Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-18
COMMISSIONER
/ jose GIVES REPORT
ON SNOW REMOVAL

Street Commissioner B. j. Jose has
furnished the Journal the accom-
panying interesting information re-
garding snow removal from the city
streets the past winter.
Progress
Are the results obtained by plow-
ing the snow from the city streets a
necessity, convenience or just an
other way of spending the taxpayers
money?
To consider this subject from the
viewpoint of the city itself it is ne
cessary to harken back only a few
years and bring to mind the modes
Of transportation and the demands of
the public at that time. 1t was the
method and idea of those times to
break streets and roads with teams
of oxen and horses for the use of We
hicles drawn by these animals. This
method satisfied the demands of the
public that was equipped for the ex-
listing conditions. A little later, and
here attention is called to the fact
that the development of the automo-
bile to its present standard is COM
paratively recent and we have been
going through this present transition
PSA iOu Vi IIoIOi l1itS CquiplilCilI OliiS
short time, progressive merchants
began motorizing their equipment un-
til today our professional and bust
ness men rely practically entirely
upon motor transportation.
In considering the necessity phase
of the subject it is proper to call at
tention to the fact that the hauling
of material on a trip of two miles,
one way, by horses is approximately
81 percent as efficient as hauling by
motorized equipment and the longer
the haul the less efficient are the
horses to say nothing of the oxen. 1t
seems justifiable that the individual
or concern that profits by motor
transportation in the summer should
have the same opportunity to do the
same in the winter. AS life and
property saving undertaking there
seems to be only a remote COMPARE
son. The rapidity of doctors answer
ing our urgent calls is appreciated
by all when in sickness and by the
Quickness of the fire department in
responding to alarms many a con-
Migration that threatened has been
placed under control before a large
property damage resulted. So much
for the necessity, now to consider the
conveniences. An observation of the
use of automobiles as parked about
our churches on Sundays and along
our streets on week days shows that
the convenience of being able to use
the half million dollar investment in
this city the entire year is appreci-
ated. When considering whether or
not this is just another way of spend
ing the taxpayers money certain
facts and figures must be considered.
First of all, where does the money
expended in the highway department
come from. In this city a consider
/ abe over half of the amount comes
from taxes levied on automobiles
and their use. When it is considered
| that there is practically no difference
in the cost of blowing the streets
with tractor in such way as to
make them available for all present
day methods of transportation and
the previous method of knocking off
the tops of the drifts with an animal
drawn heater" plow that rarely
made streets or roads passable for
transportation of any kind and that
requests have come from all sections
of our city for the operation of our
lone. small blowing unit. it is quite
obvious that the work is receiving
the hearty approval of the majority
of our citizens. .... g.
| Followln gis data on the work as
carried on here dufing January and
j February of this year.