The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-08-16
1t will be good deal of Improve
ments to the looks of the village.

Houlton, Lyman II. Nelson. Portland
and William Lannigan of Wateryille
of the commission. Paul D. Sargent
chief engineer of Augusta and Mr.
Edwards, the bridge engineer, and the
three county commissioners, Henry
Crowell, Skowhegan, Harry Goodrich
Palmyra and S. J. Whitney of Bling
ham, recently inspected and voted to
rebuild five bridges, one of them be-
ing a small bridge in Arson village
for which the inhabitants are very
grateful.
We are advised through II. o. Bean,
first selectman of the town of Canaan,
that the state aid road in his town Is
at present under construction. The
work this year is on the Canaan and
Hinckley highway and is we'll down
toward the Clinton line, about three
miles from Canaan village. A sec
ton of 1000 feet is being worked up
on. Passage Is allowed to the public
at their own risk.
This -Hinckley road Is about
six miles long. OF this, three miles
lies in Canaan At the end of the
present season all but 1000 feet of
the Canaan section will have been
improved. The construction is re-
foundation with a surface of gravel.
surface highway.
As this road from Canaan village
southerly is in excellent condition as
far as the new work, detours are not
advised. While some rough spots OF
course will be found on the portion
under construction, there is nothing
ordinarily but what Is readily passa-
BILE. Detours are possible by leaving
the Skowhegan-Canaan highway at
the first right-hand reverse fork be-
yond Lake George. But, as previous
into the edge of Canaan village and
turn to the right there on the regu-
lar Canaan-Hinckley road.
Canaan is also to do some third
class road work on the Browns Cor
ner road. This will be commenced
before September first. Fourteen
hundred feet will be worked upon.
This will extend north from the Slab
City road. AS is the case with the
state aid road above mentioned, the
public will be allowed to pass at its
own risk.
During the summer Mr.: Bean has
been in every town, except Concord,
In Somerset county. This wide OPP
portunity to view the roads of the
county has come about through his
work for the Northeastern Metal Gull
vert Company, for whom Mr.. Bean Is
representative. Mr.. Bean is of
course very much interested in road
construction and, it may be believed,
loses no opportunity to observe
everything in this line. He found
every variety of highway imaginable,
from the best sort of macadam to
roads which had completely grassed
over.
Mr.. Bean finds that the advent OF
the automobile necessitates revolu-
ton In SOME of our road methods.
This is especially necessary with dirt
roads. Where the road machine has
done "a good job and few days OF
dry Weather intervenes, all goes well.
If, unfortunately, rain storm or even
good smart shower comes on just
as the work is finished, one or two
autos will destroy in about twenty
minutes, about all that has been ac-
complished by the road machine crew
in perhaps two days time. Mr.. Bean
Is quite sure, in view of this situation
Just mentioned. that where dirt road
Is in pretty fair shape, it can be
patched with gravel, if gravel is
readily obtainable, to better advant-
age than 1t could be handled by a
road machine regarding He is about
ready to suggest that where nice
job of road machine work has been
done, autos be excluded, II rain fol-
lows, until the surface Is again dry.
Oftentimes the autoist would really
be favored and would be glad to avoid
the new road If he could be proper
ly advised as to detour.
Mr.. Bean, in common with all other
thoughtful citizens, has been wonder
ing where the revenue is coming from
to keep our highways fit for the in
creased traffic they are called upon
to bear He feels that the autos, and
especially the big ones. being the
chief cause of the present road de-
terioration, should be willing to as
sumo the increased share of the bur-
den.
1t will be of interest to know that
the State Highway Commission has
called for a traffic census on the
Skowhegan-Pittsfie road. They
asked Mr. Bean for recommendation
with reference to an appointment of
an enumerator and Willie Gardner,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Cecil Gardner,
was named. 1t is possible that 9TH
ers from other sources may have been
recommended to the appointment. Mr.
Gardner has not been confirmed but
it is hoped that he may be. AS a
matter of interest he has already done
some enumerating on his own ac-
count. He counted in one hour, a
svarr .F n,ttr 1