Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-09

were available as to these matters of
preliminary concern.
Those most directly concerned with
.ne neeo Tor such bridge will also
CONSIDER whether so large an under
, ranimg is likely to receive popular APP
tributed to substantial extent upon
th9se who will be primarily served.
IN Iorida TWO very important high
ways, with much greater volume of
franc franc imam now flows over the Bath
Terry, have in recent years erected foil
bridges to complete missing links. Ar
.9iacksonville it was planned to pay for
.nE pridge in twenty years from the
toiiS that We're collected on the basis
Oh me estimates of normal increase in
franc: The traffic, however, increased
out of all bounds and now, at the end
OF -FOUR years. funds are available to
PROVIDE for the retirement of almost
the entire issue of bonds. The re-
,,llarKable success of this project has
brought about great toll bridge con-
meeting st. Petersburg and Tampa.
Ihese two projects seem to have
SHOWN concluSively that toll bridges
unuer proper circumstances do not
throttle the development of traffic
parent why it is more vicious to pay
TOLLS for crossing bridge than for
crossing ferry, with the delays that
SO inevitably ensue.
- woulu, however. seem a very
doubtful policy to permit private en-
terprise to participate in any way in a
public project such as this. The pos
slbilities of regulation by the Public
Utllitles Commission Of construction
costs and maintenance and depreciation
charges are not encouraging to this
solution. A limitation of time for pri-
vate profit might we'll mean mate
rally shortening the possible life Of
the bridge.
In my Judgment toll bridge at any
easonable cost. with the tolls no more
| burdensome than those now in effect,
and with appropriate reductions for
| frequent use. would very easily and
very quickly. pay for itself through
| the stimulation in traffic that would
result. without taking account at all
or the increase in taxable values in
the counties most directly affected by
the bridge. Meanwhile it would be
possible at any time to free the bridge
elect.
In any problem of this character
progress and success are much more
certain when we try earnestly to get
the other fellows point of view.
Blessed is the land that has no
history" is a maxim that seems to
apply to the happy condition of our
educational system because of the
| little discussion it requires.
Our primary and secondary schools
are being strengthened and expanded
each year. In our interest in educa-
ton we are distinguished perhaps
more profoundly than in any other
way from the traditions and the GUS
toms of other lands. The State School
Fund constitutes nearly one-half of
the direct levy of taxes within our
State. The various localities are con-
tributing very largely to the Increase
of the school funds as they develop
a desire for better educational facil-
| tiles of their own. Such indications
are healthy and the close contact be-
| inequalities in education is q cause for
| congratulation.
An emphasis upon fundamentals
and firmer hand against the dissi-
patton of time in eXtra-curriculum
activities or other Interruptions OF the
| school routine seem to the layman
interested in education the wise
course at this time.
In recent years the State has been
making substantial grants for the
aid of secondary education. Very
glazing inequitieS have grown up in
the distribution of these funds. Some
and others receive as low as $500 per
pupil. while in other cases the grant
per pupil goes as high as $500.
These grants at present are not de-
termined on any definite basis of edu-
cational need.
The most elementary considerations
OF justices to towns and to pupils in
the different sections of the State,
particularly in the smaller COM
munities. would lead to adjustment
that would to some extent equalize
| these grants.
University OF Maine
The University of Maine is more
and more coming TO be recognized as
an integral part of the educational
system of our State. During the past
ten years the appropriations by the
State for it's support have Increased
at the following rate:
State Appropriations for the Unlver-