Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-26

tJaekman to Redwood. 8.93 miles, and
1 when completed. all but one mile now
being done. about $4,000 would remain.
A 4.rod right of way had been cleared
and a 2o-foot strip had been grubbed
for the entire length OF 3114 miles.
Chief Engineer Sargent was asked TO
explain why a special appropriation
was asked TO complete the road, when
the LEGISLATURE OF 1915 had approprl-
ated s22,5oo for that purpose.
Mr.. Sargent stated that after the ad-
iournment of the Legislature IN 1919
to nc exact on April q. 1915 there was
sert to the Office Of the Maine High
way Commission copy OF an estimate
that had been made up for the Kicker
Hotel Company by civil Engineer
Hsnry r. Hill of Augusta. who had
surveved - road from Jacknan to the
canada road near the foot OF Lake
P3rlin showing that in November. 1913.
the estimated cost of grading this road
was tSa79s anc this survey was Tor
only 22Ss miles of the now road. ana
an estimated cost for the competed
road ~ slt3,
senator fonant 'hairinan OF Inc
ways and bridges committee OF the
Legislature Of 49,. who was also
chairman Of the same committee AT
the .cssion Of 49,. and who heard the
statement. Of the proponents OF lhe
nm in iaIi. asked why that estimate
was not presented before the COIL
rnjttc, at the ~ hearing.
Mr. Sargent replied that the FIRST ne
tad heard or known Of the estimate
mentioned was when II w"S orohsht
to the oftice Of the Highway fonlmis-
sion on April -. 1915. after the 40
iournment ~ the legislature
chief Engineer Sargent then stated
that as soon ~ tho 1913 legislative ap-
propriation became available he hau
4 survey made from Jackman to Rock
wood hN tic sam" "iNil engineer
HENRY +. I'm ~ Augusta. and that the
after estimate. made on the OASIS OF
labor conditions Of August l9i''
4hcvcd that tie probable cost OF the
proposed road would be slJ1 ISL
Mr. Sargent also explained that 'he
survey from Jackman to lockwood
cnmpreheuds the use OF only about :
miles ~ the so-,alled HollinGsWorth II
whitney road. whereas the survey
mentioned by the way OF Lake Parlin
follows the Hollingsworth * Whitney
road for about So miles.
chief Engineer Sargent stated 10 tn"
comraittcc that his estimate -: the
,r,t 10 the completion of the Jack
r,an Lockwood road is III round num-
hers si"oo6".
Discussion ~ the asked for S5oo0n
for maintenance and administration
etc brought tho question rs TO wheth-
,. = that amount could not lac taken
from tlc incomc from the automobile
Itczirtratinu ana IT was answered h>
chairman poC' nc that he Thought II
could hc This would remove that item
rom the appropriation charged against
the department
senator Bartlett asked Nnaf hAd
heen tho coat 90 administration Of the
department ami chef Euginccr Sar-
gc,t referred tho committee 20 the lalJ
report ~ tho Highway commission,
Pages i.-l7, showing the complete
financial statcIn,nt az the operations
fci 1914 and l9l5.
Tho administration account FOR 1914
was St'6ts.6 Ia This was included
about S3boo FOR automobile detectives
aud autnmohll' plates The admins
tration expense NJ 1915 WAS $28 AS : .
aud for 1915 IL was 81, .i02. 10 showing a
.tesdN decrease
ln pcrs1utAR,~. the supervision for
lgti. coy erin all the expenses of adj
mInistratIon. engineering and inspeC-
ZION Of every rhme and nature. was
oGs ~ the expenditures supervised by
the department. IN 1915 it was .067.
From circular No 81. published oct.
= 1915 hv the United States Depart
rrent uf Agriculture. similar data from
~ statc~ show an average for the cost
~ administration and maintenance i'm
state highway work amountinr to over
$50 mn o0u or ose
The matter Of tho taking caro- Of the
COZ: ~ maintenance b. the ,tutomo-
title registration receipts led tn the
question ~ to whether tho commission
favored the present method of hand :
ling the automobile registration or
would advi it, tranSferrenCe to the
fiighwa, Department and chairman
lieerinE stated that by ali means the
Highway department should the super
vision Tho departments star ana en-
ployes Wa IN - position to do far bet
ter and closer work with the thous-
ands 81 autos travelling IN our state
than few detectives. although the
latter ha1 done rood work our high
way patrols are better fitted To enforce
ihc hws as to proper plates. etc. and
could also attend better to the drunk
- driN cra matter. a serious PROPOSE
ton There is also no reason why y
man able to own an nutomohilc should
not 4" able Z" nay his tax at . reason :
sole time. say Ma>, when The roads are
~ opened mp and not wait until July
or later The money should also he
7NailahlC for immediate use and
not held ~ unll the following first of
January of each year. as has been
done for The raSt two years Nv the
Governor and Council.
Mr. Dccring complimented the effici-
"nct Of the Automobile Bureau dur
Ing the past year. under the direction
of chief Harold =. Davis and Cashier
charles T.. SturteNant. He also had
every reason to think that the auto
business could easily he transferred
and cared for In his department
Mr. Deering thought We have sum
Gent state aid for highway work but
agreed with the Governor and others
that there should be more elasticity in
The law, allowing the application Of
~ he