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

the commission that in many instances
results far more satisfactory to the
general travelling public and equally
| beneficial to the towns themselves from
an economic point Of view would be Sc
| cured by a more consistent expenditure
Of state aid joint funds upon state
highways than has pertained during
the last two years. With this thought
| in mind the highway commission has
decided in the case Of several towns to
approve state highway work for 1916
only when said work is located on the
state highways.
Grade Crossings.
During the past year the highway
commission instituted proceedings be-
fore the public utilities commission
which resulted in the adjustment Of
two very dangerous grade crossings
in the town Of Norridgewock. Due to
the initiative Of the commission, an
order was issued for the adjustment
Of one Of the very worst crossings in
the state. viz: Blind Crossing so called,
in the city Of Bath. Work on the abol-
ishment Of this crossing will be taken
this spring. The commission have the
adjustment Of other grade crossings
under consideration and will consist
emily work for the adjustment of all
dangerous grade crossings in the state.
Convict Labor.
During the season Of 1915 the first
attempt at using the labor of prisoners
for the improvement of highways was
undertaken by the commission. A con-
tract was entered into between. the
highway commission and the authorities
ofsCumberland county whereby 40 pris-
oners were furnished for this work
The commission erected and furnished
camp complete and furnished a su-
per1ntendent foreman. equipment and
teams for working the men. The county
transported the prisoners to the camp,
furnished guards and took charge Of
buying the supplies. which were paid
for by the highway commission The
camp was run from the first of June
to the eleventh of December and about
three miles of road were completed
While this experiment did not produce
very great results financially, it was
success and the commission hopes to
carry on one or more similar camps
during the season of 1916.
Patrol Maintenance
THE commission feels that one Of the
wisest acts of the 18th Legislature was
the provision for patrol maintenance
on state and state aid highways includ-
ing the maintenance of unimproved, as
well as improved sections. While this
law became operative in July, it was
mr. oil,
sion to attempt to put the law into
execution before the spring of 1916. In
most towns the greater portion Of the
maintenance work has been done by the
first of July and the towns were with
out funds to meet the requirements Of
the law Plans are we'll in hand for
putting the law into general operation.
The commission cooperated with the
town of Gray during the season of 1915
employing and paying jointly for the
services of two patrolmen who worked
on II miles of road. Although the
municipal officers Of the town looked
askance at this method of caring for
roads when 1t was started, they were
loud OF their praise Of the results OBJ
tanned at the end of the season. The
general travelling public who had occa-
sion to use the roads which were pa
trolled were also well pleased with the
results obtained
THE commission feels that this ia
the greatest step for road improve
ment that has even been undertaken in
the state and feels confident that with
the cooperation of the municipal officers
and the public a full measure of salts
faction will be realized for the expen-
ditures made
Auto Fees.
1T should be remembered in connec-
ton with any discussion of mainten-
ance that substantially all of the funds
carrying on maintenance work are de-
rived from the fees collected for the
registration of automobiles.
Under the law, the fees are used
first, for the payment Of interest on
outstanding highway bonds; second.
for the payment of sinking fund to re-
TIRE such bonds. and. third, for admins
tration and maintenance. The total
amount of fees collected during the
year 1915. as reported by the secretary
or state, was $26S.399.53 After pro
viding for payments above referred TO
there was net amount at the end OF
the year available for maintenance and
administration purposes Of s1s4,661.74.
Other balances credited to the main
tenance fund under the provisions of
the state highway law made a net bal
ance on January I, 1915, available for
maintenance purposes during the year ,
of s196.751.96. 1t seems probable that
this fund will be no more than sufficient
to meet the states expenditures for
maintenance during the year
New Highway Laws.
During the year the commission has
called the attention of the municipal
officers of all towns by circulars and |
copies Of the laws to all new
road legislation enacted by the nth !
legislature. The commission has been |
especially active in calling attention to
the law prohibiting the filing up of
dltches and water courses 1t has in
structed its inspectors to report VIOLA
lions of this statute to the municina1
omcers of the towns and to the high
way commission. The commission feels
that this law should be strictly and i'm
partially enforced, as strict compliance
with those provisions will tend in large
measure to preserve in good condition
many miles of country road.
In calling attention to the provisions
NJ h@