Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-01-09
westminster Farmers club.
HIGHWAYS.

| /.
Westminster. and being called upon to
omen the discussion, / feel that the sub
ect is so patent it needs no oratory ex.
cent a statement of facts. have noticed
for years the inetliciency Of the practical
working of the present system OF repair
ing our highways. "What is every
lbody's business is nobody's." Observa-
ton will show great lack of interest,
first, in the manner of the election OF
highway surveyors, nominations made
by the selectmen without regard to the
! better interest that should be exercised
over the several highways in town to Sc
, cure safety to the traveller and lessen ex-
pense TO the town. The result is general
r complaint in town and out of town. a
lady said to night our roads were abomi-
: nable. did not dispute her. Now there
! is money enough provided to make good
our highways, but most prodigally eX-
/ pended. The ambition of our surveyors
J. generally is to have the tax bill crossed
n out, and generally this is the wish OF ev-
n cry taxpayer who is called upon to 20
a on to the road without regard to the
e qualification of the road l had rather
r have S25 in money than 500 on the tax
,e bill. One of the selectmen said to me-
10 athe manner in which we conduct the
reparation Of our roads is loose business.
Surveyors are allowed to obtain and re-
plank bridges, a surplus often obtained
plank removed from bridges not half
worn out, which can be found doing good
business in barns, while the residue OF
the new purchased plank are lying be-
=, side the highway to rot" we raise
u $1,000 to be laid out through the town
IN and when that is crossed out, go to the
eg5, selectmen and they order the surveyor tt
!, Law out more, (and in the same way
on, which amounted last year to seven OF
S. eight hundred dollars, sometimes to w,
600 orS 5000, in case of freshets. Again
- law suits are unexpectedly decides
AGAINST us. If we have good roads shal
stand better chance. No man vii
ion stand up here and say our roads are i
al. good repair as need be. Now l thin
!; commissioners properly selected, the ia
"a raised in money, put into their hands
,oo and laid out upon our highways, will ST
cure far better roads with much less e'
nense. Some think one half will kee
them in better condition than now.
-. think $500 annually will do all Thu
80 has been done. l don't know as u
30 town will adopt change, for some Ill
to take on to the road more team thu
AXE properly can wofA' w. any ""' = Q
their tax crossed out.
w. p. GAGE.-Much has been said
i. the subject Of highways and many q
~ ferent plans suggested for their impro'
'' ment, but nothing has as yet present
itself that fully meets with acceptan
Our highways are in poor repair
.r . likely to remain so under the press
: :. system. Work is all performed at
advantage. Too many men work
pether. Highway surveyors fail to
souri, terest themselves in the business
a lit. roads are full of brush. The sto
bur- are not properly thrown out.
The bitches are oftener in the center OF
good road than in their proper places. Lo
S ago cd teams rut the road and no one ma
that II their business to fill them. There
came lack of responsibility that occasion
Q her fearful expense to the town and m
Her complaint on the part OF tax pay
IS the Everything connected with the pre-
d con- system tends to expend great aunt
saying of money, and leave the roads in poo
'sed in pair. Think an improved system w
lining, improve our roads and leave more me
it, and in the pockets of tax payers.
M her w. r. KIMBALL.-I think this Of
h gave the most important questions ever b.
b. The the club. Every day we are reml
which of the Importance of improved hlghV
vas no Most of ours are in poor repair.
emains money is poorly expended. Men ar
up anu faithful to their trust, iaooreis al
tie cor dom on time and less number OF
er pro- are willing to work, after having
, ear OF own time to commence. They shou
echo OF credited for the amount OF work
preston perform and no more! We have
rom the too many bills for damages on our
lpllance ways to make it advisable for us t.
L
stopped tinue our present system. TIM
'fi1n was had better try new one. Ii 1t IL
found to give satisfaction we can return to
inspeak- system or try third. Think the
In her we try the experiment the better.
ON her- D.. WRIGHT-In my experie
quioAiy repairing highways | have observe
fieu into great amount of work is pertorl
d. manu- no practical benefit. ! believe th
ar 0he pair of oxen or horses and fou
anu :" men can perform more labor r
NE which - "a ordinarily manae
hafnra an