Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-27
mittee on conclusions submits the
Administration

The constructions, maintenance, |
financing and operation of highways
is becoming more and more 4 ques-
ton of NATIONWIDE transportation
and less one of neighborhOod con-
Venience. There are two general
phases to every problem coming be
fore a state highway department for
solution-the business and the tech
nical. A majority OF the states have
recognized this fact by providing for
either engineer commissioners or
technically trained engineer eXecu
tives We believe this principle is
sound fundamentally and urge the
state authorities. both executive and
legislative. to provide at all times
strong engineering control in the
administrative and executive work
of their state highway departments
and engineering supervision of the
construction. maintenance and OPP
Grafton of the highway systems.
To this end we urge that these
departments be removed from poll
teal influences, and that continuity
of service be preserved for suff-
cient period to insure stabilized pol
, icies. In no other way is it possible
to safeguard and protect the inter
, csts of the citizen who is paying for
! the roads.
State highway departments, with
| their knowledge OF the geography
and topography of the states. should
! determine without legislative or
! other interference what roads or
! system OF roads should be construct
! ed and mainta med with state funds
! and should MOI be governed by leg
i islation as to types and cost Of con-
struction.
! The state highway departments
! should be operated under a budget
! system. The cost of building and
| maintaining an adequate system of
| highways should be distributed
cquitably among the sources of
| highway revenue in proportion to
! the benefits derived from the i'm
! provement.
The permanent features Of ori-
| ginal construction of highways
should be financed on the pay as
| YOU go" plan or from the proceeds
OF serial bonds. according to the
stage OF development of the high
way systems now existing in the sew
| eral states.
| The policy Of requiring the user
of the roads to pay for the service
received through a license and gaso-
line tax is a sound one. and all rev.
enues from such sources should be
, applied primarily to the mainte-
nance and reconstruction of high
ways.
Construction
Owing to variations in climate,
soil, traffic conditions and available
materials, no one standard type of
pavement is practical for the coun-
try or even for a state
p,,tt to lo.,;.
GUS tops on a concrete founda ton.
and sconcrete pavement may be
termed as construction of the first
class; the so-called flexible types of
pavementS may be termed as con-
struction of the second class: and
gravel, sand and clay or other top
soil roads may be termed as con-
struction Of the third class.
The progressive method OF con-
structures and drainage are first
completed and the hard surface
pavement laid later. is both a prac-
teal and at times the most advan-
tageous method of highway con-
struction.
Maintenance
Unless adequate maintenance is
provided for, initial construction of
highways should not be undertaken
at all.
The same engineer who builds the
road should be held responsible for
its up-keep.
Traffic
Each state highway. department
should establish q traffic bureau to
make a highway transport survey
In all its phases to determine pres
ent. and forecast future. traffic con-
ditions to assist in the selection of
the economic road construction
Efforts should be made. in COOP
Grafton with motor vehicle officials,
to establish as soon as possible uni
form motor vehicle laws and regu-
lations. SO that the user Of the road
may travel under uniform laws
wherever he goes. ,,
It is highly desirable that a uni
form law be enacted by the states |
Of the union regulating the dimen-
sions Of motor driven vehicles and |
the wheel load Of such vehicles.
An effort should be made to pro- |
vide proper standard devices for the |
protection of the road user and the
prevention of accidents, and no
person should be allowed to operate