Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-30

under special resolves or othef special
funds. One million six hundred thou
sand doll-.rs has been expended for
maintenance and about 1884,. 600 for
bridge construction. The gross expendi.
ture Is $S,667.000. For supervising the
expenditure of all this money the COM
missions expense, including all ONCE
and clerical expense, has been $24.000 or
little over two per cent. All engineer.
ing and supervision expenses in the
field have added about another three
per cent. SO that roughly speaking the
overhead expense for conducting this
work has been about Ave per cent,
which compares favorably with similar
expense for any transportation. mercan.
tile, or other commercial undertaking.
Federal Aid and State Bond Issue
In 1916 the federal government provid-
ed an appropriation of s75,00o,oO0 to be
expended over period Of five years,
Tor assisting states in the construction
of their principal thoroughfares OF
this appropriation Maine was entitled 10
draw a total of $23.No of which $50 900
was available prior to July / this year.
The Highway Commission has arranged
~ S<~AAS GA Va IliS S<SOpVVO anu \ohSA0"
erably, over 100000 Of the amount has
been drawn. On the first of July. 1919.
an additional $4,000 was available to
the State from this original appropria-
ton. and on July. l. 1920, so40,0 900 more be-
comes available. At the present time
we cannot apply for the $4,000 as we
have no funds with which to match the
federal governments apportionment.
In March, 1919, the federal govern
ment made an additional $500. 900
available for federal aid. and for the
rast three months the State of Maine
has been entitled to apply for s4S1.Ooo
of this money, and on the first day of
July. 1919. we could apply for s7H.s47
more. Due to want of funds for State
highway construction. we have not and
cannot apply against either Of these
amounts. On the first day of July.
1890 an additional 721,s47 will he avail
a BILE. Altogether. from the original fed
eral ali appropriation and the new ap-
Maine is entitled to $685.
1856 SO and we have only applied for $780,
161 80. This leaves practically So, 100000
of federal aid which the State can have
between now and July 1. 1920. provided
we are in position to match this money
with State funds. The bond issue au-
by the last Legislature and to
be voted upon on tire second Monday of
September, offers the only opportunity
for accepting the federal governments
very generous offer of aid as outlined
above. Apportionments of federal aid
stand for IL months and if not taken by
the State to which the apportonment 8
originally made, the money is re-
apportioned to other states. ConSe-
quently, between now and July l. 1920.
Maine must be prepared to file applica-
tons against all of this money. except
a about ss62, 1000. and we will have an adai-
t:onal u months on the apporuonmen,s
made on July l. 1920.
1t is the intention Of the State High
way Commission, provided the bond
issue is passed, to Immediately request
the Secretary Of Agriculture to approve
the entire State highway system as
federal aid road. and the commission
has had unofficial assurance that this
will be done. In this case federal aid
will be used in prosecuting the recon-
struction of all State highways, and t
is estimated by the commission that
four or FIVE years at the outside will see
every mile Of State highway now laid
out completed.
Tteze points should be borne in naird
about the bond issue: 1t is designed 10
provide money for the construction Of
State highways, intra- and interstate
bridges. The bonds will be issued only
as they are required.
If this bond issue is authorized it will
make possible the acceptance of further
federal aid which undoubtedly will be
granted b. the federal government. as
bills are already in Congress asking for
further federal aid appropriations 10
supplement those already PROVIDED
which will expire in 1921. If the State
is obliged to agitate a bond issue every
few wears to meet federal aid it means
that we shall lose one whole seasons
work of road construction each time
bond issue is being discussed.
There is one point in connection with
the federal aid which should be borne IN
mind; Chief Engineer Paul D. Sargent.
of the State Highway Department. tas
been told by no less an authority than
W. j. Thompson. master of the State
Grange and ex-member of the Board of
State Assessors. that of all federal tax
alton the State of Maine pays about
one per cent 1t is a curious coinci-
dence, but Of the federal aid for ROAD
building the State of Maine is entitled
to draw practically one per cent. This
means that if we do not accept federal
aid now available we shall lose not on
Nv the amount of the federal aid but we
shall pay in federal taxation an equal
amount, so that we will lose practically
twice the amount of federal aid which
we can have. provided the bond issue
is passed.
To summarize: Let us remember that
the State Highway Commission is at
tempting to first complete the f1ve and
one-half per cent of our mileage in
cluded in the system Ct State highways.
At the same time the State and towns
together are rebuilding an additional Il
per cent of our mileage comprised II
the State aid highway system. Each OF
thes, systems is about one-half COM
pleted. These two systems together will
directly benefit and accommodate IS per
cent to 80 per cent of our population.
The federal government Is Offering us
today nearly N,50c.o0o to expend on our
State highway system. and on July l.
1890, will offer us $4,000 more for the
same purpose. People who have made
a study of the situation declare that
Maine cannot afford not to take this
money. Other States will get it II
Maine does not. The bond issue for