DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETINGS. 169 



treated all sections alike. If it should develop that in some 

 sections where the traffic is particularly heavy, the gravel road 

 cannot be maintained, then will it not be a fair proposition that 

 as the state has provided the foundation and drainage, the com- 

 munity where such heavy traffic exists shall bear the burden 

 which its own traffic makes. For instance, take it in the case 

 of Portland. Some people do not believe that a gravel road 

 from Biddeford to Portland will stand the traffic. While I am 

 unwilling to admit that it will not stand the traffic, at least until 

 !t is given a trial under the best method of patrol maintenance, 

 still should it turn out that such a road cannot be maintained 

 at reasonable cost, what is the reason? The reason can only be 

 the excessive traffic, which is due very largely to the city )f 

 Portland itself. The traffic near cities is, of course, increased 

 because of the great number of vehicles of all kinds that are 

 operated from the city as a center, in and out. in and out, 

 day after day, over a fairly well defined radius. 



IF GRAVEL PROVES INADEQUATE. 



Now, then, if the gravel road which the bond issue has pro- 

 vided is inadequate in any particular case, why should not the 

 community directly causing the unusual traffic provide a more 

 permanent surface? This could readily be done, it seems to me, 

 without hardship to those concerned by the formation of a 

 highway district. 



If at some future date it should become necessary to form 

 highway districts for the purpose here indicated, no such dis- 

 tricts should be permitted without surrounding their charters 

 with conservative limitations. Their borrowing power should 

 be distinctly limited to a reasonable amount of money, and the 

 use of that money should be as far as possible distinctly pro- 

 scribed. Such bonds should be for a very short term and not a 

 dollar of such money should be spent for anything except the 

 most permanent construction. Not a dollar should ever be per- 

 mitted to be used in the way of maintenance or expense to 

 the wear and tear of traffic. 



STATE MAINTENANCE. 



Furthermore, under the new law the state is required to 

 maintain the state highways, so that the expenditure for this 



