The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-08-24
ONE SOURCE OF STREET DAMAGE
(By Roland T. Patten)

10y llOidih = 4 HNNNN'
Skowhegan streets are her JOY and
pride From about the worst pro
vided municipalities, in this respect
to a change for the best all in one
summer. 1t cost lot OF money, ana
we shall be until 1881 in paying the
bin, but ii is a good trade. Putting
into the credit column the amount
saved in wear and tear of vehicles
draft animals. human nerve strain
etc. plus the saving in transportation
time. and the greater volume or trans
port business made possible, we snail
find that in actual dollars and cents
the $4,000 or more put into our ma
cadam street service was 1udiclous
expenditure We have further
source of satisfaction in the TACT that
they are being resurfaced every year
and bid fair, so far as original con
struction and careful maintenance is
concerned, to last almost indefinitely
There Is one sinister menaclng
factor, however, that comes in to dis
turb this peaceful dream. This comes
in the necessity, or supposed neceS-
sity, OF digging up the street to get
at everything that was ever put under
il. Sewers, watermains and other
conduts laid recently or long years
ago now and then go wrong, and, or
course, necessity arises to dig down
to them for repair. Then, with
changing conditions there comes a
call for new service of this kind, and
up comes the street to put them in.
This Is for the most part unavoidable,
but it Is great pity for every such
enterprise leaves blemish, WHICH
cannot be made quite right.
All we can do about 1t is to insist
that, wherever possible, the repair or
construction desired be carried on
without disturbing the street service
or by disturbing the smallest possible
area. We can further insist that when
the macadam Is dug up 1t shall be
replaced so far as possible In It's orl-
ginal condition.
The statutes require that party
wishing to dig up street secure
permit from the municipal officers
The selectmen on being approached
for the purpose can require the party
to state the facts, and unless he shows
an actual necessity can deny him the
permit The party to whom the permit
is granted Is required to pay $4,000
for the privilege of digging up dirt
unmacadam highway, and $l0.O0 for
the same privilege on q macadam
street The funds so collected are
placed In the hands of the street. com
missioner, and expended by him In re-
pairing the damage thus caused. He
IL not limited to the amount so col
lected, and II 1t is not sufficient to
make the repair he can and should
expend what is needed from the high
way funds to complete the job.
Every citizen, as in most other
matters of public concern, can do
much to preserve our streets in this
matter of digging up. Personally we
should all study to make repairs to
our underground surfaces OF various
sorts by tunnelling under from the
edges of the street where such a
course Is practicable. II we are
obliged to dig through our beautiful
macadam surface we should exercise
every care to do as little damage as
possible.
Where we know others going about
these operations recklessly we should
demonstrate with them In a friendly
manner, and where their course
seems palpably wrong should confer
with the municipal authorities about
it. OF course, our street commissioners
and our street officers should be
watchful to see that their RESPONSE
blities are fully met in all such cases