Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-25

usueb OOssuuOou
SPEECH FAvOR!NG
ROADS BOND ISSUE
Former ConsressEnan Frank Z. Guerra
sey spoke as follows at the Good
roads meeting On FRIDAY IN watervills.
Former CongressmAn Frank =.
Guernsey In common with the other
speakers at the Good Roads meeting in
watsrviiie ON Friday. spoke enthusiast
tieally In favor Of the proposed $4,000. :
900 bond issue for that purpose He
said. in part:
The citixans Of Maine hays q chance
neat month IN the special sisetion 70
seize An opportunity to do somsthing
for our State IN . broad way BY ratify-
ing the $1o.ooe.ooo highway bond issue
acted upon by the last Legis-
lature and believe they wiz II the
question 10 properly put before the pub
lie. Let every one Of M % our paft
and do something for this good old
State now.
For half a century the population 81
this State has been practically At q
stand still. In that period she has
gained little more than 4 1oe,0oo in
numbers, q gain that 10 Tar less than
the natural increase through birth rate.
Her sons and daughters have departed
nearly as fast as they have ar
rived at their majority. they have
gone to every state In the Union
where their energy, skill and brains
have aided In the Development Of the
great states to the S6uth and west Of
M. Nearly every state In the Union ex-
cept Maine has made great strides in
its population while we have stood still
Maine. s4th state. once ranked Eth In
the states Of the Union but has steadily
dropped In the rank Of states - to
population and now stands the 54th IN
the Republic.
We are next year to celebrate the
Tooth anniversary Of the admission Of
this State into the Union. It h time to
make new plans ana adopt new policies
kkN8t PUT oa C1V W hnS8 VIVA" - "
course. Policies should be adopted that
viii invite outside capital and encourage
cur citizens to develop our vast natural
resources. and harmful agitation should
be halted. Every power and help that
the State can wisely extend should o.
granted and extended to develop ths
agricultural interest Of this greai
state. that an end may be put to the
condition that now exists that compelf
US to depend on the rails and import
half what we eat. 1t il within the
power Of the State to greatly correc,
this condition.
Agriculture development IL dependent
on roads. Construction Of more rail.
roads Is unlikely to be undertaken m
the near future, and owing TO our great
area the farm must be accommodated
by highways that will enable the hors<
drawn load to pass to its full capacity
and facilitate the passage Of the motor
truck and vehicle with the creates,
ease.
The practical value Of good roads VA
| once fofcibly impressed on me. had I
| good team some years ago and use<
| tuch OuC l0Ai Ia aooAln8 RISSScO uk41
from Orneville to Dover and VA
proud that they were able to handl,
two tons at load. sold the horse.
i and they went to New York where
later saw them. hauling with equal cas-,
loads that weighed six tons. It wa.
the same, team but a difference in road,
and made for a tremendous reduction
in cost Of transportation by highway Ii
New York over a road in Maine.
The Bond Issue
The proposed bond issue will maxi
possible the road development in Main,
that will provide the State with 4 high
way system that viii bring more direc
benefit to the farm and the State as 1
whole than the expenditure Of a lik,
amount many times over. Not only VII
1t lower the cost Of transportation ant
| travel by our citizens but It Will brinf
to this State thousands Of visitors VII,
will annually leave millions Of dollar,
that they will spend within our borders
due to our healthful summer climate
our lakes, our extended coast, and uu
equalled hunting and fishing. Nor,
tran any. other state in the East, Main.
is in q position to profit by good roads
By the proposed bond issue one Main
dollar will be able to do the work o.
two by enabling the State to take ad
vantage OF the offer Of the Fedora
Government to match every dolia
Maine puts up for road construction {,
the limit Of the Federal appoftionfnefi,
Failure to take advantage OF this one
not only means loss Of Federal none.
for Maine roads but the payment o
Federal taxes by Maine people that vii
&c to build roads in other states.
Rarely has this State received federA
aid such as other states have, enjoyed
We have not always planned for 1t, o
called for our share. Almost unc6unte,
millions have been Appropriated BY tn
Federal government for the benefit q
rivers in the south ana west. FIT,
millions is nov under consideration 70
the Mississippi river. Millions upo1
millions have been granted for project
in the West. Great government work
have been erected IN Maryland NOR
favored locations than our own, bu
now the Federal government offers {,
| extend millions On our highway II ",
will only do our part.
Maine savings institutions have /,
splendid record. Their record for tn,
security Of their depositors ID aihAos
without blemish. They have en-
courassd savings ana hold greatly II
excess Of s1eo.ooo,ooo OF the AvSfAg,
citissn't money. but unfortunately thej
have found 1t nscees4fy to ma invest
rnents for this money very largely out,
side Of the State Of Maine. where it M,
gane tn dos.olos. x,a.,..-s..Afxa-a - a ].