Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-31

construction is carried on, giving me
State highway commission the authorl.
81 the towns by withholding the proper
proportion Of future third class iunGs.
distribution: The matter or dlstrip-
uting the third class highway Iunus'
whether received from bond issues,
gasoline tax, license fees. or any other
Source. is naturally one of Importance,
and we believe that this distribution
should be made to all towns and cities
in the State according TO the nulnper
of miles of third class highways locat-
Of such legislation as we are propos-
ing is TO aid the country roads. and we
believe that the funds whose provision
we have endeavored to suggest should
be distributed according to the number
of miles of such roads to be found in
the various towns, without regard to
where they may be located or how
many people or how much property
may be found upon them.
The plan for financing the third
class road building proposition which
we have pointed out appeals to US Tor
these tcasons: Owners of properly
along country highways are naturally
interested in seeing returned to their
issues which they are asked to approve.
They become responsible for the fu-
ture payment of bonds and it is only
natural that they should in time refuse
to sanction further issues unless GER
tain proportion shall be expended with
in their vision. The portion of money
transferred to third class work from
the automobile license fees will prob
ably be no greater than that actually
paid into the State by citizens of the
country towns in registration fees and
licenses. The S211,000 now distributed
under the Granville act is the result
of direct taxation and would give
property owners in country towns a
direct and personal interest in the fund
of their highways. A portion of any
tax imposed upon sales of gasoline
viii! be paid consumers in the rural
sections and it is only fair that part
of the funds so collected should be re-
turned for the Improvement of their
highways.
"A brief summary of the entire sit
uation discloses the fact that the pres
ent bond Issue is practically disposed
Of. or will be by the time new legis-
lation becomes effective; that the fed
rural road problem; that the income
from automobile fees and licenses will
continue to he absorbed in the state
highway work. and that there is no re-
lief in sight for the $4,000 miles OF
country road when are being de-
stroyed by heavy traffic which pays its
tax into the state treasury; and it is
well understood that this great extent
of country roads cannot be improved
or even much longer lnaintainel in the
present condition without greatly in
creasing taxes in the small towns.
which action. in their present condi-
ton. is absolutely out of the question.
But the committee does not feel
that its only purpose is to criticize
existing methods of construction and
finance. Criticism in itself is of little
value unless n better proposition can
he presented and it is toward this end
that we have devoted most of our cE-
orgies.
I've do not wish to be understood as
condemnins or crlucizing the work
mites of splendid roads have been con-
structed which are carrying we'll the
tremendous burden to which they are
subjected. The work has been well
and honestly done and is in most in
stances a source Of pride to the people
of the state: but we believe the time
has come when the bountIes of the
state in the way of hIghwa" improve
ment must be extended to all kinds OF
roads and all classes of citizens, and
that we must have more roads even if
it shall be found necessary 10 con-
Struct them at a less expenditure per
mile. We therefore present The fol-
lowing suggestions:
THAT as soon as new highway lcg;s-
1ation may he legally put into effect.
state shall be done upon three classes
of roads: First class. those roads en-
braCcd in the present state highway
system: second-class. those roads in
cluded in the present state-aid system
and such is hereafter may be deSiSnat-
Cd by the state and town officials us
belonging to this class; third class.
roads consisting of a now SystCia of
highways entirely distinct from tic
first and second class ana intended 70
link up or connect the farms of the
state with their nearby market cCntCrS
and railroad stations. state highway
findS shall b. distributed among these
various classes in the following ratio:
ANY future bond issue or any part
Of the present issue which may r.
become effective, shall be divided be-
tween the three classes of roads as
follows: Fivc-tenths upon first-class
or state highway. two-tenths Upon
sccond-class or state aid highways, and
thrcc-t cnths upon thrd-class cOnsiluc-
tion. The purposes for which bend
issue money can be expended n road
construction should be clearly kept i'll
view: whether in first. second or third
class work. such funds should be en-
ployCd only for permanent conStruc-
ton, and not for surfaCinS j any icm-
porary repairs.
The matter of still further iEcreas-
ing the tax which tho state places upon
the operation of motor vehicles has
received careful attention Of the COM
mittee. and it has not seemed to us
wise to recommend Il further incrca So
at this time 1t is also evident u US
that by far the larger portion of the