Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-01
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"This universe 10 not 90 e6nstitut.
ed that it 10 profitable for man to
DO anything but his very best
-- Calvin Coolidge.
A FEW WORDS ON BIG SUBJECT

Journal readers will find in our Let
der Eox this morning q communica-
dion from Mr.. s. c. Manley. 1t is one
profitable to read and think about.
We wish there were more of them.
They help US to gee the highway
problem in the right light. better to
appreciate that it takes money to buy
and run automobiles. but that If we
lave the cars and use them we must
have roads suitable for their use;
that roads require more money, a
lot OF 1T; that we who wear the roads
out should in all honesty pay for
them, not pass the debt on to the
Iext generation. Augusta taxpayers
are and win continue TO pay taxes
on account Of c5-year bonds some Of
the proceeds of which went into
roads which either have been or
should be reconstructed. although the
bonds have nine more years to run.
When the State and municipalities
were building roads ten orc fifteen
years ago In Maine they little appre-
ciated the amount of traffic to which
those roads would be subjected. OF
course the wear is proportionate to
the traffic. The past fifteen years
have been expensive years due to
the cost Of experience in building the
modern roads. The problem yet con-
fronting us Is how build for the flu
ture with all the tremendous de-
mands which will be made on the
roads by reason of the increased
traffic. There Is no likelihood Of au-
tomotive power being outlawed on
the highways so the latter must be
made suitable; money must be had
for the purpose; our chief perplexity
IL how to raise the money and how
wisely to expend 1t.
Mr.. Manley asks if we consider it
sound financial policy for the State
been paid and so maintain a perpct-
ual debt for highways and bridges?
Well. isn't that what the railroads,
practically all the public utilities and
Though that doesn't make the policy
fair to the next generation--unless
we turn over to them an investment
In foundations equivalent to the
bonded debt-and even then it leads
to tremendous overhead" for the
coming generations in interest
charges.
MIR Manley asks whether the $942,-
600, the amount paid back. would put
the highways and bridges in as good
condition as when new. To that we
can only make a guess. We would
not expect it TO do so. II costs twice
as much to do the work as it cost
when the roads wero built, in some
instances. On the other hand the
work which has been done in the way
OF permanent improvement, grading.
Cxcavating and cement work, work
that will stand for many years and
which has cost ten million dollars,
probably could not be replaced today
for less than thirteen to fifteen mil
lions. But think of the value of the
service which these roads have al
ready given!
But that doesn't help us raise the
money to maintain those roads. and
that is a factor OF menacing proper
tons. The better roads enhance the
price of real estate somewhat, make
for better business. meet an economic
demand which the past generation
did not dream of. reduce the cost of
running automobiles. saving in gas
and wear of vehicles.
1t would seem that If We are to
Continue to use the gas car as or
more extensively. somehow we should
as will enable us to use cars with the
fcast expense. A big puzzle. how
ever, is how to get that saving to the
car user back into the highways:
gasoline tax and suitable fees for
trucks are ways which commend
themselves to common SENSE
Regarding number of instances in
the State like that of the Belfast
road. for instance. on which Augusta
spent bond money. has not paid the
bonds and the road is nearly worn
out. the Journal has no data, but
from what it can learn. can report no
other like condition. Respecting the
wearing out Of the roads, we learn
that the State In 1928 paid out for
maintenance of the gravel road be-
tween Waterville and Bangor s1971.61
per mile. To build this kind Of road In
the old days the cost was around
$500 per mile. but now would be
$4,000 to $4,000 per mile. And
then would not be the road that's
needed. In short would be most ex-
pensive Of any type considering the
upkeep.
There Is . lot more to this. q lot
people ought to know. but one mus,
stop somewhere. Meanwhile why not
make up our minds that those who
dance shall pay the fiddler.-and
ought to do so with smile.
--s--sse-s---