Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-08
Friday, July 8, 1921
HOW REMOVE OBJECTIONABLE
FEATURE?


Gardiner is for the most part, SO bad
il constitutes very Objectionable
feature to all who have occasion to
use it, The Objectionable feature is
soon to be more widely advertised,
not to say mathematical when the
road between Augusta and Waterville
is completed Then with the excep-
ton Of this stretch of highway be-
tween HalloWel and Gardiner there
will be from Boston to Bangor a very
inviting road to motorists. Many
Will take advantage of il and in so
doing will come and go with a very
poor opinion of anyone in anyway
responsible for this poor stretch of
road in kennebec county. Like other
humans they will he unreasonably
fault finding. but it will be difficult
TO make even the reasonable under
stand why such a short bit of the
great highway should be left in such
deplorable condition.
All this serves 70 emphasize an
evident lack Of appreciation Of the
need Of greater effort to maintain
roads after they are built. IT is only
few years ago when it was being
argued that by building the maca-
dam road the road expense to the
community was being lessened, as the
up-keep would be less. greater
fallacy would be hard to conceive.
from the better roads, but all advan-
tages have to be paid for; they are
not secured without effort
The writer recalls a conversation
with an officer in the service over
seas, who, also being a motorist, ap-
preciates the value of good roads
France, he said. had it all over this
country in the matter of roads. The
up-keep is persistently and consist
emily looked after During the ter
rible shortage of men occasioned by
the war care was taken of the high
after the armistice in riding to Yer
dunn one found the highway in ex-
-cellent condition. In France they
would not think of dumping load of
material into the road, there to be
unevenly and slovenly distributed.
but by the roadside. No pieces of
turf would be allowed in the road
The weak spots are attended to as
soon as they make their appearance.
Readers of the Journal may recall
communication in it's columns from
the States chief engineer under date
of May 18th, ult. saving among other
things that The Highway Commits
sion is very much disturbed at the
present moment on account of the
fact that it appears that we shall
have to take off all of our extra
crews which during the last two or
three seasons we have kept busy with
the resurfacing of State highways.
This will mean that practically
no resurfacing Of gravel roads will
take place this season, except what
can be done by the patrolmcn. This
matter was brought to the attention
OF the Legislature repeatedly but no
immediate relief was afforded [
certainly hope that We shall not have
lowing many miles of our splendid
gravel State highways to deterorate
before the public wakes up to the
fact that money must be furnished
for maintenance"
1t is high time the public wakes
up, not only TO the need Of constant
mainten; nee Of the gravel highways,
but OF the macadam roads az we'll,
otherwise they soon deteriorate into
condition where travelling over
them is much like riding over d rock
heap destructive OF vehicles. time
To revert 10 this particular piece
OF poor road through Hallowell and
Farmingdale it is believed that an
expenditure OF from three to five
thousand dollars in the way of re-
pairing by gravel under proper SUI
rervision would put it in passa bic
condition for the season. Indeed, if
properly patrolled it could he great
ly improved. Another year the new
construction. which now is said to be
impossible, may be had But where
is this three to five thousand dollars
to come from? The state is cramped
by inability to provide for mainte
nance Who is there to remove the
blot, for such it is? Is there not some
sort of cooperation which may be
arranged with the State whereby this
urgent work may be done?
Now that the majority in the Sen
ate have decided not to take a recess