Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-05

work which Will De Undertaken IN
1920 provided the State bond issue
proposed by the Legislature is passed
on favorably by the voters on the
second Monday Of September.
The commission has, at the pres
ent time, plans and specifications
completed for about 100000 worth of
new construction which it was hoped
could be done the present year. The
most Of this is located on the federal
aid highway, and if the State was in
a position to finance this work one
half the cost would be refunded by the
federal government. An indicated
dertaken as no money is available for
this work.
1t is confidently expected that the
bond issue will carry and. in this
event, we should have about 100000
coo available for State highway con-
struction during the next four or five
years. and it is believed this amount
will be sufficient to complete the en-
tire mileage Of State highways as at
present laid out. 1t is realized. how
ever, that unless the friends of good
roads rally to the support of the bond
issue that it may not be passed. All
who are interested in the completion
of the State highway system. should
lose no opportunity to talk and work
for the bond issue.
Considerable interest has centered
on the program of State aid construc-
ton for this year. The mere state
ment that applications received at
the State Highway Department on
April 18th. the closing day for re-
ceiving applications. amount to $780,
900 will indicate the general interest
that is being taken in road improve
ment. The States appropriation for
State aid amounts to only $780, 900.
Consequently it was necessary, after
allowing one full years apportion-
ment to all towns applying, to deter
mine upon some policy for handling
extra amounts of State aid. The law
directs that towns which have not
previously enjoyed the benefits of aG-
ditional State aid shall be given
preference in this matter. Conse-
quently the State Highway Commits
sion apportioned to such towns the
full amount of extra aid called for,
and to cities and towns which had
previously applied the Commission
apportioned $3.50 of the amount ap-
piled for. This used up the total
appropriation Of 100000.
In visualizing. the amount Of work
that can be accomplished under State
aid, it should be remembered that
the cities and towns are required to
appropriate an aomunt about one
third less than is furnished by the
state, so that this appropriation will
total nearly 100000. Furthermore,
on account of the shortage of labor
during the last two seasons it has
been impossible for many towns to
undertake their State aid construc-
ton work. On this account there is
about 100000 of State aid joint fund
uncxpended coming forward from
previous years. 1t is thought by the
Commission that arrangements can
be made to practically clean up all of
the old appropriations and to cx-
pend economically all Of this years
money If this is possible. a marked
improvement should be noted in the
State aid or feeder roads.
Another indication of the general
interest in road improvement is the
fact that many towns which received
special resolves for roads and bridges
from the Legislature have requested
that they be allowed to undertake the
work at once, and that they are ready
to put up not only the amount Of
money which they must furnish in or
der to receive the resolve, but to pro-
<~se Nf "a of
the work as we'll and wait until the
States money is available for reim-
bursement.
Petition received by the State
Highway Commission for State and
county aid in the building and re-
building of bridges are nearly suf-
ficient to exhaust the States appro-
priation. This is another indication
of the desire and interest for better
roads and bridges.
The commission plans and is ar
ranging as fast as possible for a
larger maintenance program. The
spring has opened so early and the
country roads have been so bad that
it is very difficult for the supervisors
Of the department to cover their
towns and arrange for patrolmen.
Many boards of selectmen have writ
ten to the Highway Commission COM
planning about the delay in the COM
mencing of the patrol service.
In this connection it is interesting
to bear in mind that last season the
commission employed $50 patrolmen
in caring for 1880 miles of road in
467 cities and towns. The gross ex-
penditure for this work was about
sOO6. 900 of which the State paid prac-
tically two thirds Of the cost.