Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-03
YORK COUNTY
DELEGATION SEEKS
HIGHWAY MONEY

A delegation of York county peo-
pie appeared before the State High
way Commission yesterday afternoon
at a hearing in the council cham
Der asking that more of the bond
issue for money for roads be used
in that county During the hearing
Hon. Frank A. Peabody of Houlton,
I the chairman of the State Highway
Commission, stated that the COM
mission intended to build the road
between Biddeford and Sanford this
year and that the approach to the
Portsmouth kittery bridge. q dis
lance of about a mile, would be con-
structed as soon as the arrangements
with the federal government could
be completed. The remarks of
Chairman Peabody toward the close
of the hearing made the York coun-
ty people feel o little better toward
the Highway Commission.
Judge John Percy Deering of Saco
appeared for the proponents. He
said that the York county people be-
! lieve that they have been sighted in
the distribution of the bond issue
money for highways.
I'VE supposed that the bond issue
would be distributed equitably
among the counties and York county
citizens do not believe that the
county has received anywhere near
proportion OF the money which it
ought to receive" said Judge Deer
ing.
I'VE ask you to decide that we are
entitled to more of the bond money
than we have received" continued
Judge Deering.
! 1919 and 1922, York county has re-
ceived approximately $250.00O of
| this bond issue money for highways,
while Washington county during
| that period has received approx
mately SG60,00O. During this period
York county has paid three times
/ as much money in taxes as Wash
| ington county. yet Washington coun-
| ty has received three times as much
! money of this bond issue as York
| county. During the past five years
| Aroostook county has paid less taxes
| than York county, vet in that period
! Aroostook county has received five
| times as much of the bond money
as York county.
york county for the past five
! years has paid the third highest
! State tax of the 16 counties, or 90
! per cent of the entire State tax. In
! the matter of the amount of money
expended on State highways from
! 1914 to 1923 inclusive, York county
/ stands 18th. receiving two per cent
of the money expended in the State.
Others who spoke in favor of Civ
ing more of the bond issue money
for roads in York county were Hi
ram Willard, Eugene Hewett. f. s.
II Of
ford Eugene T. A. Sewall of York,
Elliott Rogers of Kennebunk, Is. I.
Parker of North Berwick, eX-Repre-
sentative Lucius Perkins of Alfred.
Arthur l.. Roberts of Lyman and
George Lord of Wells.
Prior to the hearing in the council
chamber, representatives from North
Kennebunkport appeared before the
Highway Commission in the office of
the secretary of the senate, favoring
the maintenance of the road from
Biddeford to BartIett's Mills. a dis
lance of five miles, through North
Kennebunkport.
1t was brought out at the hearing
that the Maine Automobile Associa-
ton has adopted resolution favor
ing the building of the road from
the Death Underpass-' in Biddeford
to Bartlett Mills. through the woods.
1t is claimed that the present road
is in bad condition.
Hiram Willard of Sanford con-
Quoted the hearing for those favor
ing the maintenance of the present
road and Samuel +. Sennott. ]. w.
Thompson and Martin II. Murtaught,
residents of North Kennebunkport.
favored the present road. They
claim that 30 per cent of the tax
able property of the town of North
Kennebunkport is located on the
present road. that the property has
appreciated in value and that during
the past few years 10 abandoned
farms have been taken up on this
road,