Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-09
Editors Letter Box
A Word About Roads.
Ialefmo, Me-, Feb. 3, 1322.
Editor kennebec Journal,

Palermo, Me-, Feb. 6, 1922.
Editor kennebec Journal,
Augusta. Maine.
My dear Sir:
l am inclosing copy Of letter to the
Maine Automobile Association, sent
Jan. 23d, and which has not been &C
knowledged.
We need more economy in the seX-
penditure of the funds for road build
ing and bridge building and I am glad
to think that the Journal has voiced
protests and warnings in the past.
Very truly,
James Dinsmore.
Palermo, Me, San. %, 1922.
Maine Automobile Association,
210 Middle St., Portland, Me.
Gentlemen:
am in receipt of your invitation to
join your association and l feel that
[ should be doing my duty, in a
measure, if 1 inform you why l do
not and did not last year, after being
a member for the previous eight
years.
The Association has done a great
work in the State in the past when
there were no good roads and few
cars. and when the problem was to
build roads that would attract sum-
mer visitors; that time has passed.
and now, with an investment of S77,-
100000 in motor vehicles in Maine
estimated, moro interest may be TAX
en- in home jewellers and their needs.
The Association was asked at their
annual meeting to assist in moulding
public opinion in sucn a way that it
would appreciate and demand proper
types of road, not taking into account
the fact that public opinion already
demands more roads at less cost per
mile. rather than few roads at large
COST and this was voiced in the law
passed by our last legislature and
which was voted down by the refer
| endum, the weather and the A. A.
work did that.
The people believe in the State
| highways and want to see them built,
but they believe in spending their
money in the way in which they can
get the most benefit and they wanted
to divide it in such way that 1t
could not be used in large sums on
short pieces of road.
Some things are admitted by the
advocates of concrete roads. one is
that q concrete road will cost about
100000 per mile. when conditions are
! normal" the report does not say
average; another is that we have
,,cN 10 n
to build the roads needed at that
price: third there is still the uncer-
tainty that the concrete roads now
built or building. will stand up under
the heavy trucks which are increas-
ing SO rapidly.
Taking the cost of concrete roads
at $4,000 per mile, normal" we
have an interest charge Of $500; the
cost of the gravel road at $4,000 per
mile normal" giving an Interest
charge of $3.50, saving for account
of gravel roads of $3.50 per mile
which is much more than the esti
mated cost of keeping up the gravel
roads even with the hituminous sur
facing; this is the saving even if
there were no cost of upkeep for the
concrete roads, which is far from the
fact.
There is n point which has been
seldom mentioned out which is year
ly becoming more evident and must
soon be taken account of, the con-
crete roads are steadily losing favor
and are not used by many when they
can avoid it: with only a very small
per cent of the roads concrete they
have become so crowded that driving
over them is uncomfortable; where
large part of the irresponsible driv-
ers are trying to evade the speed
laws: where trying 10 keep to ones
side of the road and 1T the same time
out of the ditch is a trial to one with
nerves, and where there is a constant
danger from reckless drivers there is
little comfort or pleasure in riding
over them.
The claim that 1000 OF the popula-
ton live in the cities and therefore
that the $40 of the pror osed concrete
roads will be all that the people liHr
ing on them will require, is bunk. and
no one believes that the people living
in cities would call it fair deal to
have the said $40 ot our highways
use so large a part of the highway
fund on high cost construction.
With the larger number of motor
cars now in Maine the use of the
roads by our own people is doubtless
more than ten times as much as by
visitors who arc here hut a few weeks
and who do not drive as much after
arriving as do the natives.
The Maine Automobile Association
should ever look to the best interests
of our own people; we enjoy our
summer visitors and We want them to
come again, and they will, but our
relatives, neighbors and friends are
with us always and they have first
call; they not only live here the year
around but they spend their money
in the State in purchasing food.
clothing and entertainment where
visitors do not appro ximately. !
Those interested in high cost roads
are the contractors and builders. the
truck manufacturers snd dealers, the
truck owners who wish to compete
with the railroads and some selfish