Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-17
MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR
ROADS

lie llldut ny SHdii.
man Innes of the State Highway
Commission before the Budget Com
mittee, Monday, calls attention to
questions pertaining to our high
ways that are likely to feature in the
next session of the Legislature. 1t
appears that our bond money Is all
obligated, that IL we continue our
road building program we must have
more money, and If we are to lay
out plans for the next year to adj
vantage, 1t should be available at an
early date. A five-cent gasoline tax
passed by the Legislature as an
emergency measure would provide
for this. What about it?
In this matter Of good highways
we have the bear by the tail, good
firm grasp and we dare not let go If
we would. The public has become
accustomed to travelling far and
travelling quickly. 1t will not be
reconciled to any attempt to turn
back to old conditions.
We have learned that it takes
money to buy good highways. Con-
versation won't do 1t. Just what Is
the price? That we should ascertain
with a degree of def1niteness. We
must not assume that these good
roads will require little money for
upkeep. We should know what to ex-
pect. 1t Is possible to arrive at de-
pendable estimates. Those should
where we are at in this matter of
cost of maintenance. Neglect of
that maintenance is the most ex-
travagant mismanagement.
We will be poor parents of the ris-
. ing generation If we load them down
with bonds outlasting the good con-
dition Of the highways those bonds
build. They will ha. - high
ways to maintain and doubtless as
many calls for their money, in many
ways now as little understood as our
fathers understood Of the expense
incident to motoring. We have
splendid highways in this State.
These are a credit to designers and
builders and to the State, but it will
be merely common sense and good
business to compreh~..-. the expense
that Is inevitable in connection with
them; also the savings we secure by
in up-keep of cars.
Somehow the proposition to reis-
sue the maturing bonds conveys an
impression that we are not prepared
TO do our part but are trying to put
1t over on the next gC..eration. If
we would keep within our means we
better stand firm on the principle of
maturing the bonds as fast as pos
sible, even if we have to issue new
bonds for new additions. Let each
tub stand on its own bottom. Let
the bonds on any highway be ma
tured and put out of the way within
the life of the work done by that
bond money. OF course the grading
and the culverts have long life but
let's not get confused b. We
should not get confused.
In the beginning Of the road build
Ing crusade we had some -cuse for
getting confused. We lacked exper-
fence and information from other
sources. We understand that within
the limits of Augusta are pieces of
highway on account of which there
have been three bond issues. These
roads have been rebuilt and soon
will have to be again but the bonds
have not been retired. That's poor
business. The State should keep
out of it.
The gasoline tax is generally ac-
cepted as the fairest tax we have.
There are some who would prefer to
issue bonds for the next generation
to pay than to pay their share as
they go along. Always there are
such. but fortunately they are in the
minority. Bonds issued against
grading and concrete culverts are
not poor business, assuming that
grading and the culverts are alb.
Solutely needed. The call for this
on the main lines is proper, IL, wise
the widening of highways. There
are, however, some of our roads
travel over which would not warrant
great outlay in those respects. OF
course We all want a wide. graded
State road. built and maintained by
the State to run past our domicile,
though there be few but ourselves to
travel over it. From all we can learn
the Commission has exercised good
Judgment on the whole. but it will
profit us all to keep in mind that
though the State builds and main
tains the roads the public pays the
bills in the long run. Getting an i'm
proved highway isn't getting some-
thing for nothing. Tremendous ex-
penditure is involved and we are
involved in the expenditure.
In az of Philadelphia's Voting al.