Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-01
Sargcnt's Statement

In response TO request Iof
statement relative to the financing
of State highways. State aid roads,
and maintenance. Chief Engineer
Sargent of the State Highway DC
partmcnt. spoke as follows:
State Highways: In the early part
of November, at the previous meet
ing held under the auspices of the
Automobile Association, the High
way Commission gave careful con-
sidcration to the question of prob
able cost of completing the state
highway system. We estimate that
Of our total system of 1910 miles
about $50 miles have been complet-
cd. This leaves. roughly, go miles
to complete. About forty miles of
this system will have to be hard
surfaced, which we estimate will cost
an average of $4,000 mile. or 81,
600 600. III we say that there will be
coo miles more to be built of gravel
and assume Il cost OF Slo,OUO% per
mile, which is the average cost OF
gravel State highways during the
last two years. this would call Tor an
expenditure of $9.OOO.OO0. In other
words S1OO00.O0O ought to be
enough to complete the system as
now laid out.
At the present time the state can
Issue $1,000 800 of State highway
bonds; 100000 of this amount. how
ever. will be needed to finance bridge
work during the next two years.
leaving Soo.3OO,OOO for road work.
Congress has authorized Federal aid
appropriations which are now avail
able and will become availa BILE prior
to June 80. 1925. of which the State
OF Maine will receive Sl.7OO,OOU. Add
ed to State bonds which may be
issue d, this will give us S4.00000O
which can be put into State highway
col StruCtion from funds now in
sight, leaving $G,0OO,OOO to be pro-
Nided. 1t is reasonable to assume
that in the three years succeeding
June 80, 1928. Federal aid will be
appropriated by Congress to the
amount of at least $1,5OO.OOO for the
State of Maine. This would leave
$1,000, 600 which the State would
have to find in order to complete the
system. 1t would. therefore. seem
as though a $5,OOO.OOO bond issue
would be sufficient to complete the
State highway system as now laid
out and allow something under ST.
OOOOOU for constructing necessary
spurs and extensions to the system.
State Aid: Our State aid finances
do not look so good to me. lester-
day l took occasion to review this
situation in detail. During the year
1922 the Commission had applica-
tons from cities and towns for a
gross amount of SS520OO of State
AID to meet appropriations made by
the cities and towns for the same
purpose. 1t is fair to assume that
these towns will ask for about the
s:,ne amount during the season of
IoI,p. Enrt lern1Orn the Comm, c
sion has furnished information to As
towns during the last three months
relative to the three town act. III
these towns group themselves under
that law and ask for the maximum
amounts they may secure, it will
take 100000 to meet their demands
FOR state aid. This, added to the
al"noations of 1922. would call for
atcut S1.2JJ,O0O of State aid money.
The states appropriation for this
work as the law now stands is $780,
UW.
In 1922 the attorney general rem
dered an opinion to the Highway
Commission to the effect that towns
applying under the three town act
should receive preference in the al
lotment of funds. Thirty-nlne towns
were apporuoned nearly $.iG,UOU
The towns applying for State aid
under the five times clause received
NO allotment. The other towns were
apportioned I'll per cent of one years
State aid.
In 1921 the total amount of State
aid applied for was $4,000.
\ review of applications for State
aid for the last few years indicates
that we shall need at the least cal
culation 100000 to meet the appli-
cations for one years State aid: that
we should have at least SOD. 900 to
meet applications under the five
times clause OF the State aid law:
there should be at least 100000
available to take care of towns
which are now grouped under the
three town act. and at least S3JO. 600
TO allot TO towns which will apply
under the three town act this year
for the first time. Adding these
amounts together will indicate that
we need at least S1.l100UO to take
care of applications for State aid in
1873 and as much more will be need.
ed for 1924.
maintenance: You are all aware
that the only maintenance funds
available come from the automobile
registration and license fees, but
these fees are used. first, for the
payment of interest on highway
bonds outstanding: second, to retire
bonds which may become due dur
ing the year: third, to pay for the
e ministration of the Highway De-
c'rrs cotent. the. purchase and issuing
Dolby the Secretary of States
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