Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-05

Paul d. Sargent. Chief Engineer OF
the State Highway Department.
when asked about the convention
recently held at San Francisco.
/ Mr.. Sargent went on to say that
the program Of the meeting and the
entertainment features were easily
ahead OF those Of any previous
meeting. While the convention was
in session four days at San
gates took occasion after the meet
ing to travel by automobile from
San Francisco to Los Angeles for
the purpose of inspecting the high
ways of the State. For this purpose
automobiles were provided by the
State Highway Department and the
San Francisco Chamber OF Commerce.
The distance Of about $50 miles was
covered in two days. Practically
every inch of the distance is paved
with Portland cement concrete
pavement. The trip was made over
the coast route. so called, and while
this route traverses the coast for
| many miles and for many miles Is
very near the Pacific Ocean, three
mountain ranges are crossed. The
highway over each one Of these
ranges was paved with Portland
cement concrete pavement and the
grades were as carefully worked out
as they would be for the construc-
| tion of railroad. All grades are
compensated for curvature and all
curves are super-elevated so that
once the throttle is set on an auto
mobile at the foot of a grade it does
not have to be changed until the
| summit is reached, and driving in
| consequence is made extremely
easy. notwithstanding many sharp
curves which are necessary in
climbing the mountains.
! 1t appeared to Mr.. Sargent from
this drive and from a ride through
| the park system of San Francisco,
i that the citizens Of California have
, capitalized every bit OF scenery that
there is in the State, with the re-
suit that tourists flock to California
by the thousand for the purpose of
| riding over the splendid highways
| and enjoying the magnificent
scenery and the pleasant climate OF
southern California. which Is par
ticularly delightful during the
winter months.
1t is quite apparent that the
citizens of California think we'll
of their State for on every hand the
! citizens of the state are ready to
make strangers believe that Cali
fornia Is the best spot on the face
of the globe for one to live or for
one to enjoy vacation. Such
hospitality and such courtesy it
would be hard to find elsewhere.
On the trip from San Francisco
to Los Angeles, which was made by
about seventy-five delegates to the
convention, the noon stop on Friday
was made at Santa Cruz. Here the
delegation was made welcome by
81 80 UA,,,r A.,I
each member of the party was
presented with a booklet descriptive
of Santa Cruz county and city and
giving reasons why persons should
select home in that county or city.
The same kind of reception was met
at Santa Barbara, where luncheon
was had on Saturday under the
auspices of the Chamber of Com
merce of the city. Wherever
strangers stop they are handed
maps, pamphlets and all sorts of
advertising and boosting literature.
The delegates were taken through
the big redwood forests near FELTON,
and on Sunday, November %, a
tour was made Of all the territory
adjacent to Los Angeles, including
Hollywood. Santa Monica Beach,
Long Beach, and several OF the Sec
tons where oil Is being produced,
notably Signal Hill. The tour in
cluded Pasadena and several Of the
other outlying suburbs Of Los
| Angeles.
During the visit at the redwood
forests one of the delegates inform
ed Mr.. and Mrs. Sargent that a
| former resident of Maine was
hunting for someone from Maine.
| When the woman was found, who,
| by the way, was q Mrs. Crafts,
! formerly of Bangor. she proved her
! loyalty to the Pine Tree State by
| producing copy Of the Bangor
| Commercial. which she had received
| that morning. At Ventura Mr..
Sargent had a call on MIR. A. C.
Hardison, formerly of Caribou, and
at Los Angeles a call was received
from Ex-Governor and Mrs.
Plaisted. Other citizens of Maine
were also encountered in several of
the other towns.
From reports given at the con-
vention, there is no evidence of any
recession in the construction OF i'm
proved roads in any of the states.
California. for example. has just
completed $70,000,000 worth of State
highways and is now talking about
an additional bond issue of 100000
coo. Illinois has expended 100000
coo in the last three years and at
the general election in November
voted a $100,000.000 bond issue to be
expended in the next four years.
When this expenditure is completed
Illinois will have $4,000 miles of
State highway system completely
paved with Portland cement con-
crete pavement. North Carolina has !
expended $65,000,000 in three years
and the legislature this winter will !
authorize $35,000,000 bond issue !!
to carry on the work. In that state !
bond issues do not have to be passed |
on by the people. In both Illinois !,
and North Carolina the state high |
way bonds are financed as they are |
in Maine. by the registration fees |
from automobiles. In both of these |
states improved road work so far
done Is returning handsome |
dividend to the users Of the high
ways by way OF decreased consump-
ton of gasoline used by motor
vehicles, to say nothing Of other
savings on account of general wear
and tear Of automobiles when used
on paved roads as compared with
their use on dirt roads.
While there were about two hun.
dred and fifty delegates present at
the meeting, only two New England I
states were represented. Maine and /
Vermont. Charles w. Gates, Ex- l
Governor and Chairman of the |
State Highway Commission Of YER Il
mont, represented that State.