Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-02-27
Highways.
SHALL WE CHOOSE COMMISSIONERS TO
REPAIR THEM?


REPAIR THEM?
Mr.. EDITOR: As the time approaches
/ for holding our annual town meetings,
and the various subjects to be acted up
on are being discussed, it is quite natur-
al and even necessary that our highways
come in for their share of consideration.
| read with much interest the report Gin
your last issue) of the meeting of your
State Board of Agriculture at Westmin-
ster, and especially the remarks of Mr..
Pierce ON the necessity of aUakiag up to
the demands of the times. 1t is a fact
that from various causes our roads have
been very much neglected till many
towns are now forcibly reminded that
something must be done. The excuse in
most cases is the scarcity of labor which
| consider poor apology. But very few
real wide awake men Chose willing and
able to take hold with will") can be
induced to give their time and attention
to the business.
The consequence is our roads instead
Of being turnpiked are run over and on
y prevented from being brook beds by
an abundance of water bars, Cumpers,)
and being The lowest land in the neigh
borhood, are muddy and impossible for
weeks in the year when if properly rails
ed they would be dry. If perchance a
wide awake man is appointed surveyor,
he may repair a few rods of road in
good shape, but is forced to skim over
the remainder of his district (three or
four miles, cleaning ditch in one place
or piling up jumper in another. Hav-
ing in the year 1870, by hasty vote of
the town, been forced to take charge of
OF the roads in our town, (Which meas
ure rs miles, with only about one third
the necessary money to put them in or
der-partly on account of the Oct. fresh
it of the previous year, | saw the hope
lessness of the case and since that time
have spared neither time nor money to
investigate and perfect machine for
building roads.
| found many kinds in use through
the Middle and Western States, making
roads fast and well, but none that were
adapted to our hard, rough and stony
land. |, however, found one in Connec
ticut which | purchased aud two more
the next year. They save, at least. one
half the labor, though they require two
or three stout men to tend them and Sc
we're work at that Consequently | imme
diately saw the necessity for improve
ment, but only after two years of study
and trial was | enabled to perfect ma
chine which / can recommend to work oil
every road where common plough cal
be used. 1t requires good team ant
one man to tend it, he riding on it mos
of the time. 1t does the work of plough
and scraper passing lengthwise of thu
road. 1t leaves the road in better condi
ton than by the old method Of scraping
as it levels and presses down the soil, Civ
ing the r, ad gradual slope from it
centre to the outside of the ditch leavin
it true and even, SO that it can be use,
from shoulder to shoulder.
No one trying the old kind will par
with them. The town of Acworth, N. Fl
purchased three last year, and their lead
ing men think it necessary to raise onl.
one half the usual amount of highwa
tax this year. In passing through town
in Connecticut where they are used, I di
not find single water bar and thei
roads, up hill and down, are trottin
parks compared with ours.
Thus having machines with which tw
raen and good team can turnpike fror
. one fourth to one mile day, no tow
: need have poor roads.
CHARLES FISHER.
WATporE N TT Feb 25. 1874