Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-22

of highway where the roads originally
constructed have been far from salts
factory on account of very substantial
increase in traffic since the time these
roads were constructed, and the fur
Their fact that construction 10 years
ago was far less substantial than it is
today.
ION these projects maintenance
costs have become excessive and the
commission during the fall of 1924
made preparations to carry on re-
construction work, provided funds in
1925 would permit An actual start
was made on the Lewiston, Greene and
Leeds project in the fall of 1924 and
some $500 feet of bituminous macadam
surface was laid at an expense of a
little less than $4,000. On this pro-
ject the commission has two crusherS
set up, stone was hauled during the
winter, and the surfacing work is now
in progress.
ION the Newport, Palmyra, Detroit
and Pittsfield sections foundation and
grading work was done last fall prep
aratory to laying a bituminous maca-
dam surface this present season. Dur
ing the winter crusher was moved to
the site and sufficient stone was landed
to surface about four miles of road.
NO active operation has been started at
this site but everything is ready to be-
gin. The stone was delivered at an ex-
tremely favorable price by farmers
during the winter.
"A crusher has been set up near a
quarry on the Rockland and Thomas
ton road where a sufficient quantity of
suitable stone has been traded for at
a favorable price. No active opera
ton has been started at this site.
1T has not been planned to ask for
federal aid on any of the last three
projects. In order to secure federal
aid We must make a definite commit
ment of State funds to each project,
and when this has been done the State
s obligated for the expenditure of
the amount of money so set aside.
''In other words, We virtually enter
INTO contract with the federal govern
ment to carry the project through, re-
CARELESS of other conditions which
might have bearing on the ability
of the State to go forward with the
work. Holding the control of these
projects in the hands of the commits
sion. We, can do as much or as little on
any of them as the conditions warrant
Twice in the past we have had cloud
bursts which occasioned extraordinary
washouts over considerable areas and
called for extraordinary expenditures
in replacing State and State-aid high
ways.
IF available funds are all commit
ted to definite reconstruction projects
with federal aid the commission
would be unable to handle any of
these extraordinary conditions which
might arise. For these reasons we
have felt that it was better to carry
on these projects as purely State pro-
Jects and to reserve federal aid, ex-
cept as 1t may be secured against our
definite reconstruction program as
provided for by the last Legislature,
to be used in connection with new
construction projects which undoubt-
edly we shall be able to carry on after
the vote on the bond issue next Sep
TENDER.
I'VE submit these projects and rec
ommend them to your favorable con-
stderation, believing as we do that
they are the most important re-
construction projects needing atten-
ton at the present time for the relief
OF hiShTay traffic"