The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-02-15
SHALL MAINE CONTINUE HIGH.
WAY CONSTRUCTION
The Most Feasible Method of Raising
Funds for That Purpose
BY Prof. Geo. F. Files

and a considerable portion of this
sum has already been anticipated for
work contracted but not yet COM
pleted. What shall we now do to
provide sufficient funds for the con-
struction of our highway work?
Something must be done, and that too
quickly, so that the work which we
have so splend.dly begun may be
completed without undue loss of
time.
One thing is sure-and sure beyond
any reasonable doubt-and that is
that the people of the State of Maine
will never consent to go back to the
"penny-wise and pound foolish" pol
icy of the days before 1913. We have
taken a long stride in adyance-side
by side with the other states in our
nation-in this problem of highway
hesitate or halt in our progress;
much less take any backward steps.
We, in common with other sister
states, recognize the unquestioned
value of good roads and have begun
to gather in the economic returns
from a wise and well managed sys-
TEN Of highway construction. We
are likewise conscious that the gener
al plan under which We have been
inc
has been sound and sane; it has
brought us definite, visible results,
commensurate in every sense with
the money expended This work, so
! well begun, must now be carried to
successful completion. The only
question that now remains to be
solved is How" This is a prob
lem of the immediate present which
concerns every citizen in our state.
The development of our secondary
system of roads for the agricultural
and rural communities is safe. $500,
600 is available annually, under our
present plans, for this purpose. This
money should neither be touched nor
diverted to any other purpose.
How, then, shall we raise the sum
of approximately 100000 annually
for a period Of SIX, eight or ten years
in order to complete the trunk high
ways of our state Our bond issue
yielded about 100000 annually. 1t
is now spent. What method of sub
stitute shall we adopt to continue this
annual income. Failure to devise
some adequate plan will inevitably
throw us back into the chaos and
waste of earlier years.
Various plans have been suggested
for mple:-first, the re.ssuing Of
the bonds as they are retired, from
our present bond issue; second, a
new, general issue capitalized, as re-
CARDS interest and retirement
charges, on direct taxation; third. a
direct block appropriation by our
Legislature of, say, 100000 annual
ly and there are other suggestions
which have been advanced.
Each and every one of the above
plans is open to some serious objec-
ton, even at first glance. The whole
question will be thoroly threshed out,
during the coming weeks, and each
plan will receive its careful and due
consideration
During the last few weeks, how
ever, popular opinion. and popular
choice has been focusing very
strongly on an entirely different and
perhaps more rational plan. This
plan is to continue our construction
by means OF funds raised from the
proceeds Of a mill tax. which would
yield annually about 100000 which
is very nearly the sum which we
could expend annually with the
greatest economy The plan is
ideal. 1t furnishes a definite and
continuous means of providing the
funds which we need.
Inc reasons lot supporting lnlS
proposed plan are many-too many in
fact to be debated at length here. But
some of the more important reasons
may be briefly mentioned.
First, as in the case of our schools
which are supported by similar tax,
the charge for construction and
maintenance of roads is a fixed
charge They are always with us
both of them-and need constant de-
velopment and care. Hence they
should both be developed and main
tanned from a source of revenue
which is regular, constant and def
nitely determined in advance. Other
wise the work of both becomes
scrappy and irregular. The mill tax
yielding regular annual revenue to
be devoted to highway construction
will render it possible to definitely
determine the highway policy OF this
state for ten or twenty years to
come. Any plan which would make
the granting of necessary funds de-
pendent upon the whims and ext
gencies of a biennial legislative as
sembly, is doomed to difficulty in ad-
vance,-and, in all probability to