Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-12-04

meet with you and TO briefly review
the accomplishments Of the Com
mission during the past SIX years
and to outline some Of our future
plans.
The history of improved road
legislation in this State 10 largely the
results Of the efforts Of this associa-
ton The State Highway Commits
sion was not organized until this as
ISOLATION began to take an active
hand in road legislation. The origi-
nal bond issue for highways would
not have been possible without the
aid of this association Patrol main
tenance on State and State aid high
ways could not have been ac-
compiished without your assistance.
One year ago at the annual meet
ing it was my privilege to lay before
the association a brief outline of the
Federal Aid program Of the Govern
ment and to point out that unless
some steps were taken to obtain ad-
ditional State funds We would lose a
very considerable amount of money
which the Federal Government stood
ready to put into highway construc-
ton in this State. The officers of
this association rendered very ma
terial assistance in presenting this
matter to the legislature and in edu-
eating the voters before the Septem-
Der election, and l am sure it is
gratifying to all Of US to recall that
the vote for increasing the bonded
Indebtedness for State highways was
the largest vote cast at the Septem-
Der election and that the majority
registered in favor Of this proposition
was by far the largest majority
recorded for any question voted OF at
that time, this Notwithstanding the
fact that the highway question was
the last one on the ballot.
The committee in charge OF this
dinner have asked me to review the
you what we hope to accomplish.
/ am afraid the past accomplish
ments Of the Commission are an old
story to some Of you. blu l believe
We cannot too often repeat the out
standing features of that work
Briefly summarized. / may say the
Commission has laid out a system Of
State highways which comprises five
and one-half per cent of Ii entire
mileage. This system connects about
two hundred and forty Of u cities
and towns, in which r found 70
per cent Of our population, according
to the latest census. and 70 per cent
Of the valuation of the State. OF
this system about 40 miles have
been rebuilt as State highway at an
expenditure of 5 $500. 000. During
the same time We have reconstruct
ed 935 miles of State aid highways at
an expenditure of 1900. 900. OF this
mileage about 800 miles have been
constructed on the State highway
system, % that today We have sub
st~antially one-half Of our State high
way system which is improved road.
During the last four years We have
| maintained patrol maintenance on all
of the State and State aid highways,
! both improved and unimproved Sec
tons. During the present yea We
have employed SIS patrolmen ana
have expended about 100000 in car
! ing for some 400 miles Of roads.
! In the last three years we have re-
| built, in cooperation with towns and
| counties, about 100 bridges on main
| highways. Practically all of these
| bridges have been built of reinforced
| concrete, so that there win be no
| future maintenance expense. Dur
ing the present year applications were
received for bridge assistance total
ing twice the amount of the States
| available funds. The special session
Of the legislature has taken care Of
this matter by providing 100000 Of
bond money which can be drawn
upon next year, for bridges, so We
shall be prepared to enlarge our
bridge program very materially dur
! ing 1920.
The plans for State highway con-
%struction for next year contemplate
the construction of practically $50
miles of road and an expenditure of
about $4,000. 000. one-half OF which
we expect to get from the Federal
| Government as Federal Aid. The
only thing that will prevent the ex-
ecution Of this program will be in
| ability to secure contractors and
laborers. Surveys are made for the
| whole $50 miles and plans and
! specifications are o being pre-
pared for the work. We hope to ad-