognized the I'M
questioned value of good roads and
have begun to gather in the economic
returns from a wise and we'll managed
system of highway construction. We
are likewise conscious that the general
plan under which we have been work.
ing during the rast four years, has
been sound and sane; it has brought US
definite, visible results, commensurate
in every sense with the money expend-
ed. This work, so we'll begun, must
now be carried to successful compile
ton. The only question. that now re-
mains to- be solved is How" This is
problem of the immediate present
which concerns every citizen in our
State
The development Of our secondary
system Of roads for the AGRICULTURAL
and rural communities is safe. $500, 600
Is available annually. under our pres
ent plans, for this purpose. This money
should not be touched nor diverted to
any other purpose.
How. then. shall we raise the sum of
approximately 100000 annually for a
period Of six, eight or ten years, in or
der to complete the trunk highways of
our State. Our bond issue Welded
about $500,0c0 annually. It is now
spent. What method or substitute
shall we adopt to continue this annual
income. Failure to devise some ade-
quate plan will inevitably throw us
back into the chaos and waste of earli
err years.
Various plans have been suggested.
Tor example-the reissuing of the bonds
as they are retired, from our present
BOND issue; new, general issue can
1talized. as regards interest and retire.
| ment charges, on direct taxation. a
direct block appropriation by our Leg
lslature OF, say. 100000 annually. And
there are other suggestions which have
been advanced.
Each and every one Of the above
plans is open to some serious objection.
even at first glance. The whole ones
ton will be thoroughly threshed out.
during the coming weeks, and each
plan will receive its careful and due
consideration.
During the last few weeks, however,
popular opinion and popular choice has
peen REQUESTING very strongly upon an
entirely different and perhaps more
rational plan. This plan is TO con-
| uflue our construction by means of
FUNDS raised from the PROCEEDS OF
A MILL TAX, which would yield an
nually about 100000 which is very
nearly the sum which we could expend
annually with the greatest economy.
The plan is ideal. 1t furnishes a defin-
lite and continuous means of providine
the funds which we need.
| The reasons for supporting tlis pro-
posed plan are many-too many in fact
to be debated at length here. But some
of the more important reasons may be
briefly mentioned.
First, as in the case of our schools
which are supported by a similar tax,
| the charge for construction and main
| tenance of ROADS is a fixed charge.
| They are always with us, both of them
ard need constant development and
care. Hence they should both be de-
veloped and maintained from a source
Of revenue which is regular, constant
and definitely determined in advance
otherwise the work of both becomes
scrappy and irregular. The mill tax
yielding a regular annual revenue tC
be devoted to highway construction
Will TeIlueT IL possible 10 USnnltely de-
termine the highway policy of this
State for ten or twenty years to come
Any plan which would make the grant.
ing Of necessary funds dependent upor
the whims and exigencies of a bi-en.
NAL legislative assembly, is doomed tc
difficulty in and, in all prob
ability to failure.
Second: A public building, a public
bridge, or any great and lasting public
improvement may fairly be looked up.
on as permanent improvement fol
fifty, one hundred, or two hundred
years to come ard may be justly con
structed from the proceeds Of a heavy
bond issue. Our posterity will share
with us in the benefits and may vel
be doomed to contribute to the ex.
pense. Public highways, at first glance
seem to come under the same category
but when viewed in a proper, modern
perspective. are entirely different. The
life Of even the finest of modern high.
ways is conservatively placed at from
20 to 25 years. Even if the bed OF
foundation does not require rebuilding
the constant maintenance and re-sur.
facing will eventually accumulate a
bill Of expenses that will equal the or.
iginal expenditure. Hence it is mani.
testify unfair to place upon our limo.
cent and helpless descendants a heay,