Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-30

maine as state, must without
question do something in the matter
of snow removal but it is question
whether or not it is worth while. and
the expenditure that would be involv-
ed. wisely spent, if any extreme sums
of money were used to open road
ways between the cities" said Sec
rotary Herbert Folsom of the Au-
guSta Chamber of Commerce in a
speech before the winter meeting of
thfe New England Association of
Commercial Executives which was
held at Toy Town Tavern at Win
chendon, Mass, last Friday and Sat
urday. One secretary from each state
was asked to speak upon the subject
of Snow Removal in New England"
and Secretary Folsom handled the
subject from the standpoint of the
State of Maine.
He went on to say only a very
small per cent of the main thorough
fares could be opened between
storms and just what thoroughfares
to work upon would be a subject of
much discussion for the State High
way Commission
THE State at the present time has
not upon it's statute books any laws
which compel the State to do any
thing regarding snow removal. This
burden is all placed upon the diff
ferent municipalities and so it is only
through cooperative action of these
municipalities that snow removal can
be successfully accomplished
In his paper Secretary Folsom
said that the State of Maine covers
close to 20,000,000 acres-that it is
over $50 miles from Kittery in the
south to FIT. Kent in the north-that
at its widest point it is over 175
miles in width, that it has nearly
$4,000 miles of highways and that
it was close to an impossible job to
clear any appreciate amount of
highway suitable for automobil
travel. With this vast territory Maine
has population of only little over
$4,000 which is hardly greater than
the city of Boston and ii would be
a stupendous and expensive task to
clear even all of the trunk lines so
that they would be suitable for au-
tomobile travel.
He called attention to the fact that
New England situated as it is, in the
northeastern most corner of the
United States must necessarily be
continually Investigating and devils
ing definite methods and definite de-
vices for snow removal. Maine. the
northeastern state in the coun-
try is usually blessed with fine fall
of snow during the winter months
and in comparison with a good many
of the states. Maine Is. doing nothing.
In Connecticut. the State Highway
Department clears all of its main
highways after every storm and
from fifty to seventy five trucks are
nGn6 fnr fhfc nonh
with a mould-board pillow on the
front of the truck. The state of
Pennsylvania has done a good deal
in the way of snow removal parti-
cularly in the mountainous districts.
Ohio does the same and Minnesota
has done considerable, espec. ally last
winter in keeping some of the main
lines open particularly from parts
OF the state which are not served
by railroads.
"All of the states which have
snowfalls large emo gh to hinder
traffic are taking active steps to see
that main highways are cleared for
travel. OF course of importance al
most equal to that of maintaining
highways for business, Is the protec-
ton against fire. This does not re-
quire detailed emphasis. A fire dur
ing last winter might have resulted
disastrously because Of travelling
conditions in the cities as well as
outside.
I'm the light of actual experience
the past 'inters, with a well worked
out cooperative plan for handling
winter storms. Maine can. perhaps,
another winter keep many miles of
the main highways open for use
throughout the season without put
ARS heavy financial burden on any