Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-09
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VIII be no portions of the lines
blocked by snow due to indifference
on the part of any citizens.
Discuss Costs and Methods
Data regarding costs and methods
was presented at the conference held
yesterday at the call OF Governor
brewster. A feature of the discus
sion was statement presented by
Chief Engineer Sargent. who assert
ed at the outset that the state high
way commission has no funds or
equipment for carrying on a snow
removal program.
Inc conference was attended by
about SO representative citizens of
Maine. coming from nearly all sec
tons of the state, and there was no
opposition voiced to the project as
outlined. The value of a tractor plow
In the snow removal work was en-
phasized by f. A. Terhune, Jr, head
or the Mead Morrison Manufacturing
Company, who exhibited motion pic
lures showing five-ton tractor plows
bucking the drifts in various parts
of the country.
Statement by Chairman lines
Inc meeting was called to order by
Chairman Charles II. Innes of the
state highway commission, who
spoke of Governor Brewster's great
interest in the project and explained
tnat the governor was unable 20 be
present on account of important
matters in the executive department.
Mr.. lnnes said that the governor
thought that the state highway COM
mission might act as an advisory
board and clearing house in the
move for snow removal. although the
chairman pointed out that the COM
mission has no funds to assist in the
work. He said further that the state
highway department has no equip
ment that can be loaned or rented
and be of any use. but has gathered
data as to costs and methods from
such information as it had on file and
reports of the work as carried on in
other states.
Data Gathered by Engineer Sargent
Chairman Innes then called upon
Chief Engineer Sargent of the COM
mission, who presented the following
statement:
The State Highway Commission Is
without equipment and without funds
for carrying on snow removal pro-
gram. Realizing, however, that there
is more or less interest in the Ques-
ton of keeping highways open for
motor traffic during the winter
months. and believing that 1t is only
a. question of time when consider
able portion of the State highway
system at least will be kept open, the
commission has cooperated in the
past by renting two or three tractors
to parties who were willir~ to bear
the expense of conducting snow
blowing operations, with view Of
securing information relative to costs
which might serve as guide 20
communities interested in this work
Under this cooperative arrange
ment parties in Winthrop, Maine,
have used one of the commission s
tractors in keeping the road from
Winthrop to Augusta open during
the past three winters. Another
tractor was rented to r. B. Red
fern of Yarmouth, who undertook
the responsibility of keeping the
State highway between Yarmouth
and Portland open. The commission
made a rental charge of $3.50 per
hour for the time the tractors were
actually employed, the parties using
the tractors paying all operating
costs and keeping the tractors in re-
pair while in their possession. I'm
der this arrangement the rentals Sc
cured by the commission for these
tractors have been insufficient to
meet the cost of replacing tractor
parts broken and destroyed during
the blowing operation.
Figures on Augusta. Winthrop
Highway
The best cost data the commission
has been able to secure has been
as a result of the blowing operation
between Winthrop and Augusta. The
figures reported for the winter of
1928 and 1924. with a snow fall of
50 inches. indicate a cost of $74.6S
per mile for the entire winter. Dur
ing the winter of 1924 and 1925 the
cost reported by the Winthrop par
ties was $S7.10 per mile, but to the
above should be added a cost of re-
pair parts furnished by the State
Highway Commission, for which no
charge was made, amounting to SIT
per mile more, giving an average
cost of S104 per mile.
The city of Portland during the
winter of 1923 and 1924 kept 124
miles of streets open; the cost is re-
ported as $3311.59. making an aver
age cost per mile of 5000. There
were seven snow storms during that
winter. During the season of 1924
than during the winter of 1923 and
1924, the city of Portland spent
$2642 in keeping 124 miles of streets
open, or an average cost of $21 90
per mile. The above figures do not
include any depreciation or rental on
the cost Of the snow blowing equip
ment, which is reported as being
about $4,000.
During the winter Of 1924 and 1925,
the Bangor Chamber of Commerce
through its Winter Open Highways
Committee. carried on the most ex-
tensive snow removal program that
has ever been undertaken in Maine.
About 140 miles, covering the high
way from Lincoln to Bangor, from
Bangor to Ellsworth, Bangor to Bel
fast and from Bangor to Newport,
were kept open. All of the motive
power used I'm this operation was do
mated. in many instances by manu-.
facturers who were anxious to DEM
onstrate their equipment, the plows
having been purchased by the Win.
ter Open Highways Committee. The
cost of motive power. tractors and
trucks, used in this operation is re-
ported as s75,000.00, for which no
rental or depreciation was charged.
The average cost per mile. coverirS
labor, gasoline, oil, and repairs to
plows, amounts to $1,000.
1t should be b.rne in mind that
the winter of 1924 and 1926 was an
extremely favorable winter, as prac-
tically no snow fell after the tenth
OF February. During ordinary vim
ters the heaviest snow fall comes
from February 10 to the end of the
winter.