Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-13
n. ID. Colcord on Special
Resolves for Bridge Aid

y. u. Cocord of Portland who had
much to do with the framing and en-
actment Of the bridge law now on the
statute books. providing for State and
county aid in bridge building. has the
following to say as to the introduction
of resolves for special aid at the pres
cnt session Of the Legislature:
THE bridge law which was enacted
by the Legislature in 1915 and APP
proved in the following September by
the voters, places bridge building on a
plane level with modern methods of
road building in Maine. Few of the
vexing problems that have confronted
Maine legislators in the past 10 years
have resulted in better solutions that
in the laws giving supervision and con-
troll of State roads to State Highway
Commission and of bridges to q Joint
commission the. State highway board
commissioners of counties and muni-
cipal officers of cities and towns COM
blnCd.
1T was the opinion of the committee
~ VANS and bridges in the last session
that the bill was practical, progress
sive and equitable measure. Members
from various parts of the State, from
cities and towns, large and small, big
counties and little counties. were unit
in sienifying their approval to the vari-
Gus features which We're incorporated.
1t received every vote in each house
and not the scratch of pen was made
in way of amendment. Moreover and
relatively of greater importance, was
the manifestation of approval last Sep
TENDER when votes in opposition were
scattering.
"While it would be unfair to ask the
committee of this session. undoubtedly
composed of men who are just as zeal
Gus in their endeavor to do the right
thing in every instance, it does seem to
one who was in the House two years
ago and closely in touch with the vari
Gus stages through which this bin
passed, as though extreme caution
ought to be exercised in extending spe-
cial aid until a test of the new law has
been made Few indeed are the towns
and rare indeed the extremity when
town can rightfully ask aid when the
law now operative gives such liberal
aid.
THE town is to pay So county 80
and State 20 per cent under this law.
Adding each towns share OF county
and State tax to the so would give
maximum of less than 55 per cent for
building a bridge for which otherwise
the town, or city, would be burdened
100 per cent.
at may be true that this law does
not go far enough in some instances.
There may be towns so destitute, with
staggering loads of debt, impoverished
farms. deserted villages, Invested of
taxable property by these modern
monsters, portable mills. or otherwise.
To such I would most cheerfully en-
dorse State aid by special resolve but it
must be that these are very rare cases
and that any town which is able to save
substantially half the cost of big
bridge will accept the generous pro-
visions of the new law gladly.
Wise and continuous expenditure Of
funds in the combination provided to
the maximum amount means $500, 900
year for new bridges. Keeping pace
will mean in few years State equip
ment for all sorts of traffic, whether
automobiles for pleasure or business or
the ordinary usage of roads by other
vehicles, will mean a class of advertis-
ing which will result in a genuine
boom and consequent prosperity for
the State even to it's most remote
districts. Such was the motive which
inspired those who advocated the