In times of scarcity, people protect what they have. In the case of extending I-95 north, it is no surprise that the good citizens of Houlton are worried. They have watched the slow erosion of their town over the years and fear further harm if the highway no longer stopped there but went to the top of the state. But this debate — and the future of northern Maine — must be based on something more than keeping a few crumbs of prosperity in one place and denying them elsewhere.

Most importantly, Houlton Town Councilor Paul Romanelli has the right idea. “There needs to be some compelling data,” he said recently, “to get some support from this area” for the highway extension. Absent further economic information, Houlton officials have no self-interest in the project, and expecting them to risk what they have is unrealistic.

Wth population falling for a half-century, incomes low and prospects not exactly brilliant, Aroostook cannot afford an intra-county fight. Either communities — even those as far apart as, say, Houlton and Frenchville — work together, or in the very near future not many people will be working at all. Regional strategies to develop new industries are essential. So is an excellent countywide highway system. And so is configuring that system to best serve everyone.

The proposed path of an extended I-95 is not yet decided, but it is fair to say that the highway historically has been shaped as much by political considerations as geographic. This means, simply, that highway proponents need not look only at the shortest or easiest route north; they will also consider who will be served by the road. If Houlton, for instance, were along an extended route — rather than a distant spur — it would have the same benefits of other cities connected by the highway. It might turn out that being on the route of a major highway ultimately is better than being at the end of one.

Houlton needs more data about the effect of extending the highway. While it is being gathered, however, city officials from around The County would help the debate by looking for areas of cooperation.