Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-18

ton and utilization OF our national
forests. It is reported that 1877 miles
of forest road were completed at q
cost of S1,737 900, bringing the total
mileage completed to 1886 miles. AT
the close of the fiscal year 1872 miles
were under construction and surveys
were in progress for LOLA miles in 62
projects.
On. account. Of the large areas OF
forest land in some of the western
states, the development Of system
of main highways that will properly
serve the state and local commun-
tiles has made 1t necessary that the
forest highways and the federal aid
highways be properly coordinated
and they will finally form one contin-
uous system of roads.
Highway Economics
In the field of highway economics
important Investigations have been
conducted and are still being carried
on. The reemergence of the highway
as a factor in the transportation OF
people and goods has brought forth
problems to be solved If the use and
development of the highways Is to be
along the most economic lines. OBJ
servations have been made in Con-
necticut to determine the character
and amount of commodities hauled
by highways. the method of hauling
and length of haul for commodities
moving over the roads of the state.
It is estimated that 1,019,6SS net
tons of commodities were transported
over the Connecticut highway system
during the three months period be-
ginning September, 1922. A large
part of this movement was distinctly
a service that could be rendered only
by improved highways as more than
a third Of the tonnage moved only
from 1 to miles and nearly another
third from 10 to 20 miles.
Highway Financing
In recent years there has been
much discussion as to methods of
highway financing. In some quarters
there has been expressed feeling
that the distribution IF the cost to
property owners and motor-vehicle
operators has not been equitably adj
justed. To ascertain the facts. the
bureau has undertaken to make
thorough study of the sources of
highway revenue. Attention has first
been given to county and local road
funds, four counties in Wisconsin
being selected for study.
Among the significant findings,
some of which are at variance with
opinions widely held, are the follow
ing:
/. The major portion of the total
highway funds are raised by town
ship and county units rather than by
the state.
.. Real property taxation produces
62 percent of the highway revenue
derived from these counties.
8. Vehicle license fees produce 9
percent of the total funds raised in
the counties.
4. Significant reduction of real
property taxation can only be made
by reduction of county and local
taxes.
Much progress has been made dur
ing the year in researches to supply
data for use in the design Of roads.
Sections of bituminous road have
been tested under truck traffic to
determine the cause of the familiar
"washboard" wrinkles which some
times appear in bituminous surfaces.
A great many road slabs are being
tested by means of an impact ma
chine which duplicates the pounding
action of a truck wheel after it strikes
a small obstacle on the road. In an
other experiment a circular track of
many sections of concrete, each built
of different materials or in a different
way, has been tested under traffic to
determine the amount of surface
wear.
The bureau has cooperated with
universities and state highway de-
partments in a number of special in
vestigations. such as traffic tests on
road surfaces. gasoline consumption
of motor vehicles and tractive resist
ance of various road surfaces.