Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-26
SUBJECT NEEDS CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION

1t COSlS IlOIey " pQIIu tNNii 7AHtNNi
roads; the list of bids made to the
highway department is evidence of
that. And if they are to be Travelled
by heavy trucks the maintenance
must be heavy. Everyone who tray
els in motor vehicles and uses his
powers of observation ought to know
this This will be true whether the
roads are built as ARTERIES" or feed
ers." Those who wear out the roads
should be obliged SO far as possible
to pay for them.
The regulation of these matters
must lie with the lawmakers. The
highway commission should not make
the laws even if the voters decide
they prefer to pay it salaries Of SIS
900 in place of $4,000. Neither may
such a commission make the cost of
construction less for any specified
kind Of road.
The people Of Maine want good
roads. They want them maintained
The lawmakers whom they choose,
or they themselves, may easily ascer-
tain records showing the costs of
maintaining as we'll as Of building
We do not believe they want the
main travelled thoroughfares to de-
teriorate, especially in view of the
fact that the cost of replacing must
be enormous and they know that no
one will be satisfied unless those
roads are kept in good condition.
They should be reluctant to bond the
next generation for roads which this
generation is wearing out.
With regard to features OF greater
permanency such as cuts and fills
there is argument for issuing bonds,
but there should be some restraint on
the limit. If these so-called "perma-
nent features"-all of which are by
no means permanent-are extended
all over the State at the expense of.
the State, think of the tremendous
expenditure this would entail If the
people on all the back roads are to
have this done, if the towns are so
to be relieved of obligation, justice
would seem to demand that as much
he done in the congested areas, in the
cities which now construct and main
tain their streets.
In view of all these conditions it
becomes evident once the State Of
Maine enters upon such a program ii
s,cps into a venture which must tax
its resources to an extent which COM
paratively few comprehend. Indeed
i. may he doubted whether anyone
fully appreciates the magnitude of
the debt that would be so incurred.
The present program Of highway
work in Maine would seem a trife in
comparison with that which we
would have If all that everyone may
wish done is done. If all the people
now being appealed to and encour-
aged to believe that the State should
build all the roads they think they
ought to have are convinced and act
upon their convictions.
The road work Of Maine has been
kept clear Of politics. Those to whom
the legislatures have entrusted its
mana cement have not used it as a
source of personal gain or political
preferment This very important
fact has interfercd with the efforts
of those who have sought, for reasons
that are not above suspicion. to dis
credit it. This should not be forgot
ten by the people when they vote
this fall. Nor should they overlook
another important and far-rea ching
fact, that a radical change at this
time will be of profound significance.
Criticism that is fair is always in
order. Every human endeavor is sus-
ceptible of improvement, but rarely
so by dynamite or by other destruc-
tive methods. The tent dweller may
easily let the camel thrust in his
head-and the camel may easily fol-
low It to the undoing of the tent
dweller.
Whatever the voters Of Maine may