Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-02
New Highway
Commissioner to
Make Study of Job

COIIlIttlSSlOItcT W
Make Study of Job
Il am coming to this job with an
open mind" remarked Edwin T.
Clifford of Winthrop. the man whom
Governor Brewster has appointed
member of the State Highway COM
mission to succeed William j. LAM
gan of Waterville who has declined
reappointment, to the writer last
week.
IT have no technical knowledge of
road construction and all that l
know about the subject l have gained
by observation" MIR. Clifford con-
tinued. with the present problems
of the board | am also unfamiliar
and have no opinion to express at the
present time regarding any of them.
But to study these problems and
come to as accurate and right con-
clusion concerning them is to be my
job, as soon as l am confirmed and
begin my duties. A couple Of months
from now l expect to know more
more about the subject
The writer called on the commits
sioner that is to be- to learn If he
had formulated any policies or ideas
that he planned to work out. 1t was
in response to this question that the
Winthrop man replied that for the
present he is of open mind on the
subject.
Mr.. Clifford said that he under
stood that he had been appointed to
his present position by reason of the
desire of the Governor that the agri-
cultural interests of the State should
| be represented on the commission. Il
believe that they should be SO rep
resented and have for a long time.
Farming is the chief industry of the
State and farmers are fully as much
interested as any class in good roads.
In my opinion they should have
something to say about where ana
how they should be built"
Mr.. Clifford said in his opinion
more attention should be paid to the
So called market roads of the state
than had been done in the past. 1t
is by doing so that the farming in
terests can be helped. he said.
1.-THE trunk line program is now
about S5 per cent completed as l I'M
derstand it and l believe that this
program should be carried out. l be-
lieve that 1t can be done without
conflicting with what in my opinion
should be done for market roads.
Least of all" he said should there
be any friction between any classes
of automobile users. AS matter Oh
fact the farmers beside using trucks
are also automobile users pretty gen
orally"
"Do YOU think that there should be
mo- further bond issues?" l inquired.
Mr.. Clifford was not positive on
! that point but he remarked that the
| State roads bond issue was already
| pretty heavy.
The new commissioner Is engaged
| in the fertilizer business and has
| been for the past 80 years. He is
! however. a practical farmer having
heen born and brought up on farm
| and having pursued the occupation
/ of agriculture until he was compelled
! to go into something else on account
! of his health. He was born ana
! reared in the Waldo county town Oh
! Freedom and some 80 years ago ne
| and his father and brother purchased
| the big Sturtevant farm on Stufte-
want Hill in Winthrop, on the Read
! field road. This is one of the Dig
| farms of the State consisting OF
! about $50 acres. He sold out to ms
! father and brother, when he Went
| TO work Tor the lefIlllZeT CollPiis'
Mr.. Clifford has long been connect
ed with the grange and through MS
vorI, in that order has kept IN close
| touch with agricultural matters. ne
served for ten years on the executive
committee of the State Grange ana
declined reelection two years ago
| His business as a fertilizer salesman
has taken him to all parts of Maine
and his association with farmers has
caused him to become interested IN
their problems and to be familiar
with their ideas on road building and
other subjects. He travelled for
twelve wears in Aroostook county
and his territory now embraces CEN
trail Maine. :,
This job came to me like bolt
out of q clear sky Mr.. Clifford m
formed the writer. Il had never
sought 1t or given it thought. The
first that l knew that my name was
considered in connection with the
Mace was when Senator Charles
Carter of Lewiston came to me ana
told me that some of my friends were
urging my appointment. l accepted
because | believe that the farming
interests of Maine are big enough
and important enough to be repres-
ented on the commission. To any
special problems that may arise L
shall give my best thought. I am not
coming to the board to oppose any
one and carry out any theories.
believe that the members of the
| board should work harmoniously ana
believe that they can and will"