Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-08
STRONG PLEA
(Continued from Paae 0ne)

d
and wonderful summer resort area.
This proposed highway from Az
gusta to Belfast would in reality be
ali extension of the road from Lewis.
ton, thereby tying the cities OF Port
land, Lewiston, Augusta and Belfast
together in a trunk line which espe-
cially in its unbuilt section does not
directly parallel any other improved
highway or transportation system.
In actual mileage there Is but little
difference between rout from Port-
land to Bar Harbor by the way OF
Brunswick and across the kennebec
river at Bath than there Is by the
way of Augusta and thence over this
proposed highway.
There petitions were circulated by
volunteer workers this spring and at
that time their description OF the
highway was that the mud was up TO
the horses knees and from my own
experiences / do not think that they
exaggerated matters.
people have told me that this de-
velopment has been promised to them
for twelve years and that the differ-
emit reasons given for the non-fulf1ll-
ment Of the promise were that the
present traffic over the road did not
show that it was popular or ne
cessary route.
Gentlemen, 1t is hardly fair to con-
slider 4 traffic count OF the number OF
vehicles now passing over highway
which is at the present time to all
interests and purposes practically
ncn- existant except for the markers
on the telegraph poles. I say that
such q reason is an unfair one.
Another reason which has been
given is that the people along the
highway are not in accord as to the
routing or to the type Of construction
to be employed. That may have been
true at one time but 1t does not hold
true today-the people not only along
the route but in the cities Of Augusta
and Belfast almost unanimously are
asking you gentlemen to do some
thing and are perfectly satisfied with
the Highway Commissions routing.
"You will note that these petitions
ask that the construction used be OF
such a nature as to make of this road
permanent and lasting highway
l know this will not be taken too
| literally, I realize the liberal defini-
ton of the word permanent; this
clause was placed in this petition to
| make it plain that minor repairs and
| the filing up Of a few of the worst
| holes will not be satisfactory, real
and a suitable highway of some APP
proved construction is what is being
| asked for. You gentlemen know
that ordinary repairs to such a ROAD
will b an extravaganza and money
poorly expended.
II am expected to ia Ike back to
these people who live adjacent to
this route to the merchants and the
citizens of the City Of Augusta, and
Belfast, and the various towns and
villages lying between them SOME
definite answer as to what you are
going to see fit to do with their ap-
peal. Please do not allow me to take
back to them false hopes, please do
not cause me to temporize with them.
prefer a direct refusal to an
answer which might imply a prom
Use that later might not be fulfilled.
"If you can not approve Of this
construction l ask for definite rea-
son-if you can not start this inn
provement this year | ask for def
mite date when you reasonably feel
that you can start. If there is any
reason that you know of or any pre-
iudice in the minds Of this Commits
sion against this Highway, will you
not so inform me so that / may not
waste the time or arouse the hopes
of these people further until the OBJ
stacle has been in some way over
come.
Mr.. Weber was questioned by the
several members of the Highway
Commission who were present at the
hearing as to the area to be served
by this road and as to the sentiment
of the people Of Belfast as to the
routing.
MIR. Sargent stated that rhe de-
rartment realized the present condi-
tons were deplorable-he emphasize
ed the fact that temporary repairs to
such q road would simply be waste
of public funds--he stated that he
realized that there might be critt-
cisms on the part Of some but that
there was no other solution to the
problem at present and that he per-
sonally felt that nothing other than
a real highway of approved con-
struction, properly drained and pro-
parly ballasted and with dangerous
curves eliminated would be practical.
Mr.. Lyman Nelson stated that this
section of the State Highway system
was laid out by the State 10 years
ago and that he was one of the mem
bers of the Commission at that time.
| There is no question in the minds
of the Highway Commission that this
road is badly needed-it has not been
included in our program for this year
| for the simple reason that the Com
mission has been obliged to go ahead
with projects which unless immedi-
ately built would leave whole coun-
ties practically isolated and trunk
lines Incomplete
"The Highway Commission en-
deavors in every way to treat these
different projects with absolute fair-
ness and / will tell you frankly that
I'D to the present time this road has
not been the most important piece OF
highway in Maine needing develop
ment.
Your last legislature has left the
highway commission with its hands
tied. Blame for this cannot and shall
not be laid to the doors of the high
way Departmental the people OF
Maine are obliged to suffer for the lack
of a proper extension to the highway
system they can point to your last
legislature as the real cause.
1.-THE highway commission cannot
build roads without money to do So
the State legislature by the action OF
some of it's members in holding up this
bond issue in an attempt to enact other
Hesitation has given the good roads
program in Maine serious setback.
II is the duty of every voter and every
member of the next legislature to cor
rect this evil or future development OF
roads in Maine must cease. AS Iar as
I personally am concerned I am in IA
vor of the improvement asked by these
petitioners through Mr.. Weber. I am
willing to 60 on record as favoring 1t"
Chairman Frank A. Peabody con-
.t,,I,+od Mr. Wahher on the manner