Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-30
Tuesday, October 80, 1923.
II there 10 a virtue in the world
ut which we should always aim, it
10 Observation-Disclosures Lytton.
A WORD ABOUT ROADS

It Is estimated that there are In
this country about 100000 miles of
improved surface roads and with the
present rate of progress continued
this mileage will be doubled in de-
.cade. About 100000 miles will be
completed this year as compared
with $1,000 last year. OF that mile
age 10000 miles were gravel. 1000 of
sand-clay and top soil, 1000 of ma
cadam and 5000 miles of brick, or
concrete, sheet asphalt or bituminous
concrete and the proportion remains
about the same this year.
Big business, this; we'll up the list
Of big business in this country. A
moment of consideration of the ener-
gy, the money and time that are be-
ing devoted to the improvement of
our highways, and thinking what all
= this might accomplish in the pro-
duction of merchandise, in the maxi
ing Of two blades of grass grow
where one grew before, makes COM
prehensible. even if one does not
agree with this opinion, that too
much capital and energy are being
directed to this building of roads.
As it is. the roads are not adequate
to the travel. On the first of July
the registration showed that nearly
thirteen million motor vehicles We're
being operated on our highways.
Seven years ago there were less than
two millions. Think what loss to
all the car owners to be compelled
to use rough highways!
It would be interesting to know
what percentage of these cars con-
tribute to production of the neces-
stiles Of life, not including the cars
and accessories, which if not al
ready considered necessities soon will
be If there are plenty of good roads,
not too congested and inviting to
travel. Could this estimate be fair
ly made we would be able to esti-
mate how much richer the country
is, If any, by reason of this gas car
locomotion. We might then APP
proximately estimate the percentage
of cars meeting the demands of bust
ness and that which is in response
to the demands Of enjoyment. Then,
if thriftily inclined, we could better
determine with regard to new con-
struction whether the need of it
arose from the demands of essential,
or from pleasure use.
But there is little likelihood of
this being done. The public mood
is not favorable if the doing of 1t
were feasible. So we come back to
the Vision of motordom. a system of
roads in this country with a mile
age Of 10000 miles farming net
work of interstate and country roads
linking most towns and cities of
5000 inhabitants and this, with a
ten mile zone each side Of the i'm
proved roads, contributing to- the
convenience of 80 per cent of the
people. Truly project, worthy of
ahe conceptions of the American
public.
Granting that this is the purpose
of the American people, then there
will be little of profit in arguing, for
the present at least, about the wis
dom or unwisdom of this to which
"the country is committed. But when
it comes to the raising of the money,
until such time as all taxpayers own
cars in proportion to their taxable
proerty, in which unlikely event 1t
would make little difference whether
the money were raised by taxation
or levy on car owners, it should be
done on the method requiring those
who use the roads to pay for them in
proportion to the use they make of
the roads. They are saving in the
matter Of wear of their motor
vehicles in proportion to the ex-
cellence of the highway conditions.
They should pay accordingly.