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“Getting Maine Out Of The Mud” The “Good Roads” Movement In Maine During The Progressive Era, Lee Webb

History Student Scholarship

In the 19^th century, most Mainers agreed that the state’s rural roads were in terrible condition. The rural road districts in the rural towns charged with maintaining local roads were ineffective. Money and skilled leadership were needed but rural towns were unwilling to challenge the existing systems or to enact town-wide taxes to pay for the construction of better roads.

Beginning in the latter decades of the 19^th century, a reform movement developed, called by many the “Good Roads Movement" which was part of the amorphous Progressive movement. The "Good Roads Movement" wanted to use the powers of …