Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-11-03

TO Mr.. Charles S. Brown, Superintend-
ent of Buildings. and Major E. E.
Philbrook, for their untiring efforts
in arranging and getting ready for
this meeting. and. 10 the kennebec
Journal. the medium which carries the
good things we are enjoying TO the
folks back home, for their full and
splendid reports of these meetings.
VALUE of Real Estate Affected by
Highways.
This subjectawas treated in the ad-
dress of Lyman H. Nelson. member Of
the State Highway Commission and
was heard with close attention.
The speaker expressed recognition
of the difficulties attending the as
SCISSORS job and lacking as he does
rules and statutes for a guide:
The assessor sails his ship of duty
upon the open, uncharted sea of judg-
ment and common sense. Nowhere is
this more obvious than in determin-
ing the value of land-a value which
has grown and changed with CEN
turies. and has many constituent ele-
ments. And one of these clements
namely the highway upon which the
land is located. is today our subject
for consideration.
Accessibility is but one Of many
elements. AS civilization gained in
years so it gained in the complicated
demands Of man, and land first chos-
Zen because of its accessibility became
more or less desired for other reas-
ons-because of its unusual fertility.
or its better growth of timber or its
valuable mineral deposits And still
later there came along the newer
values. caused by the proximity of
land TO other things Of value. like a
water power or q school or church.
Until now in this year of grace. 1921,
we find the value of land to be based
upon a vast multitude of clements
catering to all the wants and needs
Of mankind. 4 good water supply
an efficient fire department. q coll
lege-a big manufacturing plant make
one towns land worth more than
that Of a nearby town having none
of these things.
Steam railroad extension could not
80 on forever. The big units of ter
ritorN soon became pretty well cover
Cd. 1t does not pay-it is quite i'm
practical to send railroads every
twhere. and unless some other form
Of transportation had been devised wc
would have long since reached the
limit in this direction.
Put now comes the ea-er human
mind searching for better things and
produces wh2t-a nov farce-a now
pronellins rowcr-the gasoline motor.
This highway Ccvclonment cannot
he carried on bv private enterprise
nor by corporations. It must be dome
by the State and SO VIC IS a State
find ourselves now we'll embarked un-
on this great undertaking. We are
trying TO tie our rcilroa1r. our rivers.
our shipping rorts to-ctIlcr by- high
Tavs 50 rs t. eventually render all
part. Of our domain acce ssible. We
are spending rronn- with a lavish
hand to accomplish this purpose. Do
YOU realize that Mai.n and the rcopln
OF Maine arn rrOho bi'- making n
:,rc2tcr Investment in this new svs-
tom Of transportation than al the
former systems confined? While
exact figures ere not available it is
probably true that Maine has invested
in her 10000 AUTOMOBILES $50. no0 600. :
900: in garages probably $50 on0.-
cocoon !:ore. Add to this if YOU nlcase
the public investment during the last
$ Yeas in highways Of annroximate-
Nv $4,000. 200 000 and then consider
The capital locked uD in stocks Of
tires and automobile accessories, and
yOu will have altocether a sum
probably greater than the entire in
vestment within our State in rail-
road and steamboat lines I do not
say this in any sense OF GiSDara GO
ment of railroad investment. hut as
showing TO what enormous rropor-
tions this new thn~ has grown. end
. still further justify. If necd thcvo
he. tho continuing investment on the
part Of the State in good roads.
Now while this great work is be-
ing carried on as State cnternrfse.
and its BENEFITS reach everv irdivid-
ual. there is another benefit or class
of benefits. which are distinctly local
in character. and OF which the local
community should take full advan-
tace.
mean the enhanced value Of land
abuttinG on or adjacent to the i'm
proved highways
If accessibility is a basic value in
land, then rs this acce ssibilitv in
creases value Of land must increase.
Nhen winding. muddy road is
changed into a straight. hard road,
every acre Of adjoining land is more
easily reached, the cost Of hauling
to and from that land is reduced, its
value IS greater. Not only may
greater loads be hauled more quick
~ than before. thus reducing the di-
rect cost per ton-mile. but crops may
be marketed when the owner de-
sires, not alone when the road per
mits. An orchard or a pota,o farm
located upon an improved road is
more valuable than another equally
productive but upon a poor road, not
only because of less ton-miIe cost of
transportation, but because the crop
can be marketed when the price is
best
think one of the most interesting
phases Of this question is that of the
new uses to which land may be put
because of the improved road. For
instance poor roads limit tie radius
within which truck farms near a city
may be conducted with profit. Cost
of delivery is big item, and just as
this cost goes down by reduced haul