Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-01
STATE HOUSE
Next Meeting 10 M, Tuesday,

a year toward the building of bridges,
this method having. been suggested
by the Legislature of 1915 as a rem
edy to prevent legislators from the
various parts of the State becoming
too enthusiastic in favor of certain
new bridge construction desired by
their constituents. Under that act
the town was to pay so per cent. of
the construction of q bridge, the
county was to pay 80 per cent, and
the State, the other 20 per cent. 1t is
interesting to note, however, that
this was soon amended so that towns
having a high tax rate could receive
a proportion of more than 20 per cent
from the State.
Placing the bridge construction I'M
der the Highway Commission in
1915, insured expert engineering ad-
vice and supervision and a more
! fixed policy in relation to standards
and permanent construction. Pre-
vious to that year the bridges were
built by the towns themselves.
In 1921 it was found that the State
had outgrown it's bridge policy adopt
ed five years previous, and the Legis-
lature then provided that future
amounts for construction of bridges
should be taken out of the highway
bond issue. For the first period OF
two years, 100000 was apporticned
1t was seen that better bridges re-
quire more money-in fact, over three
times the amount provided for by the
original plan for bridge building.
In a letter to Governor Baxter
State Auditor +. D. Hayford answer
ing questions asked by the Governor
Al = H., l.,
way bonds issued by the State were
as follows: 1913. 100000; 1914, $500,
900; 1915. 100000; 1916, 100000;
50, 600, 900; 1921, $3.50, 900; 1922. ST.
100000: total, sS.21S,5OO. The bonds
paid off during that time totalling
about 10 per cent. of the bonds is
sued, We're as follows: 1913. $67,500;
1914. $132. 900; 1915, $125,0O0; 1916
s1SO,OOO: 1918, s21S,OO0; 1920, $780,
900; total. $4,000.
Authority was given in 1913 for the
State to issue s2,000,000 of State
highway bonds, this sum was suffi-
Cient until the end of the year. 1917
Then in order that the work should
not stop, the Legislature of 1917 au-
thoriZed a short term issue of $218,50C
bonds, which were paid two years
alter as shown by the figures in the
preceding paragraph. In 1919, the is
sue of SS,00O,O00 more highway bonds
was authorized. and up to the end OF
1929, nearly $4,000. 600 Of that amount
had been issued, leaving the sum of
about 100000 for the next two
years.
If this sum is expended by the time
the next Legislature convenes, that
body must act promptly and a spec
ial election will have to he called on
constitutional amendment so that
there may be no lack of funds for
carrying on Names road building
program, which reaches all parts of
the State and the privileges of which
are enjoyed by all.
If the State was limited as the
towns are to borrowing five per cent.
Of its total valuation, it could Dor
row the sum of s33,00O.00 whereas its
bonded Indebtedness for all purposes
at present amounts to only about
So. $4,000.
Figures do not lie. but they tell
stories and the story of the financing
of Names fine highways and bridges
is but one of the absorbing chapters
in the book of Names finances as
contained in the records of the State
auditor.