Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-01
Editors Letter Box
Continued from PAGE s.

tSontlnueo from Page 81
excessive from the point Of view Of
economy.
1t is like the man who purchases
articles which he can do without
when he Is in need of food or cloth
ing; it is like our town OF China a
number OF years back, which had
town. officers who We're all for per
manent' roads and they went ahead
and expended all the road funds on
a short piece of road. about a mile;
that was for the beginning of per
manant" roads all over town; but the
town found that that mile was not
entirely satisfactory to all, for there
were many other miles left in sad
condition which had to be used; and
the town promptly remedied that and
changed officers at the next meeting;
they did not wait ten years to dis
cover what was for the best good of
the most people.
over ninety percent of the roads
uninproved after ten years:
Is it square deal that the funds
of the State should be expended in
SuIA an Unequal DIVISION.
They ask, which should be first
improved" must one section be sin
gled out and finished before any other
section is touched; have not some of
the roads been rebuilt and specified
as new work; should a main Travelled
road be entirely neglected.; have not
| jewellers on main travelled highways
as much right to receive their share
of the Improvements and repair as
anyone; does Mr.. Sargent claim that
because we have not the money to
build more concrete roads that we
should not have any; that appears
to be the meaning of statements
made.
A gravel road with gravel within
, reasonable distance, can be built for
$1,000. per mile, omiWing cuts and
fills. for most of the travel on other
than State Highways. and if well
keep, and such roads, until we can
afford better should be built.
| We are trying to build up roads
which will hold up the trucks and
there is uncertainty everywhere as to
what is required; and we are vast
| ing the funds which should be used
and distributed on roads which have
1 had no attention, in rebuilding the
| highways which we were told few
years ago would be permanent and
I lasting, and where will it end.
| With over 80 percent of the roads
| of the State not improved, it was an
F, insult to the people of the State to
| have one of the commissioners of
| last year make the statement as he
| did that they were back allays, and
when visitors from out the State who
! have travelled over part of the con-
| crete roads of Maine tell the S. HI. C.
| what beautiful roads the State of
! Maine has and the papers print it, is
! ton that every one cannot have a
/ State highway at their front door,
! with that 500 still waiting for help,
! looks rather foolish.
If more roads We're improved there
would be less driving on those al
ready built and a true estimate cam
not be made until there is a larger
/ utiIcdSe anu tuc tidiliS tiiOi wy Viz
tributed over more miles Of road.
The people have been patient for
4 ten years. waiting on promises, and
+, tits not to be wondered at that they
rare getting restless; for either party
I, tn try to make this an issue will be
1 very unfortunate both for the vel
fare of, the roads and the parties for
If will make split and an impossi-
bility Of working together for the
good of the State.
Ret those lea who are working
| for a small mileage of concrete road
| he satisfied with what they have got
! in the ten years past and allow those
who believe in having the most i'm
proved roads possible that we can
take care of, have their turn for ten
years.
We could have built one thousand
miles of road at a reasonable cost
this year instead Of one hundred but
for the funds necessary to use with
other appropriations.
Very truly,
JAMES DINSMORE.