Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-17
More Demands Than Money Avail.
able Can Supply

More Demands Than Money Avail.
able Can Supply
(Houlton Times)
In one issue Of the Kennebec
Journal last week, there were two
articles regarding the needs OF GER
tain sections for more and better
highways than now exist.
Editorially the Journal commends
in a way the general policy OF the
State Highway Commission for their
attitude towards not building high
ways where they do not have funds
for same, but say, I'VE do however
that they have too low an estimate
Of the number of people who would
be best served by a suitable high
way between Augusta and Belfast"
In a news item there appears an
account Of a hearing on improve
ment Of the road from Auburn to
Turner, Winthrop and Mechanic
Falls, at Auburn and practically the
same reply is given by the Com
mission to both requests. There are
no funds available for building new
work and when a road Is built, they
go on the plan ''the greatest good to
the great number"
The Times recently printed facts
regarding the laid" asked for by diff
fercnt towns on State Aid, showing
amount Of money available to give
more than "one time" State Aid to
many cities and towns that asked
for two, three and Ave times" as
the law provides, there is so many
available for the "Three town act"
and the maintenance fund IL not
anywhere near as large as 1t ought
to be: Further unless the Legis-
lature that meets in January 1925
provides a bond issue the money
which the State needs for continu-
ing new Trunk Line projects there
will be no money available to meet
the Federal money for this work.
knowing all these facts as they
should at the seat of the State gov
eminent and the nearness to Au-
gusta that Auburn is. yet they APP
pear before the Highway Commits
should not build any more new
roads, but in this particular instance
they should provide the money
some way so that the particular
road In which they are interested in
could be built. The same thing oc-
ours In every community and there
Is only one solution Of this great
problem and that 10 to send rep
resentatives to Augusta who should
realize that the demand for more
roads is increasing faster than
the sentiment for raising money. II
we are going to grow as a state, as
we should. we must have good roads
and roads suitable to carry the traf-
fic demanded Of them. and yet Maine
is spending less money in COMPARE
son. than the majority Of the states
for building roads.
We have our Trunk Line roads.
we have our State Aid roads. the
one, two, three and five time acts.
the three town acts the Third class
roads, the maintenance accounts be-
sides the general expenses connect
ed with the administration of the
Commission, and yet when the
legislators get to Augusta they do
not feel as though they want to
raise money for any of these pur-
poses, In order to keep the tax rate
down and when the question comes
up they say take II out of the
automobile fees" as that source ae-
cordihg to some people Is inex-
naustible and 10 the goat In many
The fact Of the matter is IL nee.
pie want good roads suficient to
carry the traff1c demanded thew
must provide the money and until
such time. the Highway Commission
or any other commission cannot
previds funds unless the money IN
pFoViaeo tnrough Hesitation.