Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-17

was one OF the most important gatherings
ever held from the viewpoint Of the auto
m0biists Of eastern Maine.
Favor Mill Tax
The meeting went on record as favoring
the mill tax for good roads as follows:
Whereas We believe in the continuation
of the policy Of the people of the State
in constructing and maintaining roads
adapted to the growing needs of the ru-
raj communities as well as the more
densely populated section.
And whereas we believe that the income
from the automobile should not be Ia
fringed upon at present or mortgaged
in the future except for the payment of
the bonds already issued or for the MAIN
tenance of roads constructed or about to
he constructed.
Whereas we believe that the dey elop-
ment Of the agricultural interests are oil
primary importance to the State Of
Maine, and that in view of this fact the
annual appropriation Of &3oo.G1 by our
State for State-ad roads should he con-
tinucd, and
Whereas we believe that in this ad.
vanced stage Of civilization the benefits
of improved highways are secondary only
to those of schools
Resolved: That We heartily endorse a
mill tax levied upon all the property of
the State as the most equitable. salts
factory and surest method of continuing
this great movement.
Resolved That this convention endorse
the principle Of federal aid for highway
construction and that our senators in
washington be requested to do whatever
may be in their power to assist in the
passage of the federal aid highway bill
now before Congress in the form of H. r.
1917 and Senate Calendar No. 1874
CHARLES II. FOGG,
G. f. SMITH.
WILLIAM E. DAVIS,
FRED E. GIGNOCN,
TABER D. BAILEY
The following was also approved by
the meeting.
Resolved: That we recommend the
formation of Statewide committee COM
posed Of one representative from each
commercial organization. or other organ
izattons of like manner. also from the
grange and also from the community not
having any organization, also six dele
gates at large. for the purpose of con-
Quoting a campaign of publicity and edu-
cation to further the adoption of legisla-
ton to provide a sure method Of raising
money to continue the building of trunk
highway and maintaining the same
The members of the Maine State High
way Commission, Philip J. Deering of
Portland, Frank A. Peabody of Houlton
and W. NJ. Aver of Oakland. together
with Paul D. Sargent, the commissions
chief engineer. were present. Mr.. Sar-
gents address. one of the features of the
occasion, follows:
Federal Aid in Road Improvement"
We are all familiar with the results
OF local road management. They are
no different in Maine than they are
elsewhere. The lack of efficient road
management and the failure to secure
satisfactory results from the expendi-
ture Of road funds led the League Of
American Wheelman in 1880 to agitate
the subject Of road improvement and to
that organization must be given credit
for inaugurating the movement which
today has grown to such proportions.
In October. 1892. there was formed in
Chicago the National League for Good
Roads. composed of representatives of
more than one hundred prominent bus
mess organizations. educational insti-
iutioEs and Public Service bodies. 1t
was largely as a result Of the efforts
OF this organization that Congress in
1893 established in the Department of
Agriculture the Office Of Road Inquiry
to investigate systems of road manage
ment and methods Of road making and
to disseminate information on these
subjects
In 1902. shortly after the appearance
Of the automobile, there was formed
the American Automobile Association.
Among other things this Association
pledged itself to work for the better
ment Of road conditions and IN 1907
the first road convention in which the
American Automobile Association par
ticipated was held in Springfield. Mas
sachusetts. Since that time there have
been one or two National conventions
each year where the subject Of road
Improvement has been discussed from
all its angles.
IN l9U2 the executive officials Of the
then existing state highway depart
ments met and formed an organizati ton
known as the American Road Makers
Tor the purpose Of discussing problems
OF mutual interest. This organization
mas held annual meetings ever since
and has enlarged it's membership to
take in city engineers. state commits
sloners and others interested in the
general question Of road Improvement.
The meetings of this Association have
usually been devoted to discussions Of
the technical side Of road construction.
road maintenance and administration.
In 1910 there was organized the
American Highway Association and
the statement was made that among
other things the organization purposed
to correlate efforts of all existing road
associations. This organization has
held annual conventions which have
been largely attended but it has de-
voted its attention principally to prop |
Uganda work, although at some of its
later conventions the technical side Of |
road construction has been discussed |
The combined results Of the meetings
OF all Of these various organizations
nave been to arouse a general interest /