Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-06-16
Damage on the Highway.
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Here, in Vermont, we have taxes increased
enormously some Year, by damage on the high
way. Men and women walking, riding in sleighs,
wagons or carts, stumble, slip or fail, and every
thing that is injured must be paid for by the
town, and the amount claimed is usually far
above the damage suffered In these claims no
omissions are made horses, harnesses, vehicle
loading, body and clothing Of persons, # dam
aged, must be paid for Many Of these claims
for damage are so unreasonable and exorhitant
that, when they 60 before the courts, they are
closely contested. It is common saving that
towns always get beaten in such cases, and such
is usually the result 1t often happens that when
person is injured the arm is useless, or the leg
has limp or helplessness, until verdict il ren.
dered, when speedy recovery is the result
Withina few years this town has paid about Sc 600
for such injuries other towns have paid more
and one town has claims against it for s75 600
for damages received on the highways The evil
is great that several towns instructed their rep
resentatiyes to try to secure the passage Of law
requiring all persons to use the highways and
bridges Of the state at their own risk Such
bill was introduced, but | am informed that law
yers were opposed to it, and it did not pass All
persons are well aware that there was a time
when there were no roads The early settlers
forded streams, and passed over or around OBJ
struotions in the most careful manner to reach
their homes In the wilderness They had no
thought that any one could or would pay them
anything II their sled cart was broken in the
journey As fast as means would allow the roads
were improved, and those most used received the
most labor. Now there are many roads among
the hills and mountains that are very rough,
while those near the villages are toleraby smooth
and level
Now the tendency is to have light wagons,
sloighs and harnesses, and drive rapidly, and IL
anything breaks, or II the driver is thrown, the
town is required to pay, not only the real damage
but in many cases exemplary damages The town
taxpayers are mostly farmers The men who
work the roads are also farmers; they own the
team and tools, and have the strength to use
them Farmers made the first roads Of the state
for their own use, and improve them every year
for their better accommodation, and laws that
tend To keep punishment or penalty Of great Sc
verify hanging over the farmers heads must and
will be repealed The farmers work upon their
farms with colts, steers, aud all sorts Of teams
and loads, without any roads, and with few acci-
dents. They desire that the good roads they
make he used with reasonable care by everybody
who pleases To use them, and they will tax them
selves every year to keep the roads in repair.
There the responsibility must cease There will be
dark nights, drunken drivers, frightened horses,
weak carriages and harnesses and general smash
ups, but farmers must be excused from liability,
and In future the wonder will be that towns bore
the infcton OF claims and suits for damages, as
they have done the past ten years f. jane
son, IN Neio England Farmer.