Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-05
The New Bridge Bill

A question of considerable import
ance which will come before the voters
on Sept. II, is what is popularity termed
THE State Brigde Bill" This measure
seems to be lost sight of by the SPELL
binders in this campaign, as no mention
has been made on the stump of this
bill.
For a period of more than 10 years
an attempt has been made at most ev-
cry session OF the Legislature to pass
some sore OF bill calling for general
State aid for bridges
For years all OF the bills which made
their appearance in the Legislature set
up the length Of span as standard for
determining eligibility to State aid.
When this proposition was analyized it
was discovered that the majority of the
large bridges in the State are located
on the large rivers at or near some
large city or town which has grown up
around some water power; in other
words: All of the earlier bridge bills
would have granted State assistance to
the cities and towns which were the
most able of any of the municipalities
in the State to bear their own burdens
without granting any relief to the small
{! towns.
This feature of the bridge bills was
brought to the attention of Chief En-
gneer Paul D. Sargent of the State
Highway Commission by the Grange
legislative Committee. Mr.. Sargent
had the year before just completed a
comprehensive investigation of highway
conditions and highway taxation III
each city and town in the State. As a
result OF that investigation it was dis
covered that the average rate of taxa
ton for road purposes throughout the
State for the year 1909 was .oo3o8, or
practically .oo4. 1t was discovered at
the same time that the rate of taxation
Tor road purposes in the Weather
places was much below the average and
IN many of the smaller towns it was far
above this average, running as high as
OF and .o15 in a considerable number
Of places.
With this information in hand it ap-
peared to the Grange Legislative Com
mittee and to the Chief Engineer that a
measure Of the tax burden rather than
OF length should be the standard for
determining when a bridge should be
eligble for State aid and a bill was
grated and presented to the Legisla-
'ure OF 1907 built up around that stand
ara, The bill failed of passage and lay
oormant until the session of 1915
80 many requests for assistance in
me construction Of bridges were re-
ee!Ved by the Legislature Of 1915 that
me committee on ways and bridges
determined that there should be some
more rational way Of handling this
situation than by presenting appeals
70 each session Of the Legislature I'M
accompanied, as they were many
umes. by definite information bearing
W the project. In casting about for
sohe means Of relief the committee
uhearthed the bill drawn by Chief En-
slneer Sargent in 1907. After a care
'ui study Of this bill 1t was re-draft-
Gu with few minor changes and pre-
seateo to the full committee, which
.0'eo unanimously that the bill ought
!" pass and 1t was later passed by
ooeh House and Senate without dis
senting vote.
The bill provides that cost Of con-
suuction or reconstruction will be
s Sofae by the town, the county and the
aate The necessity for the construc-
aon Is passed upon by a board COM
fused Of the State Highway Commits.
s'on' the county commissioners Of tho
.oanty and the selectmen Of the town
interested.
having determined on the necessity,
..e Preparation Of plans. the letting
. contract and the supervision Of
construction is left in the hands Of the
aa Highway Commission. No work
"li De done until the town and the
uounty have paid into the State treas
Wy their shares OF the estimated cost
W the structure.
~. ~ Is readily seen that this bill will
.sao TO the Standardization Of bridges
" all main thoroughfares. It will also
neitnit OF standard designs being
a aofhed up which will materially re-
sace the engineering costs. It also in
cures careful study Of each location
e. the design Of structure that will
~. me needs Of the location: in other
no os: It means putting this most i'm
=; n'ant branch Of State highway work
n. Me hands Of trained engineers es-
irse'aiiy fitted to handle every prob.
'e.n which comes up.
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