Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-05

where.
The Auburn Chamber of Commerce
was represented by A. Q. Miller V. s.
Darling and H. j. Rounds. the Lewis
: ton Chamber of Commerce by Roy F.
Leach. Harry S. Coombs, L. j. Brann
and Hiram w. Kicker, the Augusta
Chamber of Commerce by Albert w.
Brooks, Arthur n. Soule and Charles
S. Hichborn and the Portland Cham
Der of Commerce by Alexander T.
Laughin. the president. George F.
West and Smith Rumery.
Harry s. Coombs of Lewiston said
this meeting was called to see what
could be done to hasten the construc-
ton of the road from Auburn to
Portland. Last fall. said Mr. COMBS,
assurance was given that the road
from Danville to Portland as well as
the one from Lewiston to Lisbon Falls
would be completed this year.
Hiram W. Kicker OF Poland Spring
said that although it seems impos-
slble TO complete the road between
Auburn and Portland inside of two
years because Of the transportation
and labor problems. yet he thought
that steps should be taken to i'm
mediately put the road in temporary
repair. spending money on detours
and keeping those detours in good
shape will make peaceful people,
, and this particular road and its con-
ditions means a great deal to the
tourists who come to Maine" said
! Mr.. Kicker.
Chairman Aver said that the high
way commission had never spent
, much money on detours, although the
! commission was willing to put money
in detours if there was any authority
, to do SO.
VIII your commission ask the gov
ernor and council for funds to look
after this road" asked Mr.. Kicker
We will be glad to do So" replied
Chairman Aver.
Chief Engineer Sargent said that il
was Impossible to get men to work
| on those roads until after haying was
! over.
We have twice as much work
! which our trucks can do this season, u
, said Mr.. Sargent.
| is there any job any more import
ant than the road between Auburn
and Portland" asked Mr.. Kicker.
Il do not think So" replied Mr.. Sar-
gent.
/ ton said that the situation as to the
road between Auburn and Portland
! needs speedy remedy.
! Aiexande T. Laugh,in. president OF
! the Portland Chamber of Commerce
said the fact ought to be realized that
! the big traffic by automobile comes
through Portland. This year. said
! Mr.. Laughlin, the State road from
| Portland to the White Mountains and
the State road from Portland to
| Poland Spring. are both closed. and
, right in the height of the summer
/ travel.
Hon. Charles S. Hichborn of Au.
| gusta said that he would like to see
| the State gridironed with good roads
| He hoped that the Auburn Portland
| road would be built as soon as pos
sibzle, but he realized that the com
mission was working under a great
handicap.
Mr.. Sarsent's Statement
I; Paul D. Sargent. chief engineer OF
the State highway commission, made
the following statement as to the gen
eral road situation:
The following information, which
is typical of conditions in Maine as
we'll as elsewhere, is presented:
First: A letter received Wednes-
day morning from a large contractor
in Boston who has a contract taken
last December for a section of State
highway in Enfield. implorinG the
Commission TO secure for him a car
load of cement and a carload Of
soft coal. Apparently he has search
ed the market and he cannot find
either and he cannot operate his
steam shovel nor his steam roller
nor can he carry on cement culver'
work.
Second: A letter received Tues
day morning by the Commission from,
a doctor in Boston. Mass, who has
been touring Maine and wishes C
express his appreciation of the good
roads that he found everywhere in
the State This writer il so interest
ed that he has asked for an account
of the expenditures made in 1919 by
the Highway Commission and has
been furnished with full information
Third: Extracts from a statemen,
made by Honorable Thomas H. Mac
Donald, Chief Of the Bureau Of Pub
lie Roads Of the l.. S. Department
Of Agriculture. before the Interstate
Commerce Commission on July :.
when representatives of the state
highway departments assembled in
Washington in an attempt to &c.
from the Interstate Commerce Con,
mission assurance of satisfactory
car service for carrying On highway
construction and maintenance work
The following extracts are taken
from Mr.. MacDonald's statement be-
fore the Commission:
''On the first OF May Of this year.
to give you a summary,-the Fed
eral Government and the states had
agreed upon a program of road con-
struction amounting to more than
1900 miles of all types. OF that
amount We had placed under con-
tract approximately 5000 miles. or
a little less than half OF that $4,000
miles we had completed approx
mately 1000. In other words, on the
first day of May there was to COM
plete 5000 miles or one-third Of the
/ program which ~e had ereaa ,,con