Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-18

within city limits, but that the city
managers in most cases do not IeeI
that they can go outside without
more authority than they have now:
The work will thus devolve upon
groups of individuals, with what alo
thew will get from corporations anu
other business firms. ar.
M Thurlow of Pittsfield said: 1T
costs s4O0 per year for our town 10
keen the main road, seven or elght
miles In length, free for traffic. l 90
not see why this money could not
be as well expended on motorized
plows as by the use of horses, as Is
done at present"
Mr.. Thurlow's suggestion was
new thought, and Chairman haven
SAWYER stated it as follows:
.If the Selectmen OF each TOWN.
would figure out what it costs thenl
to do this work, on the main roaus
now. and set aside like sum 10 pe
used in connection with the WORK We
are planning, that would aid greatly
in solving the entire problem. lney
would get better returns 1or nione :,
expended, for the tractor plows can
do much more work for the same
amount of money than can De oone
by obsolete methods.
he added that a meeting was held
in Bangor on Wednesday, at winch
time delegates from the outlying sec
tons were present and were enthusls
site over the projected clearing o.
roads in that vicinity. MANY ol
these same men have in the past
objected to such work, but are no"
among its strongest supporters.
AZ this point Z. l.. Ripley asked.
"xVhv cannot a portion of the gas
tax from the cities interested IN 'His
work he used for the purpose ol
snow removal?"
Cannot Use Gas Tax Fuhos
1>hief Engineer Sargent answered.
This pertinent question: we trleu "
do that very thing last winter, put
the Legislature at that time turned
us down on the proposition, anu al
nresent there is no authority Tor
such expenditures"
Chairman Sawyer added: sit may
work out so that we can get state
assistance later. In Bangor we car
ried this work on last winter by vol
untary private subscriptions, al
though in the end the city did much
of the work. This year they will do
pra ctically all of it. 1 have no doubt
that when the advantages OF this
| project become fully realized, the
State will take it up to at least some
| extent"
Mr.. Ripley suggested that at the
next session of the Legislature the
law be amended to allow such use
| of the gas tax money. Many of the
| members present seemed to favor
such a move.
| Mr.. Redfern of Yarmouth was the
next speaker and he said: I'VE had
a great deal of opposition to snow
removal work in our section at the
outset. but We now get corporation
from several of the big gasoline COM
/ panies. and other business firms who
are quick to realize the advantages
| to them of having the roads open
! all winter" He stated that since
this work has been kept up the gas
oline sales in the city of Portland
have greatly increased, especially
during the past three years"
Objections of Winthrop Farmers
Chairman Towle of the board OF
selectmen in the town of Winthrop
stated the objections of the tax-pay.
/ ers in his section:
| Most of the farmers in that vi
cinity have motor cars of one kind
! or another, but in order to get out
! to the main roads they have to use
runners. If the roads are cleared OF
snow they are ruined for shedding
and we do not want that"
| Chairman Sawyer answered: "That
Is vital thing, IL we spoil the roads
Tor shedding we must fail In Maine
BUT the roads can be plowed so as
TO leave enough snow for hard, ic,
road that will be equally good 70,
motor cars or sleds, and that is ex.
actly what must be done If this pro.
Ject Is to be a success"
| Hold Group Meetings
AT this point the general meet
ing was for a time broken up into
series of group meetings under thu
heads of the men who represent eacf
section: Jose of Gardiner, SAWYER O.
Bangor; Redfern of Yarmouth
thompson of Lewiston; Foster O.
! Waterville. and Thurlow of Pitts
held. each gathering a group of meJ
from his section to discuss loca
problems and report to the genera
committee after lunch.
Reports of Chairman
AT the afternoon meeting the chair
men of the various subcommittee,
iehoered the reports made UP durint
the recess.
A big map of Maine had been dis
Played on the wall, and at each of tn.
cities on the trunk lines a memo Of
the amount of snow-clearing equip
ment available.
Mr.. Clark told the general commit
Tee that the 3. C M. Railroad will as
sist In keeping the Ogunquit road oper
TINS winter. also the Diamond Mattel
Co. so that from Kittery to Biddefort
the work Is practically assured. III,
added that the roads from Biddefort
10 Portland are fairly certain to b,
kept open.
Mr.. Redfern of Yarmouth state,
that the Falmouth road is to be takel
care of, but that the district through
cray and Gloucester has not been set
tied as to snow removal yet.
During the afternoon meeting a re
port came in that Saco had Just pur
ohased a lotion tractor which woul,
be available. Mr.. Thompson of Lewis