Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-07

the road problem. The Automobile
Association will hold another SINH
lar conference at the State House
about the middle of December. when
it Is expected the highway program
to be submitted to the Legislature
will be drafted.
The conference yesterday was held
at the suggestion of the Maine Auto
mobile Association and in addition to
the members of the State Highway
Commission, representatives of other
organizations were present by invita- :
ton. Those in attendance included:
Highway Commissioners Frank a.
Peabody of Houlton, William J. Lam
nigan of Waterville, Charles II. In
mes of Saco and Chief Engineer Paul
d. Sargent; Hiram Z. Kicker of Po-
sland Spring, president of the Maine
Automobile Association: Daniel w.
Hoegg of Portland. secretary and a
director, and the following other di-
rectors of the organizations: State
Treasurer William l.. Bonney. Frank
ID. Marshall of York, William d. Tai
bot of Rockland. a. Q. Miller of Au-
burn. Arthur q. Staples of Lewiston,
and Perley Ripley of South Paris,
tee; Governor elect Ralph 0. Brews-
ter; William ]. Thompson, past mas
ter of the Maine State Grange; SEN
ator Herbert T. Wadsworth of Win
throp; and Representative John L.
Leland of Sangerville. past president
of the Maine Federation of Agricul-
tural Associations.
Engineer Sargent Speaks OF Finances
IA n1l OIL 20 n
of the State Highway Commission,
was called upon to explain the high
way situation. He declared that
practically every dollar of the State
highway and bridge money has been
obligated and that the Highway
Commission has tried very hard not
to overrun the amount. If none of
the payments overrun the figures es-
timated, it is expected that there
should be about $4,000 of State
highway funds above the cost OF
the roads when finished, this being
a close estimate when it is taken
into consideration that the highway
job totaled $1.250.0OO. Since that
balance was estimated, the highway
commission has taken on n new jot
at New Sharon Hill which will cost
between $4,000 and $1,000.
He said that on November ] the
commission had $165.OO0 of State
highway money available and since
then have passed vouchers for $145.
600. The bridge situation is about
the same, he pointed out. The
commission has jobs in progress that
will take every dollar that it has
Besides this. it has carried IS petit.
tons on which no hearings have
been held because there was no way
of financing them. On three or foul
Jobs, the towns have furnished the
States share of the costs, trusting
for the Legislature to furnish money
for reimbursements.
The Maine Highway Program
The Maine State highway system
will consist of 1913 miles, MIR. Sar-
gent asserted. In the last IL years,
1850 miles have been built, leaving
$50 miles yet to be constructed. At
an estimated cost of $4,000 per mile
it will cost $11, 100000 to complete
the remaining portion. About 100
miles are constructed a year, so that
six years are allowed in which to
complete the highway system. Fed
eral aid may be expected to the
amount of 100000 a year or S4,-
2OO.OoS ~ the sir years. leaving ST.
100000 which must be supplied by
the State.
Mr.. Sargent explained mar 80,
900 mile Is estimated as the aver
age cost because some of the gravel
roads have cost between So, 200 and
$4,000 per mile. while the cost of
some of the bituminous roads has
been between $4,000 and $4,000
each mile.
There are about 400 miles of State
highway aud. State-aid roads that
are net now in q satisfactory con-
dition to meet the demands of trav-
ell. Mr.. Sargent mentioned as typical
of these the Lewiston-Winthrop
highway. the Woolwich- Bangor
road, and the Kittery-York highway.
These worn out roads ought to
be reconstructed as fast as we can
get funds to protect the States in
vestpent," he said. II believe they
face"
Mr.. Sargent said that the State
ought to be able to put aside from
$500, 600 to 100000 a year for re-
constructing and resurfacing roads.
II we could find current revenues it
would be a fine idea to pay for it
withot reating bonds, he said.
Increasing Gasoline Tax
One possible source of revenue IS
to increase the gasoline tax from one
cent-as 1t is at pfesent-to three
cents a gallon. Engineer Sargent sug-
gested. Thirty-six states now have a
gasoline tax, the average being two
and q half cents. One state has a
four cent tax, and two other states fix
the tax at three cents. The three
cent tax would give from $1,100,000 to
81 ,200.0 900 a year. the one cent tax
having Melted $4,000 in the first IL
Chairman Peabody stated his be-
lief that II the tax was raised to
three cents there should be exemp-
tons for farmers and motor boat
owners who use gasoline for other
purposes than driving automobiles.
They should be given the privilege of
making out an affidavit at the end Of
Zach year showing the amount of