Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-07
State Highway Talk
at Norway Banquet

Chairman Philip j. Deerlng ana CnAei
Engineer Paul D. Sargent of the state
Highway Commission were speakers OH
Friday evening, March B. at the amman
banquet of the Board of Trade at NOR
way. Sixty of the citizens OF Norway
were present and after a delicious menu
addresses were made by each of the
guests and by John A. Roberts, eX-com-
missioner of agriculture. who IS the ROAD
commissioner of Norway.
Mx Deering in his remarks outlined the
policy of the commission with respect to
the improvement of State highways ana
stated that the work so far accomplish
ed is simply the beginning of the con-
struction of the complete system of state
highways as laid out by the commission
and that the commission feels that the
LEGISLATURE will provide funds for the
continuance of the work after the bona
issue has been exhausted He also stat
ed that the most feasible scheme Tor
financing future work appears to many
who have given the matter study, and TO
the commission as we'll, to be mill tax
which shall lie equally on all classes OF
property within the State.
Mr.. Sargent advised the town with re-
spect to the proposition now before the
voters for the improvement of their main
street. He afterwards reviewed the work
which the commission has accomplished
during it's life and outlined the plans OF
the commission for establishing patrol
maintenance.
Mr.. Roberts gave a brief resume Of his
administration of road affairs in the town
during the past year and called partlcu-
lar attention to the manner in which the
citizens could help the road commission,
The points made by Mr.. Roberts are par
ticularly applicable to every town and
will bear repeating. He stated that as
soon as he had made his first cleaning VI
of the town the citizens Immediately be-
gan to throw rubbish of all sorts into
the streets, waste paper, fruit skins.
grass from lawns, rocks raked off the
lawns. all of which had to be cleaned
up again at the expense of the town
Furthermore, some of the farmers who
had fields located on side-hills ploughed
their burrows out to the gutter of the
road and when heavy rains came all OF
the road gutter with consequent wash
outs to the road which. in some cases
cost as much as one hundred dollars for
the town to repair. All of these things
are noted in practically every town visit
ed by the highway commission. A little
thought on the part of the property own
ers and taxpayers would not only save
the town large amount of money in the
care Of its streets and roads, but would
result in the streets and roads presenting
much better appearance
Another statement of especial interest
to the visitors was the fact that on the
2Sth day of last April every mile of roat
in Norway had been smoothed and shap
ed with a split log drag. If every tow
in Maine could enjoy the services OF a:
competent street commissioner as Nor
way has had for last year there woult
| be far less complaints about the poo
condition of the roads.
After the addresses were concluded
many questions were answered by Mr.
Deering and Mr.. Sargent and when thu
meeting adjourned after Ii o'clock severa
of those present informed the speaker:
| that while they had heard very grea
deal of discussion about the highwa!
commission and the highway department
| as a whole by people who pretended t.
| be informed, that they had learned fol
the first tir9s that evening exactly wha
the commission was doing and their idea.
| with respect to the work and it's contin
uance were completely changed from
| what they had been in the past.
Altogether this was one of the mos
! satisfactory and enjoyable meetings al
which the commission has been represent