Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-28

tenn has been improved through the
medium of State aid. State funds
for State highway work are provid-
ed by a State bond issue, which is
financed by automobile fees: that is
to say, the interest on the bonds and
the retirement requirements each
year are taken from the automobile
fees. The fees also pay the cost of
administration of the Highway De-
partment and the issuing of motor
vehicle registrations and licenses.
the policing of the highways, and
the remainder goes into the State
fund for maintenance. All the Fed
eral aid which we receive has been
put on the State highway system.
Altogether we have expended in the
construction of State highways up
to the end of the year 1921 $7.G94,-
600, and our expenditure during the
present year will run close to $1,000
900. Only about sG,ooo,Oo0 Of this
money has been provided by bond
issue. The remainder has come
from Federal aid, and small amount
has come from direct taxation and
from town moneys supplemented by
State aid. We estimate that it will
cost s10,000,00O to complete our sys-
tenn and we shall need S5,000,0OO of
bonds in addition to the $4,000 goo
already authorized. During the last
four years all of the State aid for
bridges has been taken from bond
issue. as we'll as money for State
highways.
On our State aid system, UP to the
end of 1921. there had been expended
$6,416,000 and expenditures during
the present year will probably be
about $1,250,000. The States money
for this work is derived by direct
taxation. During the last two years
our appropriation of 100000 a year
has been far from sufficient to meet
the requirements of the towns. The
towns asked for $192 900 in 1921 and
for sS52.00o in 1922 and the High
way Commission has recommended
to the Budget Committee that an ap-
rropration of $1.000.000 per year for
each of the next two years be made
FOR carrying on State aid work.
More for Maintenance Work
In our maintenance work, up to the
end Of 1921, over 100000 had been
expended. The expenditure during
the present year will probably be
$1,200,000, and we are asking for
more maintenance money for each of
he next two years. on account of
the fact that due to the increasing
volume of traffic many Of our roads
are not able to withstand the wear
and our funds have been insufficient
t. meet the cost of replacing the
wear.
Third Glass Highway Law
Four years ago our legislature pro-
v:ded for special aid to the towns I'M
der what we call the Third Glass
Highway Law. The provision is that
the State pays to any town whose
tax rate for highway purposes for a
period Of five years has been above
the average rate for the State. an
amount equal to SO per mile for
each mile of highway in the town, if
the average tax rate has been five
,aills. and for each additional mill of
average tax rate the state will pay an
additional dollar per mile. This
money is used to rebuild a road
which is agreed, upon between the
municipal officers and the State
Highway commission. The work is
done substantially as State aid work
is done. A large number OF towns
have requested that they be allowed
% use the third class money So
called, in connection with their State
aid appropriation, the argument in
variably being that the State aid
road is the most important road in
town and the town desires to have
mat road built as soon as possible.
We also have law providing for
State and county aid for bridges on
main thoroughfares. During the last
four years practically 100000 has
been expended in this line of work
and the expenditure for 1922 will be
about $500, 900 The States particir
patton in this work averages forty
per cent. the county pays thirty per
cent and the town pays the balance.
which would average thirty per