Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-02
Saturday, September 2, 1922.
FROM OUR HIGHWAY RECORDS

In his communication to the Jour-
nal, Friday morning, Mr.. James Dins-
more of Palermo expressed several
Interpretations respecting the
highway situation. Referring to the
article published in the Journal Aug
ust %, he raises objection to the
highway department giving out such
matter. This matter was not given
to the Journal by the highway de-
partment nor was any request re-
ceived from that department to pub
lish it. Mr.. Pattangall had been
making throughout the State state
ments which needed correctioh and
this data was obtained for that pur-
pose. If Mr.. Dinsmore would inquire
at the highway department he. or
doubtless anyone who is a resident
of the State, could obtain the same
data. This, as we understand. was
taken from the records Of roads con-
structed in 1914, it being necessary to
consider roads that had been built
for several years in order to get a
comprehensive idea of the mainten-
ance costs.
Mr.. Dinsmore says nearly all
statements from that office appear to
be misleading and much left unsaid
which many would like explained"
Docs Mr.. Dinsmore include the state
ments one member of the Commission
is making throughout the State? II
so, we question whether it will be
possible to explain all such from the
experience and data of actual road
building and maintenance. AS for in
formation coming from the highway
department that may be assumed to
be substantiated by the record at
least it is possible for the public to
prove whether or not it is by inves
tiEating. The record of the high
way department is n public rec
orc and We cannot conceive a bet
ter place to look for information and
regard it the duty of the department
&c give the public that information.
Here are some of the many facts
which those records show: from
study Of the maintenance costs of
roads built in 1914 there appears in
formation which should be taken into
consideration in connection with Mr..
Dnsmore's Statement. that "a gravel
road with gravel within reasonable
distance can be built for $4,000 per
mile, emitting cuts and fills" etc.
one section of btu minous road was
built in Wells in 1914 having
length of EOS miles. The total main
tenance cost in six years has been
$5S2.i0, or a maintenance cost for the
six years Of .026 just slightly over
2 ~ per cent of the original cost.
On "A section Of gravel road 1.2
miles long in Biddeford. which cost
$4607.77, the maintenance cost in six
years has been $61o6.77, or 1913 per
cent of the original cost. The sec
ton of bituminOus macadam in Wells
has always been perfect. The section
of gravel road in Biddeford has been
impossible every spring.
He does not state where he got the
data on which to base his estimate.
Before expecting people to accept 1t
rs conclusive he should state his rea-
sons. The people should also under
stand that this sort of road, in the
l.ctre of things, must be of a tenn
rorlry character, the more temper
cry whore traffic is greater. Even
on the back roads the maintenance
must be a very considerable factor.
Nhile this would not be as great as
on the roads cited the sum total for a
long mileage Of such roads inevitably
would be tremendous. Owing to the
temporary nature Of the road 1t
should not he built from the proceeds
OF bonds which the next generation
must pay. Furthermore, assuming
That il were possible for the State to
luild these ninety per cent of roads
which MIR. Dlnsmore writes about ac-
cordinG 10 his plan at $4,000 per mile,
manifest impossibility. where is the
money coming from to maintain
thcrnP
AhNady the maintenance costs Of
thc roads we have are growing into
way formidable problem for the
taxpayers of Maine. We may not
have some hing for nothing. Had we
built cheaper roads the problem
would be all the greater. The State
should go slowly committing its peo-
pS to the increasing lurdens Of
rapidly mounting cost of mainten-
anco. There must be a carefully
thought out system. 1t is the Leg
islaturcs job TO arrange for this and
the highway departments job to eX-
ocu'e the work.
Attempt TO criticIse the Legislature
or the highway dcrartm, Mt for not
knowing in 1914 just what would be
demanded of road in 1922 is at
least silly: It is Migrant attempt to
lsfog the peoples understanding.
The traffic census taken by the high