Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-09-02
Read fiearins at Rumford.


A hearing regarding the road situation
In Oxford County which was certainly
Interesting, and Illuminating In express
ing the county sentiment, however 1t
may or may not be productive of results,
was held In the municipal hall ut Rum
ford last Tuesday. The hearing was ap-
pointed by the state highway commits
sion on petition of numerous citizens OF
the county, and Chairman Philip j.
Deering and William II. Aver OF the
commission, and Paul D. Sargent, chief
engineer, were present.
Interest in the matter was shown by
the attendance of between 100 and $50
citizens from all parts of central and
eastern Oxford County, and the active
part they took in the proceedings. The
affair was partly formal and partly In
formal, indeed, at times toward the close
of the hearing, two and occasionally
three men were endeavoring to talk at
once.
A. z. Stearns of Rumford presented to
the commission the desires of the petit
TONERS as to the road work in Oxford
County. he said in part that what Oxford
County is specially interested in is the
completion OF roads which will afford to
the citizens communication between the
several parts of the county, and not so
much what will afford communication
of parts of this county with other coun-
ties in the state, or other states. For
this purpose we feel that Oxford County,
which has not had large share in the
work so far done by the state commits
sion, should ask for the completion OF
state highway s, running in the county
from Oxford through Norway, Paris,
Bethel and other towns, and state high
way o, which is laid out from Auburn
through Turner, Livermore and Canton
to Rumford. 1t is also felt that there
should be added to the system of state
highways the road from Rumford
through a corner of Bethel and Milton
Plantation, to meet the established state
road at Cole Hill in Woodstock, as this
is the most direct route between Paris
and Rumford, the two shire towns OF the
county.
Chairman Deeriug of the commission,
in response outlined the general policy
and plan of the commission. There Is
now laid out system of state highways
or trunk lines of 1850 miles. The COM
mission is acting on the assumption that
all these are to be built. 1t Is the inten-
ton to do the work thoroughly and con-
tinuously, not by patches. II the pro.
posed constitutional amendment is
adopted and provision is made for the
issue of the necessary bonds for the pur-
pose, there will be available from the
federal government two million and
half of road money. This must be
matched BY the state dollar for dollar,
and all must be expended on the trunk
lines. To make this available the first
necessary step is to adopt the amendment
authorizing the issuing of bonds. 1t is
expected that the policy of the national
will be continued, and that
additional sums will later be available,
and with this it is considered probable
that the system of state roads now laid
out can be completed in five-year build
ing program. Incidentally Chairman
Deering paid his respects to the legisla-
ture, which saw fit to spend the state
road money in special appropriations,
many Of them unnecessary and waste
full.
Mr.. Deering stated frankly that Ok
ford County had not had its share In the
road construction of the past two years,
but that this was wholly on account OF
the war, tho national government insist
ing that what construction was done dur
ing the war should be on roads that were
of more value for war purposes.
Following Mr.. behring's talk. there
was a general discussion, in which men
from various parts of the county partici-
pated, and in which several phases OF
the road question were presented. Mr..
Deering being asked the direct question
as to what the commission proposed to
do in Oxford County next year If the
bond issue went through, answered that
they proposed to build about ten miles
of highway o, and few miles OF high
way S, from the end OF the present con-
In Oxford to Norway. Asked
as to where the work on highway 0
would be done, be answered that 1t
would naturally be from Auburn, as the
general policy was to build out from the
largest centers first.
This drew out considerable protest, 1t
being pointed out that that ten miles
was in Audroscoggin County, and that
IL the plan was carried out, all the con-
struction Oxford County would get in
the course of three years would be the
short stretch in Oxford and Norway. 1t
was urged that in order to make an eqni-
table distribution, Oxford County was
entitled to considerable more, and that
the construction on highway 0 should
either begin at the Rumford end or extend
both ways from the county line, between
the towns of Canton and Livermore.
Chairman Deering was asked II he
came from Portland that morning by
way of the road through Milton, and
answered that he did not; he went
around by way of the state highway
through Bethel village. 1t Was urged
BY a number that this piece between
Woodstock and Rumford is an important
link between the main lines of the sys-
tenn already laid out, and that its i'm
provement is badly needed, and will not
be expensive. -.
Chairman Deeripg admitted that 1t
had not been definitely decided yet
where the work on state highway 0
should be done. BE did not agree with
the expression of some Of those present
that the omission of work In Oxford
County for the past two years entitled
US to more than q proportionate share
next year. he kept his good humor
under all conditions, but he made no
promises, and he held fast to the policy
of assuming that all the trunk lines are
to be completed, and that those laid out
should be completed before any addi-
tions to the system are made.
The whole hearing occupied nearly
two hours, and was only terminated by
the dinner hour being overdue.
A Change in Industries.
The factory in the former Grange Hall
on Hill Street. South Paris, is to be occu'