Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-01
GOOD ROADS AND BEST
MEANS OF PROVIDING
THEM FOR THE STATE


the belief Of Congressman Frank f.
Guernsey of the Fourth Maine District,
in a statement just made public.
Other interviews with prominent
Maine people along the same line also
are given the public.
Congressman Guernsey saws: II
believe the importance of the continu-
alton Of State road construction can
not be overestimated. and the benefits
that the State has already derived
from this work is evident to everyone
who travels the roads of our State
important and beneficial as this
work is we should not mortgage our
future too heavily to secure it. If
"pay-as-we-go" plan can be devised,
such a plan it seems to be should be
adopted. AS 1 view it today the mill
tax plan seems to be the best"
George e. Macomber, Augusta.
George E. Macomber of Augusta, one
or Names most influential citizens, as
well as being the director of the
Maine Central Railroad. says:
Il believe that one of the greatest
advantages to Maine. and one of the
things that will conduce the most to
its material wealth will be the build
ing OF State roads, such as is now a
very common thing among all the
leading states in the country. Maine
Is still good ways behind the times
in this respect, although great ad-
vance has been made in the last four
or five years. Good roads invite a
large number Of, outside people to visit
the State, either for a longer or short
T. CT Il let hy.x 10
of money which goes to the hotels and
finally into every branch of trade, and
l don't believe any investment that
can be made by the State of Maine
would do anything like as much as
the building of first class highways.
ut would seem as though the mill
tax. being something that could be de-
pended upon for a series of years,
would enable the Highway Commits
sion to accomplish more than any
other system"
Mayor Boothby Of WaterviIIe.
Hon. Frederic E. Boothby, mayor of
Waterville, several times mayor of
Portland. and for many years general
manager and ticket agent of the
Maine Central Railroad, says:
Il have no hesitation in saying that
the program for building roads in
Maine, as originally arranged, ought
to go on without a holdup and I, per-
Sonally, am In favor of the mill plan.
Il meet great many people from
out of the State and probably as we'll
aware of the value of good roads as
any person. and l have no hesitation
in saying that to stop the work al
ready commenced would be a detri-
ment to our State which we would
be long in overcoming.
1--WE ought to deem ourselves fortu-
nate in this State that we have the
material from which good roads may
be built and not use vitrified brick,
as is the case in some parts of Flor
ida, and if l am correctly informed.
Florida has already appropriated ten
times as much as has the State of
Maine toward the project"
Waldo PettengiII, Rumford.
Hon. Waldo Pettengill of Rumford,
one of the most widely known and in
fiuential men in Maine, says:
Eat the present time the matter of
greatest importance in Maine is the
continuation of the improvement of
our highways, which has been so we'll
begun.
ITO my mind the fairest way to
procure the necessary funds is by a
mill tax, to be expended under the
direction of our Highway Commits
sion."
Hon. J. w. Simpson, York Harbor.
Hon. Joseph w. Simpson of York
Harbor, former State treasurer, and
one of the leading business men of
York county, says:
Living in section of the State
where the State roads have been COM
pleted, perhaps l am able to say from
experience the enormous amount of
benefit that has been received from
the same. l hope in time to be able
to see the rest of the State receiving
the same benefit. And the best solu-
ton that l can see at this writing is
to adopt the mill tax, whereby the
commissioners can be able to look
into the future and make their plans
accordingly.
Il trust the Legislature in its wis
dom will see it's way clear to vote in
favor of adopting the mill tax"
Dr.. N. M. Marshall, Portland.
DR.. N. M. Marshall of Portland,
widely known as a good roads stu
dent and authority, says:
1T seems almost incredible, at the
present time and under existing cir
cumstances and conditions, that any
doubt can exist or be raised that the
work now started and being pushed
forward in the construction and main
tenance of improved highways or
good roads should be continued. 1t
becomes evident, if such course is to
be followed funds must be provided
to carry on the work.
Personally l do not feel competent
to say what methods would be best
employed for the raising of funds for
this purpose, but from what 1 have
been able to learn of the methods in
vogue in other states and places. the
mill tax seems to be one of the best
methods suggested.
THE benefits derived by one and all
and the State at large from improved
highways or good roads, are SO nu-
merous it seems to me to- be matter
with only one side to discuss. I have
never heard a logical argument or OBJ
lection made and the benefits are so
many that enumeration would be tire
some. Increased farm, as we'll as
land values near our larger cities are