Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-05

| tain the roads already built. He then
closed by saying that the present laws
I are splendid safeguard, that politics
have so far been kept out of road con-
struction as they ought to be, and that
an impartial board is the only possible
method of eXpending road none yin
this or any other state.
committee Of three on nominations
was then appointed as follows: w. B.
Moore of Portland, w. A. Hennessey
Of Bangor and w. S. Wyman Of Au-
gusta. A committee on resolutions was
also elected, consisting of DR.. E. ].
Morrison of Bar Harbor, w. ]. Thomp
son, master of the State Grange, from
South China; w E. Davis of Sanford;
w. x. Sanderson of Portland, and H.
A. Free of Portland.
John Clark Scates
The next speaker was John Clark
Scates, who stated that 100000 have
already been expended and that unless
more money is raised the work must stop:
that he knows Maine will carry on tho
! road construction, that it Is not easily
possible to raise any more money on
bonds for three years, and he asked what
should be done in the interim. He stat
ed that auto owners have paid in 1857 SAT
, in taxes in the past four years, that $751;
900 have been paid in by them already
this year. and that they are certainly do
ing their part He added that SIS. 900
| worth of bonds have been paid and are
cancelled. and that $4,000 has been set
aside to pay next years bonds and in
terest. He said that $4,000 worth of bonds
will mature next year. and that $l26,0oo
will have to be paid out in bonds and in
terest He said that the auto owners
have done more than their part already;
that they can either pay for the building
or the maintenance of the roads. but that
they do not feel able to do both Chair
main Files then called on Engineer Paul
Sargent to tell about the work that has
been done and what is projected at pres
ent.
Engineer Paul D. Sargent
Mr.. Sargent used large map Of the
State and showed that already 1900 miles
of State road have been completed. These
roads run through 25S cities and towns.
which contain 70 per cent. of the total
population anu the SdILc pSIGcHId6c u
the valuation of the State, He pointed
out the routes taken by these roads, ex-
planned the system Of road patrol work
which has been adopted and which he
claims is about so per cent. effective. He
said that 450 men had been employed in
this patrol work during the past year ana
that the expense has been close to $4,000
a month, but he showed 1t to be GOOD
business. Engineer Sargent stated that
81 800 900 will have been spent at the close
of this year. Chairman Files then spoke
briefly of the new federal aid bill and
added that Philip ]. Deering Of Portland
that he could.
Philip J. Deerine
Mr.. Deering stated that the work
which has already been done was the
hardest. as the worst places had been
attended to first, and that in his opin-
ion the work in the future will be less
expensive. unless the present rate of
wages for labor takes another rise, and
he was warmly applauded when he
added that he hoped the limit has been
reached in that direction. He spoke in
favor of the mill tax. and said that
plans would be made and surveys taken
just as if it were already assured of
success this fall. He explained that
only those states which have highway
departments will receive federal aid
under the new law, and said that the
amount would be about $147,00O for
Maine next year.
a1Sn said that thio fndopal
will not be expended in any sort Of
patchwork, that it will be used for def
mite results. like trunk lines and State
highways. and that the plans for its
expenditure must be laid out for the
next five years in advance. He said
that it is his own belief that it Is 60
ing to take between $6,00O,o00 and ST.
100000 to complete the system now
mapped out. that he thinks 1t advis-
able to pass the mill tax measure at
the very earliest possible date, so that
the work can get under way at once.
Hon. Carl e. MiIiiken
Chairman Files then called on Hon.
Carl E. Milliker Of Island Falls, and
the Governor-elect was greeted with
three rousing cheers as he rose to his
rect. MIR. Milliken said that he was
very glad to be able to again address a
group of men without reference to poi.
itics, and stated that 1t was his Arm
belief that this road work should he
entirely non-part isan; that he was at
a decided disadvantage because Of the
TACT that he came to get ideas. not to
lmpart them. He added that as Maine