Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-16
CHIEF ENGINEER SARGENT EXPLAINS S
FEDERAL TRAFFIC SURVEY TO ROTARIANS

Rotarians listened to a most in
structive and entertaining talk by
Past President Paul d. Sargent at
the regular meeting of the club,
which was held Friday noon at the
Augusta House, concerning the OBJ
jectives, accomplishments and reve-
lations of the federal traffic survey,
which has been conducted on the
highways at many different points in
Maine this summer. The talk by the
chief engineer of the state highway
department followed the luncheon
session. which was particularly we'll
attended with about q dozen guests
and visiting RotarianS present.
The federal traffic survey or census
was inaugurated in 1916, Mr.. Sar-
gent told his hearers. and during one
week data Is collected on all kinds of
vehicular traffic between the hours
of In the morning and Z in the eve
ming. The object Is to establish the
relationship between traffic and the
appropriations for highway construc-
ton and maintenance.
Traffic Survey in IS Places
The state highway departments
has cooperated with the federal rep
resentatlves in this state and during
the present summer five recording
parties have operated at fifteen diff
ferent stations each besides two
truck weighing groups. Ninetyf1v
different stations have been used to
secure the data this summer in
Maine and the task has been spread
oveer highways from Kittery to Fort
Kent.
The speaker gave many interest
ing figures which had been tabulated
by the census groups. and Indicated
how these records would be used to
govern the ALLEGATION of federal and
state funds for the construction and
maintenance OF roads.
The Rotarians were particularly
interested in the figures on the vol
ume of traffic which passed over GER
tain sections of main highways. On
July 4, this year. the following facts
and figures were taken on the high
way two miles beyond Portland;
1851 vehicles passed the spot in the
twelve hours between s A. M. and
SP. NJ. That was total of 625 per
hour or 10 every second. Mr.. Sar-
gent said that he had just received
a report from the census crew that
at that same spot last Sunday 1923
vehicles were recorded in the same
duration of time.
At other points where the data was
taken July 4, the traffic recorded
was as follows: Kittery 6941; Rich
mond Corner, 2942; Topsham juno
ton 1858; Gray Corner 246S; Halo
we'll 1917.
The federal traffic survey has also
been taken in Connecticut. Pennsyl-
vania and California. An analysis
of the records showed that In Conn
necticut, of the truck traffic, one
fourth ran less than nine miles on the
average. one-half from 10 to SO miles.
and one fourth was bound for dis
tances over 20 miles.
No Connection With Railroads
In California whers 100000 trucks
are registered and where hauling by
automobile truck is supposed to be
highly systematized, one half of the
traffic was over distances under p
miles, and the entire average was
for 81 miles. Mr.. Sargent called
particular attention to this record
of short hauls by motor truck as
refutation of the claim tina the auto
mobile truck is dtsplacing the rail-
road freight business.
The chief engineer gave many
other figures and statistics which
had resulted from the highway sur
vey which shed interesting light on
the traffic in diversified sections of
the state. He also gave an instruc-
tive explanation OF the cost OF con-
sruction and maintenance of differ
ent types carrying three times the
traffic that can be maintained at one
half the cost Of gravel highways.
Crippled Children's Clinic
A report which was most pleasing
to the members of the club and
which was enthusiastically received
by them was presented by DR..
George A. Coombs, chairman or the
Crippled Children's Clinics commit
tee. on the clinic recently held at
the Augusta General hospital at
which 50 cases were diagnosed. DR..
Coombs reported that a majority of
the cases could be materially helped
and that cures were possible In
several. State vocational training
will be made available for the few