Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-24

The Maine State Highway Commits
sion on Wednesday morning was in
session in the hall Of the House OF
Representatives at the State House to
listen to a delegation Of citizens OF
Central Maine, who wished to express
their hearty approval OF the work as
already accomplished by the commits
sion and also Of the continuation OF
the work as planned by the commits
sion.
The meeting was occa stoned by the
report that citizens Of Lewiston and Of
towns on the Androscoggin between
that city and Brunswick were to pre-
sent their requests for a State road
between those places the request aris-
ing from the announcement that Maine
was to receive about $4,000 from a
rev appropriation by the Federal gov
eminent for road work and the request
being that the money be expended be-
tween Lewiston and Brunswick. This
request was presented on Wednesday
afternoon at Lewiston.
The Augusta meeting was we'll at
tended-not tremendous crowd, but
a representative delegation Of the Cen
trail Maine citizans--and the views and
wishes Of those citizens were concisely
and ably put. No advice was proffered
70 the men who are building our great
system of roads. for that was unneces-
sary-on the contrary, the solid and
permanent backing and support of all
those people was pledged by every
speaker. 1t was just a .heart-to- heart
bt- he rri,,, fo-
words their belief that the projected
system Of trunk line roads should and
would be continued.
The three members Of the Maine
Highway Commission were present
Philip J. Deerirg, William VI. Aver ana
Frank A. Pea BODY. Chairman Deering
called the meeting t, order al ! 80. re-
marking that he supposed the gentle
men present mad come for the purpose
cf telling the ocmmis sion how 70 build
some roads an they would gladly lis.
ten TO all the arguments and then do
the work according to their very best
judgment and belief for the benefit Of
all the State. He then with smile
Recognized Hon. Charles s Hichborn,
chairman of the committees appointed
by the kennebec towns and cities to
look after the matter
Mr. Hichborr called the commss~
ions attention to The fact that the
gathering was not a mass meeting to
back up the idea o. the continual ion
or the trunk line system, because had
that been necessary the hall could have
been filled so fun Of people that they
would be hanging OFT of the windows
He assured the commission that hose
present had come simply as delegates
Of the great mass Of people. to pre-
sent their views and not to advise in
any way. because the people were all
behind the commission, ,congratulating
il upon the grand work already &C
crmplished and soli'lly behind it in as
sisting in carrying ont its program
which all felt certain was the extend
ing of the trunk line idea.
Mr.. Hickborn introduced Maior John
w. Berry of Gardiner who clearly
presented the story Of the organization
of the Central Maine citizens for the
fnrtherance Of the trunk line system
zach of the cities have boards Of ira de
and other organizations interested and
the outcome Of the talk and interview
was the appointment of committees
who also met and discussed the mat =
ter and what should be done Then the
several committees got together and
also talked 1t over. with result that
the Highway Commission was request
ed to listen to a brief outline Of the
peoples feelings regarding the diver
zion Of any part of any available
moneys from the already established
plans and policy Of the commission.
He assured the commission that the
people We're soldly behind it in the
announced plan of work and that every
reason pointed to the advisa bility OF
continuing it.
Former Governor y. w. Piaisted said
that this idea is broader than section
alism, il is State wide in it's import
ance. He thought the reasons were So
obvious for the building Of great
trunk line from the metropolis Of
Maine through it's principal cities and
central attractions to the eastern part
of the State, that argument was I'M
necessary. The natural inference is
that the great trunl. line shall be con-
tinued and we believe the commission
will do the perfectly right thing. We
know that the commission is doing
largely labor of love. for they are