Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

,rto an automobile and finding a
.ood road in most any direction that
3 e hard to realize that the modern
n,vhway is a development of the last
twsnty years in practically every
AT Of the United States and es-
rsc,ally in this State. The writer
recalls a statement made by an eld-
erN gentleman by the name of Deer
M at county road meeting held
i Alfred, the county seat of York
rnunty, in 1906 or 1907. Mr.. Deer
mrs recollection went back to the
Vine when most Of the roads in York
comnty were only, trails through the
Goods. Later these trails were clear
Il out to make a path for OK teams
mi with the coming of the horse
thew were further improved so that
sneed of six or eight miles an hour
could be maintained with compare
t,vA comfort. Mr.. Deering made this
.tatement by way of prefacing his
Srrsdiction that highways were to
rndergo further improvements to
mike them satisfactory for automo-
biIes. which at the time of the dis
cussion were only occasionally seen
n Maine. Such a prediction was
somewhat unexpected and entirely
mi Of the ordinary, coming from a
nan who was then past ninety years
"A age at a time when ninety or
rinety-five per cent of the citizens
i general were opposed to automo-
hiles. How true the prediction of
Mr.. Deering was.
Probably no better idea of the
conditions under which early roads
were opened and built can be OBJ
tanned than by referring to the re-
port made to the Governor and
council in 1880 by Joel Whitney,
samuel Reddington and Joseph
Johnson, agents appointed in March,
1928. under resolve of the legisla-
tire to make or cause to be made
nnder their superintendence "the
state road north Of the Bingham
Purchase"
The report states that the agents
selected Township No. /, Second
Range. north of the Bingham Pur-
chase. containing 1924 acres. and
that the land agent sold the same on
credit at thirty cents per acre. net
tins the amount of $5,4S5.20, of which
rum 100000 was appropriated by
the resolve for making the road. to-
sether with S4,1S7.60. proceeds OF the
sale of the township granted "by
Massachusetts. giving a total appro-
priation Of $9,1S760 exclusive of In
terest. which amounted to about
$4,000 more, for the work.
The agents report that the tools
and part of the provisions necessary
for the work were purchased prin-
Sipally in Halloweu and Augusta In
the winter of 1928 and 1929 and that
corn and grain We're procured In
Norridgewock, and the whole trans
ported to the vicinity of the road. a
distance Of over one hundred miles,
BY shedding the previous winter. The
average force employed on the road
was about sixty menNwith eight pairs
OF oxen.
The report states that fifteen
miles Of the road is made of sufficient
width for one carriage to pass an
other and well turnpiked except
about half mile which was post
poEed on account of the rains: and
the trees cut and cleared away so
that the path may not be hereafter
Instructed by windfalls. The lodges
were removed or lowered by burning
wood upon them instead of blasting
with powder. In places where the
rocks could not be moved they were
burnt and levelled with sledges and
then covered with earth.
The agents refer to the Importance
Of the road to the State, on account
Of the number of travellers who
passed through 1t even before it was
opened.
The report concludes by stating
that the whole amount expended on
the project was $9,373.S1 and that
nine miles of road remained to be
built, which the agents estimated
would cost s4,50000.
Note particularly from this report
that timberland sold for thirty cents
per acre, that the cost of building
the road was about $500 per mile,
the method of lowering lodges with
out the use of powder or dynamite
and the statement as to the import
ance Of the road on account Of the
amount of travel.
search of the statutes discloses
that in 1921 the legislature provided
mat towns must choose at their an
persons to be surveyors of highways
ana that the work of making and
keeping highways in repair should
De allotted by the selectmen to the
various surveyors. 1t is interesting
70 note that if n person elected to be
surveyor of highways refused to ac.
Cept 1.-THE office he should suffer a
INC Of ten dollars. and the statute
lufthAN 11o4
should be held to serve as surveyor
0nener than once in three years.
evidently the job of directing road
wcrk was not as popular one hum
ufeo years ago as it is to0ay. In
many towns now the biggest contest
~ the annual meeting is over the
ciection Of a road commissioner.
The same legislature provided that
owns shall raise such sum Of money
% be expended in labor and mater
ais on the highways and town ways
~ - they shall deem necessary ana
mat surveyors should give reason
spe notice in writing of the sum
assessed and forty eight hours mo-
uce OF the times and places he shall
ssppoint for providing materials and
Mooring on the same so that each
person may work thereon in person
~ substitute to the full amount,
= ne may pay the surveyor in money
'"S amount assessed.
me above covers what was form
eesy known as the statute labor road
.ak and seems to have been in OPP
,,auon until March /. 1898, the leg
STATURE of 1897 having provided that
eusa taxes should be assessed and
ttsunected as were other taxes after
me date named.
-FOUR years after providing that
t .uac taxes should be paid in cash,
aas s legislature passed the first State
au road law. This law placed the
1opervision of State aid road work
~ tne hands of the sixteen boards
~ w.. county commissioners. Progress